The hostile interviewer
We often anticipate the interviewer to be friendly and well mannered. However, there are occasions in which the interviewer turns out to be hostile, impatient, inconsiderate and even aggressive. This may be due to their lack of experience, being unprofessional or plainly because they have an unpleasant personal nature.
An interview conducted by such a person may induce apprehension or even anger on the applicants' part. In addition it may even compromise their self confidence. The higher the sense of insecurity and sensitivity is on the applicants' part, the greater the negative effect it will have. This may manifest itself in unwillingness to cooperate with the interviewer and subsequently disqualify the applicant.
The job applicant may also think:
“If the interviewer is so hostile this may be indicative of the atmosphere at work and I have no wish to work with such colleagues or in such atmosphere”.
Hostile interviewer vs. Friendly interviewer
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How to cope with the situation?
This attitude quoted above is counter-productive. First and foremost it may inhibit the applicants' ability to effectively cope with the interview and second, the conclusion drawn may be wrong altogether. Perhaps the interviewers' behavior is not indicative of anything – just of their own inappropriate behavior and you may lose out on a wonderful opportunity. Moreover, perhaps the interviewer has deliberately acted in such a way to assess your ability to handle unpleasant situations.
Remember!
Regardless of who the interviewer is you must always be well mannered and respond in a concise and professional manner. Your goal is to prove that even when you face an unpleasant interviewer you can face up to the challenge and be professional. If you have faith in your self, avoid trying to please the interviewer. Believe in your abilities and you will be able to cope with any interviewer.
Important!
You must act in a professional manner even when facing a hostile interviewer. If you are concise and well mannered despite the interviewer's progression you will be respected. The interviewer will know that you are a person that is easy to get along with, a person that can withstand pressure and deal with unpleasant situations.
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