Interview Insights: When It Gets Weird
Interviews are nerve-wracking for us all. It’s hard to know where you stand sometimes, and whether or not you made a good impression.
However, sometimes it’s clear that you’re not making a good impression. You might have said the wrong thing, been thrown off guard, or just aren’t connecting with the interviewer. Seeing an interview go south right before your eyes is stressful, but it doesn’t always have to be the final outcome.
Sequioa Taylor has some tips on how to handle a few (of many) sticky interview situations in her article here. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorites below.
- The low-energy hiring manager: You’re in the interview giving it your all, but your interviewer seems disengaged and even bored. This could be for a variety of different reasons, so don’t panic and don’t assume it’s about you. Whether it is or isn’t, don’t match the energy level of the manager. Maintain high energy and engagement, and be sure to remain friendly and courteous.
- The botched answer: You get thrown a curve ball question, and your answer is less than great. The best thing to do for this is to just move on. We all give sub par answers at one time or another, and if you ruminate on it you’re more likely to slip up on more questions.
- The ringing phone: I don’t need to tell you that your phone should *never* be on during an interview. If it is by mistake and it goes off, all you can do is apologize and quickly shut it off. Don’t harp on it too much, but be sure that your apology is sincere.
- The “so why did you leave your last job” question: Any hiring manager is going to ask you this, so make sure you’re prepared for it. DON’T bad mouth your last position, especially not your last boss, no matter how hard the situation was. If they prod more into why it was a bad situation, try to be as discrete as possible and talk about the positive learning experience you had a result.
Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain.
Recent Posts
All Staffing Firms Are Not the Same When it Comes to Placements
The standards for staffing agencies, when selecting a candidate for a specific position, may differ slightly, to drastically, depending on the types of job, the client, the length of assignment, as well as how the Recruiter is compensated. Traditionally, a firm may...
What Staffing Agencies Look for in Candidates
Do you want to know the secrets to making a great impression on a staffing agency Recruiter? Here are a couple of tips as well as insight on what Recruiters are looking for. First, they want the type of candidate who will take their job search activities seriously and...
Employers Have Choices Too! Part Three of Three Part Series
As we mentioned in the previous two parts of this series, employers certainly have choices when it comes to utilizing the services of a qualified staffing firm to accommodate their specific employment needs. Whether you require a temporary contract employee or the...
Employers Have Choices Too! Part Two of Three Part Series
Staffing choices can have massive ramifications to a public or private organization. Hiring the wrong individual may cost a company millions while making a great hire could lead to a vast increase in profits as well as other invaluable benefits such as positive brand...
Employers Have Choices Too! Part One of Three Part Series
Decades ago, public and private organizations turned to staffing firms mainly to fill temporary gaps when full-time employees were out, a project required more staff, or to help an employer catch up with day to day operations. Employees could find themselves working...
Starting and Leaving a Job Professionally is Crucial For Long Term Success
In today’s market, unlike in past years, there are many new and unique work opportunities for job seekers. Previously, individuals would have to “pay their dues” before moving up the success ladder. That is not the case today in the Greater Boston area as well as the...
Secrets to Snagging a Contract Opportunity And a Better Career Future
Very few people are able to secure their dream job or even a regular position as soon as they graduate from high school, vocational school, or higher ed. Unless your degree is from an ivy league university or you are someone who has worked in a particular field...
A Thank You to Contemporaries CEO Donna Fitzgerald (From The Staff)
On February 2, 1998 Contemporaries, Inc. quietly celebrated its 24th year anniversary. The Boston-based staffing firm began as the vision of President and CEO Donna Fitzgerald who spent a decade in the industry before launching her own small business. Rather than...
Designing A Successful Resume: Build It, Send It, Land It (The Job!)
The first thing you’ll hear as a Contemporaries job seeker, when posing the question, “How do I get a job?” is start by sending your resume. This is the initial step. Then, as some of you reading this may know, we check with our team on jobs we are tasked with filling...
On Tolerance
It goes without saying that our current world is filled with many prisms and perspectives. Most workplaces are filled with diverse individuals who come from different backgrounds and bring with them various beliefs, opinions, and ideologies. While you may see...
New Year, New Thoughts: Simple Substitutions For a Successful 2022
We made it to January. January 2022. Although we suspect The Holidays brought quality family time and joy to many of you, the Contemporaries Team also recognizes the stress of the immediate world and wishes to take a moment to release you from the pressure of...
It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of Year To…Stream Holiday Movies!
It’s hard to believe that Christmas, and the Holiday Season are upon us already. It’s been quite a challenging few weeks for many, and our team at Contemporaries, Inc., wishes you a healthy and happy holiday season, no matter what you’re celebrating. So, we are going...
Progress Not Perfection: How To Navigate New Year Resolutions
As the year winds down (didn’t it seem to just fly by?) it becomes natural and societally encouraged to reflect on the last 365 days, as well as goals for the New Year. While these reflections can often feel forced and can come with undue pressure (think New Year’s...
Thanksgiving: An Ode To Gratitude
It’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving. No matter the connotations associated with this holiday, it is undoubtedly one that brings family together, is a pause in one’s working life, and a time - if you are lucky - for reflection, and safe hibernation. And, it’s...