4. How Rude

Another stress interview tactic is when the employer is being rude or dismissive – they will likely even act disinterested in you. Perhaps they will keep checking their phone, take a call, or fiddle through papers. They may also interrupt you, saying things like “you lost me halfway through. Can you start over and get to the point this time?”.

The interviewer is testing both your confidence and patience. Don’t backtrack – calmly repeat your answer, stick to your response, and clarify anything that may need it. If they have questions, calmly respond to them. This way, you are showing them that you can remain calm and respectful in tough situations, but you are also confident enough to stand your ground.

5. Random Questions

Sometimes, an employer might ask you a really random question. Things like “if you could redesign a clock, how would you do it?” or even “I’d like you to jump out of the window now”. They’re putting you on the spot to test how creatively you think. If you’re sitting there thinking that you aren’t creative, don’t sweat it. They’re not asking for anything crazy, they’re looking for an answer with valid reasoning. If you can justify your reason well, they’ll be happy.

Don’t forget in this situation, you can ask questions yourself. Ask for clarifications or specifications. Ask what the benefits would be – both company and personal.

6. More Than One Opinion

We often think of the interview as beginning when we sit down in the chair across from our (hopefully) future employer. The reality is in many businesses, the interview has already begun before you reach that point and often isn’t immediately over when the questioning is.

Many employers will ask the receptionist, driver, or whoever your first point of contact was how you were. For situations where you are flown in or they have a driver pick you up, they will ask the driver and whoever assists you on the way how you were. This goes beyond simply not being rude, but how interactive you were. Did you chat with them, were you scrolling on your phone, or were you quiet the whole time? Our suggestion is to make polite small talk at the very least, as uncomfortable as that may be for you.

7. Introduces You To Your Potential Coworkers

Some employers may introduce you to others in the office after the interview. While you might be thinking “oh, I’ve got this one in the bag because they’re introducing me to the team!” think again. After these interactions with future colleagues, the employer will then ask them what their impression of you was. Their opinions are important as they are the ones who will be working with you on a daily basis. Be friendly and be yourself.

The Bottom Line

Interviews are tricky, and you should expect them to at the very least ask you some tough, out-of-the-box questions. Be prepared and don’t forget to take your time, breathe, and think of your response. They are going to try to fluster you a bit. If you are aware of this ahead of time, you will be mentally prepared and ready to handle whatever they throw at you.