The Nice Guys
Definitely the easiest people to interview with, Nice Guys approach the interview with a laid back energy and want to make sure you feel heard. There aren’t too many tips to deal with this type of interviewer other than stay on topic. These types of recruiters typically give you the best interview experience you could ask for and are happy to offer up tips for future interviews.
The Robots
By far the most boring, Robots are exactly what you’d expect being interviewed by a computer would be like. They ask direct, but shallow questions and generally are just looking to tick boxes on a qualifications checklist rather than getting to know you. The biggest struggle you’ll find in this interview is staying awake. Try to bring some energy into this interview by using personal anecdotes where you can and try to let your personality shine.
The Michael Scotts’
Anyone who has seen The Office remembers the crazy, often overwhelming office manager Michael Scott. Well, you may see similar characters when you’re out interviewing for positions. Interviewers, given the nature of their job, are typically very outgoing people. Some can take it a bit too far and bring too much energy into the interview. In most cases, you want to have a good amount of energy from your interviewer; but if you see that they are going a little overboard, stay calm and try to keep the conversation on topic.
The Dinosaurs
These interviewers aren’t necessarily old, but their methods are. They do everything by the book (similar to the robots) but are also interested in hearing your story as well. They want to be given specific examples as to why you would be a good fit for their company. The best approach for adapting to a dinosaur is sticking to your interview fundamentals. An old fashioned interview requires an old fashioned approach.
The Intimidators
Intimidators are the most aggressive interviewers you’ll meet. They hit the ground running and you will need to be quick to answer their questions in order to impress them. They will press you on your skills, qualifications, job history, and everything in between. Your best preparation is to know your resume inside and out, and to run through a couple of mock interviews to make sure you have your answers ready to go. While they may come off as a little mean, they are most likely trying to make sure you can manage a fast paced, stressful situation well.
–Tyler Geeve, Staff Source Marketing/Recruiting Assistant