5 Types of Interviewers
To give you a little extra help, here is a list of 5 types of interviewers you might encounter and how to deal with them.
1. The rule follower
What to expect: Every interviewing tip you've ever been told. Just like some students never imagine skipping a day of school or not doing homework, some interviewers can't imagine going outside of traditional business interviewing protocol. Boring questions and a stoic demeanor are this interviewer's best friend.
What to do: Be the best interviewee you can be. Do you know what your biggest weakness is? Do you know how to give the perfect handshake? Do you plan on wearing a conservative shirt under your jacket? You had better, because these by-the-book practices will earn you high marks.
2. The mafia
What to expect: An intimidating group. Every group interview is an ordeal. The interviewers might be lovely, horrible or a mix, but you still have several sets of eyes staring at you.
What to do: Try to relax. That seems like impossible advice, but it's the best approach. When you have multiple interviewers, you will see several types of interviewers, so you can't try to please everyone. Try to be yourself and find the interviewers that seem the most responsive to you. When you see someone nodding in agreement or maintaining eye contact, you'll feel more at ease and the nerves will begin to disappear.
3. The joker
What to expect: A comedy routine. Some interviewers have such a good sense of humor that they can't shut it off even when they need to. You'll answer a question and you'll receive a sarcastic comment or a funny aside. This approach isn't inherently bad, but it can confuse you because you're not sure if the interview has even begun.
What to do: After a few minutes, you'll realize that your interviewer is a joker. If this personality bugs you, you probably won't like working for the company. If it doesn't bother you too much, then try to play along. Joke back and show that you have a personality. For some interviewers, your résumé proved your qualification; the interview is their chance to see if you fit in with the gang.
4. Your best friend
What to expect: Too much of everything. You walk in the door and the handshake is a little too enthusiastic. The smile is too wide. The conversation is too personal. It's all just too much. This interviewer treats you like a best friend, which is nice, but this style is unnerving because you want to be relaxed without forgetting that you are still on an interview.
What to do: Take this approach as a cue that you can be a little less rigid in the interview because the best friend doesn't want an uptight employee. Just remind yourself that the interviewer can be more casual than you because he isn't the one interviewing for the job. Show the interviewer that you're relaxed, but stay professional and don't act like you're actually good friends -- stories about wild parties and your personal life don't belong in the conversation.
5. The interrogator
What to expect: Question after question after question. The interrogator doesn't come to the interview ready for conversation. He has a list of questions to fire off and you had better be ready to answer them. Don't expect to receive a lot of helpful feedback to gauge how you're doing. Just expect more questions.
What to do: Watch episodes of "Law & Order" to prepare. You're going to feel defensive the entire time and might walk away from the interview feeling as if you did something wrong. Once you realize that your interviewer is going to lambaste you with questions, just focus on answering them and don't obsess over reading his reaction. You can try to initiate conversation with a few of your answers, but don't be surprised if those efforts fail. This interviewer wants to hear your answers and see how you handle yourself, so staying calm is the best approach you can take.
