Observer in interview

[whatwasthisallabout]

I'm just trying to get some perspective on this as it doesn't feel right to me.

I recently had an internal interview, conducted remotely. As well as the two panel members I was expecting there was another person in the meeting. This person is someone who is known to me and someone that the successful candidate would be working closely with.

However they weren't a panel member, I hadn't been told that they would be present, and at no point in the interview was their presence explained or even acknowledged. Their camera and microphone were off so I have no idea what they were doing there.

I have reason to believe that this person's opinion influenced their decision not to give me the job- otherwise what were they doing there?

Am I right to think this is a bit off, or am I just bitter?

It’s difficult to tell. I often conduct interviews and does sometimes have people observing, for their own training but I would have introduced them as just observing for training. How was this person introduced to you?

They weren't introduced to me, though I suspect that's because we already know each other. I doubt they were in training, they've been on interview panels before so assume they've had all the necessary training already.

Hmmm...it's more likely there have been queries raised about the people on the panel following process in the past. I think they were there to keep an eye on the panel, not you.

You don’t have any right to question or veto who sits on an interview panel. So what difference would it have made if they’d been introduced to you? It seems a little impolite not to introduce them - but maybe that was just to speed things up.

@Mountaingoatling

Hmmm...it's more likely there have been queries raised about the people on the panel following process in the past. I think they were there to keep an eye on the panel, not you.

I would think this as well

Thanks @Mountaingoatling but I don't think that's it. One of the panel members is this person's manager, surely someone wouldn't be asked to keep an eye on their own manager.

I think they were there to assess my performance as, if I got the job, they would be the person working most closely with me.

Can you ask why they were there?
I gather you didn't get the job, have you been given any feedback on why or how you performed in the interview?

Why do you think someone who was not a panel member would have more sway on the decision that the two panel members themselves?

Did you know that you would be working closely with this person in the new job, is it someone that you don't like? If so, you have dodged a bullet in that case! It is always disappointing not to succeed at interview but don't take it too personally.

Is there an issue between you and this person?

Clearly if ther is and it would be difficult working together then this would need to be taken into account.

I think they were there to assess my performance as, if I got the job, they would be the person working most closely with me

Why do you see this as a negative? Surely it’s prudent in terms of management?

”I think they were there to assess my performance as, if I got the job, they would be the person working most closely with me.”

But why does this concern you? Other than you weren’t specifically told in advance they’d be there, what’s the actual issue?

There is no issue between me and this person that I'm aware of. We've worked together harmoniously in the past.

It's perfectly understandable that they would want this person to be there, but I was just a bit thrown that they weren't listed as a panel member and didn't contribute to the discussion at all, just sat there like a fly on the wall.

I might just query it with the lead interviewer, see what they have to say.

Mahogany think the only issue is that they were not introduced. Apart from that they can have whoever they like there.

*I think

Thanks all, you've been really helpful.

I just think if it was a face to face interview and there was someone sat silently in the corner, and they weren't acknowledged by the panel, that would be really weird, right?

What would you be querying? They've not offered you the job, so how would querying the decision not to specifically mention the additional person help you?

yes it would feel slightly odd not to acknowledge the presence of an additional person if it were an in-person interview, and therefore slightly odd not to say "Sue's going to be joining us as she'll be working closely with the person but she won't be asking any questions". But how does querying the fact they didn't say that help?

Observers are not uncommon.

Your posts aren’t making a lot of sense, you started off by saying this person would habe influenced their decision to not give you thr job, why would they do that if there is no issue between you and you work well together?

I wonder if they had been meeting before the interview to discuss it and the other person hadn't left the meeting properly?
I was recently on training on zoom and sometimes extra trainers were in the meeting room when I got in there, or sometimes they came into the room near the end of the session. One day a trainer didn't realise they were still in the room but were muted.

I think it's weird they didn't introduce them to you even if you know each other, made me wonder if it was a mistake.

Observers are not uncommon. Various reasons for that ...

However, you should have been introduced! It's common courtesy to do this at any interview - internal or external, whether you know the panel members or not. I might raise this with the Chair, as it just feels like poor recruitment practice.

I couldn't comment on the likelihood of them having influence on the decision, although I would actually assume not if they were observing rather than participating.

Eh maybe they were taking notes???

I think they can bring who they like, but they should have introduced everyone. I wonder if the other person was supposed to be there or rather it was meant for them to be there unbeknownst to you.

Either way, I am not sure it is something I would query now.

I have observed interviews once where I was actually the new team leader but I started too late to do the recruitment from start to finish. It was in person, and I was introduced as “an observer” - and it was fascinating that aside from initial hello not one of the candidates acknowledged my presence!