How to Deal With an Inexperienced Interviewer

It is surprisingly common that a candidate meets an interviewer who is (internally) more nervous than they are. Meeting an inexperienced interviewer can make for an awkward and sub-optimal experience.

Interviews may come around vanishingly rarely for certain managers. Their interview skills may be incredibly rusty when the time does come. This can cause any number of problems for a candidate who is theoretically not in control of the direction of discussions.

I would like to share ten flaws of an inexperienced interviewer that can be problematic for candidates. If you spot that an interviewer is uncomfortable in the situation and starting to show some of these signs, you can steel yourself for the inevitable others to come.

10 signs of an inexperienced interviewer

Haven’t read your CV. If an interviewer comes into an interview without your CV and hasn’t read it, always take a couple of extra printed copies. Politely asked if they would like a copy and get ready to take control of the interview direction.

Ask too many closed questions. Closed questions demand a brief yes/no answer. A confident candidate should choose to expand on them anyway. Answer: “Are you good at managing projects?” by avoiding the word “yes.” Simply launch into a relevant story.

Ramble and talk too much. When interviewers are nervous, they tend to find comfort in their own voice and may talk about things that are not directly related to the job. Interject with a related example that brings you into the conversation at an appropriate point.

Ask personal or illegal questions. How many school-age children do you have? What is your religion? How many years until you wish to retire? Some people may consider these harmless questions, but feel free to choose not to answer them directly. You do not have to.

Seem shy and unsure of themselves. If your interviewer seems uncertain of themselves, the best tactic is to gently take control of the interview. Ask them if they would like to hear about your various career highlights. Offer reasons to remember you.

Betraying inexperience

Want to be somewhere else. If you are interviewed by another non-HR person other than your direct future boss, they may act somewhat disinterested. They probably have different work priorities, but they will likely follow if you keep your energy and enthusiasm high.

Ask irrelevant questions. You should always do an interviewer the courtesy of answering their questions, no matter how irrelevant. Still, there is nearly always a way of turning the answer into something that will share something about what you do want to say.

Spend too much time on small talk. An inexperienced interviewer will want you to like them, but an “easy” interview full of small talk will not tell them anything significant about you as a candidate. Bring the topic of conversation onto business wherever possible.

Display signs of biased judgment. If you sense any bias from the interviewer, this is a significant interview red flag. If they do not think anything of discriminatory behaviour, what sort of workplace must it be? Make a mental note and consider your options carefully.

Clearly aren’t listening to you. An interviewer who isn’t listening to you also reflects poorly on the employer culture. Not listening isn’t a matter of not knowing how to conduct an interview – it is rude. Is this an exception or the rule? Judge by your impressions of others.

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This blog is shared with Job Seeker Duetists. 

Written by former recruitment ghostwriter Paul Drury (not AI).