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The vast majority of job interviews may be a stressful experience, but by and large they go smoothly and both parties are professional. Once in a while however, you may end up dealing with an interviewer who is not professional. They may even be hostile towards you. Before you let the situation spiral out of control, here are a few things to remember to help you get through it.
1. Remember it is not personal. The interviewer may simply be having a bad day, they may be stressed out and they are letting it show in an unprofessional manner. Don’t take it personally and don’t be tempted to engage them in their hostility.
2. Try to diffuse the situation. A lighthearted joke may ease a tense moment, but if the interviewer is simply just hostile to everything this technique may not work. If you feel uncomfortable and the interview is not going well, it is best to excuse yourself and get out of the situation before it worsens.
3. Maintain your cool. It is all too common to want to fight fire with fire. This is not a good idea in a job interview. Keep your cool, try to keep the interview on the right track and do not attempt to fire back, even if you feel as though you are being treated unfairly.
After you leave the interview, give yourself a few hours to cool down and think about the situation. If the interviewer was truly unprofessional and did not appear to just be having a bad day, you may want to discuss this with human resources in their company. However, in most cases, it’s best just to chalk up the interview to experience and part ways.
Don’t get discouraged and remember, there are plenty of jobs out there. You will find the right one, even if you have some bumps along the road.