Managing the Poor Interviewer: Tips for Interviewees

Some of my favorite stories involve my own experiences with bad interviewers.
Like the one who had no idea what to ask me or what to tell me — until he discovered we grew up in the same neighborhood. Then, we talked about the schools we went to, the stores we shopped at, and so forth.

Huh? Is that a job-related interview? I don’t think so. (Don’t worry, I didn’t get the job, anyhow. There were several other interviewers, who asked very different questions.)

Job candidates often meet up with various types of poor interviewers, like the “robot,” the “talkaholic,” and the “out-of-date (inappropriate)” interviewer.

In a recent CNN/Money.com article, the author describes 8 types of poor interviewers and how to handle them effectively

Be prepared for these different kinds of interviewers. For example, for the out-of-date interviewer, the author suggests you be polite, tactful, and matter-of-fact. Unless the interviewer persists in asking illegal questions.

As for the talkaholic, the author suggests you try to get information about your skills and experience whenever possible into the “conversation.”

Read here for more details on how to handle lousy interviewers.