My interviewers were nervous and awkward

[nigelladawson]

I had an interview tonight. Honestly not to blow my own trumpet but I really think the interview went perfectly and I said everything I wanted to and said it well.

However, when I first went in the interviewers were really a bit awkward. They introduced themselves then I said that I had met them at a networking event a few months ago. They then remembered me but it was really awkward like they both looked visibly uncomfortable. It was okay during the interview but at the end they looked a bit uncomfortable again.

AIBU to think this is a bad sign? Why would they be nervous and uncomfortable when they're asking the questions?

It could be that they were inexperienced interviewers, hence appearing nervous. Good luck!

Perhaps they were embarrassed at not remembering you?

The only interview I had that was like this, I got the job and I left after two months. It was the worst run business I have ever encountered. Totally unprofessional and the manager was nasty bully. 6 people left in an 8 month period.

The key question is - did anything happen at the networking event that would’ve made meeting again awkward?

Some people find conducting an interview to be extremely awkward and stressful, more so than being an interviewee. It could just have been that I suppose.

@Voord

The key question is - did anything happen at the networking event that would’ve made meeting again awkward?

That’s what my first thought was. They’re known for something and was worried the op knew. Not a good sign really

Unless you’re about to drip feed that you got wildly drunk at this event and strutted on the table, stripped to the waist, singing ‘I will survive’, I expect it’s just that they’re not very good interviewers.

No nothing happened at the event - I was driving and I hardly spoke to them just a polite hello and introduction.

Maybe there’s an internal or preferred candidate and they’re going through the motions. If you are embarrassed to know you are wasting someone’s time and effort by interviewing them, it could come out in your body language.

My first thought - and I hope it's not correct - is that you had no chance of the job, it's already been earmarked for someone else, and they had the grace to be embarrassed about wasting your time and going through the motions of interviewing you.

Particularly when you reminded them you'd met previously.

Good luck though!

Cross post with @SarahBellam

We have clearly had similar experiences. I've been that candidate.

Maybe they did something embarrassing at the event

I had a job where I was in charge of recruitment, but it wasn’t my main role, just that someone needed to do it and that person was me. The first few interviews I did, I was definitely as, if not more, nervous than the candidates were. If they don’t usually have anything to do with HR it might be that they were genuinely nervous.

They probably screwed up somehow at the networking event

It could be something as simple as they have got used to conducting interviews over Zoom and this was a first in person interview they'd done in a while and it felt odd.

Why do you think they were awkward? Could it be unconscious bias on your part - eg assuming everyone has a neutral line to their lips when some ppl have a downturned mouth.

I've interviewed people and honestly felt so nervous about it I definitely think I was more nervous than the candidates. I tried my best not to let it show though.

They might not be comfortable with interviewing. I loathed interviewing people but occasionally had to as part of my role. Honestly the first few years were horrendous, I must have seemed a nervous wreck.

Just because the interviewer is in the position of power doesn't mean they enjoy the process.

What role would the interviewers play, if you were to accept a job there? Are they in the line of management or are they pre-screening people before other interviews?

They may just not be very experienced but I think it's a bad sign for a company to have two inexperienced people front up an interview.

I would be very cautious about continuing their interview process. Who know what else they are not very good at ?

Maybe there’s an internal or preferred candidate and they’re going through the motions. If you are embarrassed to know you are wasting someone’s time and effort by interviewing them, it could come out in your body language

This.

I've had two interviews where the interviewers were very nervous.

The first time there was a lot of effing and blinding coming from the room next door and it carried through the walls as clear as day. I had to put the interviewer at ease by explaining that I was an internal candidate.

Second time was by the owner of a private hospital who is, I have since discovered, notorious for advertising non-existent business development jobs and interviewing everyone who works for a competitor or a commissioner purely to pump them for information. His deputy sat in on mine and at least had the good grace to look uncomfortable.

I've found that in the NHS when you're up against internal candidates and have no chance of getting the job, they are so brazen about it that they are actually quite relaxed.

Well I got the job!

Well done! Are you going to accept it?

Congrats op they were obvs just nervous interviewers. My manager gets dead nervy when doing them.

Thank you! 😊 yes I've accepted it!