You’ve landed a job interview: you’ve done your company research, polished your CV and prepped for every possible line of questioning. With butterflies in your stomach, you walk confidently into the interview room, sit down and prepare to put your best foot forward and land the role… only to quickly discover that the person interviewing you is the one who isn’t up to scratch.

It’s no secret that job interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially if it’s for a role that you really want, but this can increase tenfold when the person across the table makes you second-guess yourself and whether you’re good enough for the role. 

“There are a few tell-tale signs that someone is a bad interviewer but, ultimately, they don’t bring out the best in you in the interview and, even worse, make it memorable for all the wrong reasons,” explains Sophie O’Brien, founder of Pollen Careers, an entry-level recruitment agency. “They might fail to ask the right questions (or questions they should know the answer to), are disengaged, bored or even rude because, unfortunately, many interviewers don’t have the training to interview correctly.”

Indeed, last year an industry report found that less than a third (32%) of employers had enforced interview training. So what can you do to thrive in an interview, even if the interviewer is terrible? 

React to disengagement with ease

“Managing your emotions and understanding the emotions of people around you are great tools to master in your professional life, and that includes interviews,” says O’Brien. “If someone is looking away, zones out or is performing any activity that might signal disengagement, it’s important to not let it unnerve you or affect your ability to answer questions confidently.”

For example, if your interviewer is visibly disengaged, try to re-engage them. At the end of your answer, throw a question back at them and ask them what their perspective is, to pull them back into the conversation. This shows that you’re aware of their actions, but also levels the power dynamic and forces them to be present.

Remind yourself of your strengths and achievements

When someone is visibly disengaged, it’s hard not to take it personally and let it wobble your confidence. But remember your achievements, the highlights of your career or life experiences, and know your worth. “Reminding yourself of these things can help you maintain confidence throughout the interview,” agrees O’Brien.

Spark conversation

“Finding common ground or making small talk with a rude interviewer might be the last thing you want to do, but it could be the answer to re-engaging them,” suggest O’Brien. “Ask them about what they enjoy about working here and about their highlights of working at the company. Although this interview is about you, flattery goes a long way and sometimes people aren’t cold or unfriendly intentionally.”

Know your boundaries and when to walk away

Sometimes people have bad days, and sometimes they bring it to work. An interviewer who seems a little disengaged or fails to ask good questions isn’t ideal but it can be forgiven. But someone who is intentionally rude, trying to make you squirm or embarrass you, isn’t okay. “It might be an insight into what it’s really like to work at this company and a red flag for what the company culture is actually like,” says O’Brien. “Know your limits and know that it’s fine to say: ‘I’m not sure this interview is working for me. I won’t take up more of your time, so I’d like to terminate this interview. Thank you for your time.’”

Be honest about your experience

“After the interview, it’s important to give the company feedback,” adds O’Brien. “They likely won’t be aware of how your interviewer behaved, so it’s important to give insight as to why you didn’t go through with the role and for the company to be aware of the situation so they can avoid making future candidates feel this way.” When you do feedback, however, make sure to be objective, polite and express what the interviewer did to make you feel uncomfortable. This means that you won’t burn any bridges, but also gives the company a chance to apologise. You never know, they may even offer an interview with someone else.

Images: Getty