Interviewers Behaving Badly: Job Interview Nightmares
Today’s blog can be summed up with a quote from the classic sitcom, Seinfeld, in which George admonishes a rude woman: “You know, we're living in a society!” Many times I have wanted to say that to someone. It seems that people have become desensitized to the feelings of others. There are careless and callous people everywhere, even in a job interview. Have you been in a situation in which you were treated rudely during the job interview? (I can even see some of you nodding. It’s virtually impossible to speak to someone that doesn’t have a horror story to share.) How did you feel when an interviewer crossed the line to impose upon your good nature? How about when we seem to be blatantly used by a recruiter or interviewer? Let’s explore a few scenarios.
Inconsiderate Interviewers
This is the person who cancels at the last minute, keeps you waiting and is not prepared for the meeting. They are so unorganized and disengaged that you feel as though you are going through the motions and have zero chance of consideration. It can be humiliating and frustrating to be treated with such disregard. One client recently went to an interview twice – yes, twice for the first interview because upon arriving the interviewer was “too busy” to see him!
Opportunistic Interviewers
This is the recruiter or hiring manager that interviews you, only to pump you for information to advance their business. They may be seeking information about vacancies at your firm so they can gain another client. The interview may be a form of espionage to uncover details of your current employer’s new product. The interviewer has no intention of hiring you. You are just a conduit for valuable information. This is usually quite apparent through the line of questioning. Be on your toes and keep confidential information close to your vest.
Arrogant Interviewers
This may be the worst category. These are the interviewers that take calls during your interview, make 
demeaning remarks, and brag incessantly about their accomplishments. This particular breed of beast tends to behave worse in a panel interview, finding ways to make jokes (insults) at the candidate’s expense to inflate themselves in front of peers. They may roll their eyes or smirk to in an attempt to keep you off-kilter. You find yourself wondering if this is a test or if they are an arrogant jerk. One of my clients told me the interviewer asked her this: “Are you almost done? I need to get lunch.” Really? And when you bring your lunch back here, please give it to me so I can throw it at you. The nerve! The next interview that this interviewer goes on – and I am not typically vengeful, but I hope this comes back to him. In my opinion, he needs to get a bit of what he dishes out.
Have you found yourself in any of the presence of these types of interviewers? For your sake, I hope you have not experienced a nightmare interview. If you do, there are some words of wisdom to help. Like many other situations, clearly this is their problem, not yours! There is no excuse for this behavior, and you should not tolerate it. It is acceptable to hold a mirror to their behavior without stooping to their level. Lastly, pay attention to the signs. Don’t expect treatment from this manager to improve if you are hired. Seeing the signs at the interview stage could be a gift and help you avoid making a big mistake.