Why am I so intimidating?
I have a reputation among the less senior actuaries at work. I am known as the tough/intimidating interviewer. I occasionally interview actuarial candidates that come into the office to talk about full time or internship positions. Never fail, word gets back to me at the end of the day that I was the most difficult interview. One time, the candidate mentioned to another friend of mine on his interview schedule that I was really tough and my friend told the candidate, "Wait until you see him drunk. Then he is actually cool". This particular candidate received an offer, came back for an internship, and agreed with that statement. Ouch.
Why am I the bad guy? I am not grilling these people or trying to make them feel uncomfortable.
I interviewed a very interesting candidate today for a summer internship. He currently attends a nearby small college, but he is originally from Zimbabwe. I would have loved to spend 45 minutes talking about what life is like in Zimbabwe. It's the African country that fascinates me the most since it is so politically corrupt and backwards. The fact that he is fortunate enough to excel in a messed up education system and succeed in a U.S. university is amazing and I would have loved to hear his life story. However, I needed to gauge whether he was qualified for a summer internship, so I couldn't ask the fun questions. I did recommend him for an internship, so hopefully he gets an offer and comes back this summer so that I can get to hear his life story.
I think my problem is that I am so focused on making sure the candidate answers the questions that I ask and assessing their skills that I am incapable of keeping a natural conversation feel to the interview. I really do try, but I guess I suck at it because I am not trying to intimidate or scare the candidate.
Does anyone have suggestions for how I can be less scary?
Why am I the bad guy? I am not grilling these people or trying to make them feel uncomfortable.
I interviewed a very interesting candidate today for a summer internship. He currently attends a nearby small college, but he is originally from Zimbabwe. I would have loved to spend 45 minutes talking about what life is like in Zimbabwe. It's the African country that fascinates me the most since it is so politically corrupt and backwards. The fact that he is fortunate enough to excel in a messed up education system and succeed in a U.S. university is amazing and I would have loved to hear his life story. However, I needed to gauge whether he was qualified for a summer internship, so I couldn't ask the fun questions. I did recommend him for an internship, so hopefully he gets an offer and comes back this summer so that I can get to hear his life story.
I think my problem is that I am so focused on making sure the candidate answers the questions that I ask and assessing their skills that I am incapable of keeping a natural conversation feel to the interview. I really do try, but I guess I suck at it because I am not trying to intimidate or scare the candidate.
Does anyone have suggestions for how I can be less scary?
posted by GaryGinew at 9:32 PM
2 Comments:
Honestly, I wouldn't sweat it. You're not there to be their friend. Hell, at this point, you're senior enough that anyone you interview has the potential to be working for you (or for the people working for you). Newbies' opinions don't matter.
If you're really looking for a tip, visual and audible cues are always helpful. If the candidate is even remotely close to a coherent answer, a subtle nod or a smile or even a "uh huh" usually helps. Tell them at the very start you plan to keep it informal (even if it's a complete lie). That way they trick themselves into thinking it's informal - makes it less intimidating.
Of course, I think candidates think I'm intimidating...
I suggest having the fangs removed and perhaps putting away the nalgene full of blood during the interview. Maybe less maniacal laughter?
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