Whether you’re fairly new to interviews or you’ve sat through every variation imaginable, you’ve certainly had both pleasant and not-so-pleasant experiences with candidates.
It’s very easy for people to list their best characteristics and strongest attributes on their resume but as we all know, things aren’t always what they seem. That’s just the reality when it comes to people.
Although a candidate may look perfect on paper and have qualities that seem to be perfect for the role you’re hiring for, you might still get the occasional surprise that can catch you off guard when you show up for your interviews.
What should you do when you hop on a video interview and your candidate is late, low energy, and underqualified? How do you handle this difficult situation?
We’ve curated a few things you can do to navigate these difficult situations and things you should keep in mind throughout the entire process.
Don’t take it personally – but also take note before sending this candidate to the next round.
You’re definitely not the first person to be greeted by this particular, seemingly uninterested, candidate. They’re definitely reserving the same lack of interest for all their other interviews.
On the flip side, they might also just be having an off day, so suggest rescheduling the interview for a different date and time that will better suit them if they’re not particularly capable of giving the current interview their undivided attention – or stick to your first instinct if you believe this candidate might not be the best fit for the role you’re hiring for.
Maintain your control.
Although it may feel like you’ve had the rug pulled from under you, just remember that you are still the one responsible for conducting the interview which means you have more control over the proceedings than you might think.
If things start to feel like they’re escalating to a point where it’s inhibiting your ability to do your job, kindly remind the candidate that you need them to cooperate by being on time and that answering your questions thoroughly and showing interest will only help them in the process.
If it ends up being necessary, you can stop the interview at any time and either reschedule or simply cross it off of your list.
Don’t allow yourself to be baited.
There’s nothing worse than having someone else’s negative behavior reflect into your presentation.
If you end up asking the candidate about their lack of interest or perceived boredom, don’t be surprised if they become confrontational.
Many people’s natural instinct will be to defend themselves in any situation where they feel attacked so this response in normal, although not the desired outcome, of course.
The important thing is that you don’t allow yourself to be baited and raise your voice or lose your temper. Remain calm and maintain your composure at all times for the sake of your professional integrity.
