Some interviewers don't give you anything back. It can be hard to be energetic when you're getting nothing back from a stony-faced interviewer. Don't let the interviewer's lack of energy cause yours to fall.
Sit up, lean forward, use the speed and tone of your voice to impart energy.
This chapter of The Interviewing Series addresses how to deal with stony-faced interviewers—those who give no visual feedback or emotional response during an interview. These interviewers, often categorized as High C’s in DISC personality types, focus strictly on facts and follow a set list of questions without offering much interaction or empathy. The key advice is to focus on answering the questions as asked and not to get distracted by the interviewer’s lack of reaction. Recognize that their behavior may simply reflect their personality or style, rather than being an indication of your performance.
The second piece of advice is to not let your energy fall in response to their neutral demeanor. While stony-faced interviewers can make it difficult to gauge your performance, it’s important to maintain your own energy and enthusiasm. You can still bring energy to the interview through your tone of voice, posture, and speed. Even if the interviewer doesn’t reciprocate, your enthusiasm can still make a lasting impression, showing that you’re fully engaged with the opportunity at hand.
Lastly, the chapter advises against filling silences that may occur during the interview. Silence can be uncomfortable, but it’s often a deliberate tactic used by interviewers to see how candidates react. Instead of rushing to fill the silence with unnecessary words, simply wait patiently for the next question or prompt. If the silence persists and becomes awkward, you can ask if the interviewer would like you to elaborate on your answer. This approach helps maintain control over the interview without being drawn into unnecessary commentary. Ultimately, staying calm, energetic, and composed is the best strategy when dealing with stony-faced interviewers.
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