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| Martin Soap (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
In previous posts about job interviews I’ve focused on
interview questions and communications skills.
But have you thought about the people that are actually doing the
interviewing? They can help you decide how to answer questions and how to react
on interviews. There are several
different types of interviewers and learning to identify them can help you make
a better impression.
These are the 3 most common types of interviewers that you
are likely to come across in an interview.
The Confused Interviewer
Have you ever come across an interviewer that just doesn’t
seem to know what direction they are going in?
It happens. The interviewer might
be substituting for someone else or they just may have not been prepared for
some reason. Generally though, they just
seem to be kind of unorganized and they don’t really have a direction. This type of interviewer might cause you to
become flustered and confused to, because we tend to look towards this person
to guide the interview process.
This can actually be an advantage for you. Because this
interviewer doesn’t really know what direction to go in, you can take the lead
and give the most relevant information right off the bat. They’ll likely be
relieved. And they will see you as
confident and a leader. If you’ve done
your research on the company, you can really make yourself stand out among
other interviewees.
Take the opportunity to give complete answers about your
education and background. Be sure to
bring your area of expertise into the conversation and highlight your strengths
so that the interviewer will see you as a potential asset to the company.
The Poker Faced Interviewer
No matter what you say or do, you’re not going to get a reaction out of this
interviewer. If you’re not confident and
prepared going into the interview, this one will make you shake in your boots.
Take a deep breath before you start answering questions and
remind yourself that you are qualified for the job and you have a lot to
offer. When you answer questions, focus
on how you have succeeded in the past and your strengths. Ask the interviewer questions about the job
or the company to get a better vision of what they consider important.
The Wanna-be Sherlock Holmes Interviewer
This interviewer is after facts. They will want proof of everything you
say. They may ask you if they can
contact the manager or supervisor of your previous job. They might even have looked at your social
media activity.
Win this interviewer over by being very specific when
answering questions. Include dates and
names of people you worked with to show that you have nothing to hide. Be prepared for this interviewer by bring any
documentation you might have that can back up your statements. And if you didn’t have something that you
could provide, offer to send it to him after the interview (make sure you have
the right contact info, too).
