Articles on Writing Resumes, Careers
Getting Hired, & Job Searching

Did you ever have an interview where the interviewer seemed more interested in talking about everything and anything but you? There may be several reasons why interviewers talk too much. For some, it is a way of dealing with nervousness. Another might simply be that the interviewer has already made a judgment -- positive or negative -- based on a first impression, and really doesn't feel a need to hear more from you. You might wonder how they can possibly know if you are the right person for the job if they don't ask questions and give you a chance to give them examples of your experiences.

K.C. was confident that this job was a good fit for him. Unfortunately, from the beginning of the interview, he could see it was not going to go as anticipated. His interviewer, Nasar, began telling him about the company, the people in the office and how things were going for the business. K.C. waited patiently for his turn to talk. All of the sudden, Nasar stood up and asked him if he would like to tour the office. K.C. didn't know what to say, so he agreed.

At the end of the tour and much to K.C.'s surprise, Nasar shook his hand and told him that the company would be making the decision in about a week. K.C. left the building wondering what had just happened. Where had he gone wrong?

The Strategy

When the interviewer does most of the talking, there is not a lot you can do to change the behavior. But, there are a few things you can try to assist this person in learning about you and what you have to offer.

• Make a good first impression. Although important in any interview, it is especially important when you don't get an opportunity to sell yourself.
• Watch for an opening to make the conversation more interactive. Show an interest in the company, product or person.
• Listen to the information being given. The information given may be a key to whether you want to work for this company.
• Listen for clues about the company's problems. Offer suggestions based on your past experience or research.
• Be prepared. Prepare a two-minute summary of your background and what you are looking for.
• Let the interviewer know why you think you are a good match for the job. Say something like, "I'd like to share my experiences and projects I've worked on that are similar to some of the duties you've mentioned."
• Don't take it personally or become defensive. Wait it out, and ask questions as appropriate.
• Resign yourself. This interview is just not going to be interactive.
• Consider yourself lucky. You've been given insight into the company. If this person were to be your boss, would you want to work for someone who seems to never stop talking?
• Continue your job search. For whatever reason, this interview didn't work. Move on.

There is no foolproof method for success in dealing with this type of situation. Try not to let an interviewer's lack of skills affect your performance or attitude in future interviews. Be aware that some interviewers have problems with interviewing and be prepared to deal with the situation ahead of time so you won't be caught off guard and blame yourself.