One variable from one job interview to the next is the interviewer – more specifically, the personality, skills, and interviewing style of the person (or persons) who conducts the interview.
In a perfect world, interviewers should be able to accurately assess your qualifications and fit for the position. But they are not necessarily Mr. Sensitive or Ms. Congeniality. And the interviewers who are pleasant and comfortable to be with aren’t’ necessarily good at interviewing. It’s not a given they’ll ask the most probing or intelligent questions for relevant details. Consequently, they don’t always make it easy for you to differentiate yourself from the other candidates. Here’s a brief glance at three (there are other types) of the less-than-ideal interviewer types.
The Fumbler.
- Fumblers have no clue on how to conduct an effective interview. They know they need to hire someone but haven’t gotten around to formulating specific criteria. Instead of asking probing questions and tying your answers to the requirements of the job, they tend to base their impressions on factors that have almost nothing to do with what it takes to do the job.
- Fumblers work to the advantage of candidates who look the part and know how to take control of the interview. They work to the disadvantage of candidates whose strengths lie beneath the surface and who are uncomfortable about taking initiative.
- Fumblers are often easy to impress, but you have to do the work; you can’t expect them to come to the conclusions you want on their own.
When you’re dealing with a fumbler, stay in command of your own story and keep hammering away at your strengths. Fumblers need to be led, so don’t drop the leash.
The Blabbermouth.
- Blabbermouths like to talk. And talk. And talk. They talk about themselves, the company, their family, their fitness regimen, their hobbies and if you’re lucky, the specifics of the job. They can talk so much that you never get a chance to present your case.
- It’s not necessarily a bad thing when an interviewer likes to talk. In general, the more you can get an interviewer to talk, the easier it becomes for you to get a clear handle on what he or she is looking for. Blabbermouths, however, take a good thing to a bad extreme.
- The worst approach you can take with a blabbermouth is to talk so much yourself that you prevent the blabbermouth from doing what he or she likes to do best; talk. The best thing to do is to pick your spot: to dart in and out of the interviewer’s conversation, making short (but self-serving) comments that play off whatever topic the blabbermouth is chattering about. Even more important, perhaps, is the worth of the questions you ask. If you ask the right questions of blabbermouth interviewers, you’ll get the chatterbox to talk about things that work in your favor.
The Deadpan.
- Deadpan (or poker face) interviewers can make you soooo uncomfortable. They sit there, inscrutable, as you talk about yourself and your qualifications. They don’t nod. They don’t smile. Nothing seems to faze or impress them. You could tell them that you’re a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, and you might get a “Hmmm.”
- The main trap to avoid when you’re being interviewed by a deadpan is trying too hard to evoke a response. Turning up the heat on your own enthusiasm or energy isn’t likely to make a difference with truly stoic interviewers. You’re better off toning down your approach a bit (but not all the way). Most importantly, don’t read too much into the fact that you don’t seem to be making an impression on the interviewer. You’re probably making your case; it’s simply not registering on the interviewer’s face.
Whatever type of interviewer you encounter, it’s important to bear in mind your major goal is to tie your qualifications and background to the requirements of the job and, at the same time, show interest, motivation, and poise. Still, you need to be prepared to adjust.
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