Not all interviewers are trained in interviewing techniques. If yours is inexperienced, unprepared, or doesn't ask the right questions, use these strategies to manage the interview and put yourself in the best possible light
Guide the interview
Steer the conversation away from irrelevancies by offering to talk your interviewer through your CV, referring to an aspect of the job description where you have expertise, or asking your own questions to get back on track.
This tactic is especially useful if the interviewer isn't asking questions which allow you to showcase your strengths. Ask a job-related question, let the interviewer answer, then reply, linking your strengths and achievements. For example: "Is troubleshooting the most vital element of this job? This was a crucial part of my previous role and I (insert your achievements here)."
Questions that allow you to highlight your suitability include those relating to the sort of person they're looking for, the expectations of the role and how the ideal candidate could exceed these expectations.
Interview the interviewer
The interview is also your opportunity to decide if you want the job. Don't wait until the end of the interview for your questions if you feel the interview is faltering. A great question to ask is why the interviewer enjoys working there, as it usually generates an unrehearsed, and therefore honest, reply.
Get feedback
A successful outcome often depends on your ability to join everything up for the interviewer — the extent to which you align your strengths and skills to their requirements and remove any doubts about your suitability. Checking you've answered a question fully or if you should give further information invites the interviewer to raise any concerns, which in turn gives you the chance to reiterate or expand.
Feedback allows you to gauge how the interview is going and means you can deal with issues as they arise. It's especially important to check your interviewer is satisfied with your explanations for potentially thorny areas (such as why you left a job) before you move on.
In a Live Q&A on How to succeed at interview, Michael Buchan says
"Feedback is a great way of helping you control the urge to say too much in the hope that you hit the right points."
Interrupt politely
Curb a garrulous interviewer by waiting for a pause and then interrupting. Leaning forward indicates you have something important and relevant to say.
Also from the Q&A, Denise Taylor suggests "Try not to encourage the interviewer by your non-verbal language or supportive comments. When the interviewer draws breath, you might say firmly "I'd like to respond to what you've been saying" and keep going. Without being discourteous, you can also sometimes tactfully ignore the cues that the interviewer wants to speak again."
Deal with unexpected questions calmly
Refusing to answer an inappropriate question (such as something relating to marital status or your plans for children) can make you look argumentative. Instead, address the concern behind the question (how you'd cope with long working hours or extensive travel) without getting drawn into no-go areas.
Alec Grimsley recommends asking for thinking time. "When asked a question like this, you may be split between wanting to give the right answer so you're still perceived as a good candidate, yet another voice in your head might be saying 'That's an unsuitable or inappropriate question'.
"My advice would be to give yourself some thinking time by asking for clarification or by phrasing the question in a way that allows you to test out your assumption. By asking for clarification it forces the other person to be more clear giving you time to think and also to not make any incorrect assumptions yourself."
Don't be thrown by a stress question, such as "If you could be any animal, which would you be?" Work out what personality trait the interviewer is interested in and how this relates to the demands of the job or the company.
Manage the atmosphere
It's irritating if your interviewer is late or appears not to have read your CV. Always bring a copy of your CV to the interview, so you can refer to your skills or achievements to get the ball rolling. Avoid seeming impatient with nervous or inexperienced interviewers, instead aim to build rapport to reinforce your image as someone who will be a pleasure to work with.
