| You've spent the time to put together a dynamite | | | | job interviewer, and any notes that may be taken, for |
| resume. You've sent out your resume to a select | | | | required forms or such, are quick, rapid posts, and |
| group of potential employers. One or more of those | | | | abbreviated scrawls. When you encounter such |
| prospective employers have responded, and at least | | | | behavior in a job interview, it's likely your job |
| one of them has set up a face-to-face job interview | | | | interviewer is distracted, and has their mind on some |
| with you. The date is set. You prepare, so you can | | | | other topic, as opposed to giving you a fair chance to |
| WOW them with your skills and problem solving, once | | | | express your skills and experience. |
| you are sitting in front of the hiring manager. The job is | | | | What should you do at such a point in a job interview? |
| one you are convinced is perfect for you, your career, | | | | If you find yourself with a distracted job interviewer, |
| and fits the job requirements you have set for | | | | first of all, realize that maybe, just maybe, they are |
| yourself. Now, you sit in an office, have met the | | | | dealing with an unspoken urgent matter of which you |
| person whom may move you forward into an offer of | | | | are unaware. Give them a chance to realize the |
| hire, if the job interview goes well for you. But there is | | | | impact of their behavior. If, after a reasonable time, the |
| a problem, a big problem. You job interviewer - is | | | | distraction is still obvious, simply level the playing field, |
| distracted. Their attention seems somewhere other | | | | so to speak - pause for a moment, smile, then ask |
| than the job interview at hand. What does that mean | | | | them in a friendly, but serious tone: "Is this still a good |
| to your efforts to get hired? And how do you fix it, | | | | time for this visit?" Then add: "I can see you are |
| before you get filtered out of the company's hiring | | | | somewhat distracted right now, if it's more convenient |
| process? | | | | to reschedule this job interview, I'd be happy to do so." |
| Let's take a look at the scenario described above and | | | | Don't make it sound like an accusation or complaint. |
| review your choices for managing the issues at hand. | | | | Tweak your words, as if you are offering to do a |
| Okay, your job interviewer is distracted, for whatever | | | | favor for a friend or acquaintance. You may be |
| reason. How do you know that? Let's take a look at | | | | surprised. The job interviewer may disclose the source |
| some of the symptoms of a distracted job interviewer. | | | | of their distraction to you, so you can understand their |
| First, there is little eye contact from him or her to you. | | | | circumstances. They may even take you up on your |
| Often there is no smile or friendly exchange, every | | | | offer to reschedule the job interview. That's to your |
| interaction is a bare minimum of cordial. They don't | | | | advantage. That result may help create a bond |
| seem to catch what you say in your responses to | | | | between you both, as the hiring agent is now |
| their job interview questions. Several times they have | | | | somewhat obligated to your considerations. |
| asked you to repeat your answers. That probably | | | | Either way, whether they confide or dismiss your offer |
| means they are not listening to what you say to them. | | | | and continue with the job interview, you will likely find |
| Maybe the interviewer moves robot-like, going through | | | | the job interviewer significantly more attentive to you |
| the motions with zero enthusiasm, they may even | | | | and the workplace details you polished for them to |
| seem disorganized. Few, if any, notes are taken by the | | | | enjoy. |