How to Prevent a Bad Interviewer From Undermining Your Chances of Getting a Job
Sometimes, when you get to an interview, you end up talking to someone who might not be the best interviewer. Whether you have a taciturn interviewer or an inexperienced manager who is focused on the wrong things, knowing how to deal with a scammer on the other side of the table can be essential to getting the job done.
This post was originally published on the Muse website .
So the question is, how do you get an unsuccessful meeting back on track? Here’s a three-step plan to prevent a poorly trained interviewer from disrupting your job prospects.
Do your best to answer questions well
So the interviewer starts with something out of the ordinary, like, “If you were an animal, who would you be?” or “So, you know that competition plays a huge role in this role, don’t you?”
Don’t panic just yet. Sometimes hiring managers like to ask weird questions to try to understand something very culture-specific. Since it can be difficult to tell if they are newbies or crazy genius conversationalists, try to smile, relax, and go with the flow at the beginning of the interview.
The ability to think on your feet is directly related to how prepared you are from the start, so make sure you do your homework before every meeting. Review common interview questions , prepare some behavioral question stories, and analyze what technical questions you might receive. It’s impossible to be prepared for everything (especially a bad interviewer), but general preparation will get you through the beginning before you try to help them refocus on the big picture.
Redirect attention to those who are suitable for the role
At some point, red flags will start to go up, and you know it’s time to curb this interviewer. Perhaps he or she is spending too much time – think 20 minutes from a 30 minute phone screen – explaining which position entails rather than asking you about your experience. Or the meeting might seem too focused on what you once cycled in Europe and not on your ability to do your job. For the interviewer to rethink your qualifications, try asking questions or statements such as:
- Could you tell me more about the kind of experience you want from the person you would like to hire for this role?
- What do you think are the most important skills for this position?
- What you said about the job is really interesting – I think my experience in project management would be really relevant. If you want, I will gladly tell you more.
They will be easy to enter if the interviewer is out of questions, but more difficult if he or she just asks the wrong questions . Try adding one of these at the end of your answer to complete your answer. For example, “… and this was my most meaningful leadership experience in college. Can I tell you something about my recent experience to help you understand if I am the right fit for the company ? “
Repeat what you suggest at the end
Hopefully your attempts to direct the conversation will be successful, but if all else fails, you still have another chance. Once you are finally given the floor to ask your questions about the position by the end of the interview, ask your thoughtful closing questions and end your presentation with something that summarizes your qualifications for the role. It might sound something like this:
“Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! I would like to take this last opportunity to confirm my suitability for the position. Based on our conversation, I know you are looking for someone who understands data, takes initiative and excels in teamwork. My three years of experience in economic consulting has given me ample opportunity to truly excel in these areas, and I would like to bring these skills and qualities to your company. “
Having an imperfect interviewer can be very confusing. Remain calm and take the lead. Of course, you don’t have to be the leader in the conversation, but if you need a job, you will do what you need to do.