When you walk into an interview, you expect to meet an interviewer who has reviewed your resume in detail and is ready to discuss your qualifications in depth. But what happens when your interviewer hasn’t reviewed your resume or doesn’t seem prepared? While this can be a frustrating situation, it’s important to remain composed and use the opportunity to your advantage. Here’s how you can navigate this scenario effectively.
Understand the Situation
Take a moment to put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes and consider why they may be unprepared. The person sitting across from you is likely juggling multiple responsibilities. They could be dealing with unexpected challenges. Regardless of the cause, their lack of preparation shouldn’t be considered a reflection of their interest in you or your potential value to the organization.
By maintaining this perspective, you can avoid letting frustration or disappointment affect your demeanor. Instead, focus on what you can control: presenting yourself as the ideal candidate.
Stick to Your Agenda
Even if the interviewer hasn’t reviewed your resume in depth, stick to your plan. You’ve prepared for the interview by analyzing the job description, mapping your skills to the role, and identifying how you are uniquely qualified. Don’t let the interviewer’s lack of preparation derail your efforts.
Take the initiative to guide the conversation subtly by:
- Highlighting Your Strengths: Share relevant examples of your experience. Use this opportunity to connect your background to the company’s needs. For example, you might say: “I’d love to share a bit about my experience and how it aligns with this role. From what I understand about the position, here are some ways I believe I could contribute to your team…” This approach allows you to communicate your value proactively.
- Demonstrating Fit: Discuss how your skills, values, and work style align with the company’s culture and objectives. For example, “I’ve read about your organization’s focus on cross-team collaboration. In my last internship, I collaborated with XXX to achieve YYY.”
- Asking Insightful Questions: Although the interviewer may not know your resume well, they do know the organization. Ask thoughtful questions to gain insights into the role, team dynamics, and company goals. This can help you steer the conversation into more meaningful territory.
Leverage the Opportunity of a “Clean Slate”
An unprepared interviewer might initially feel like an obstacle, but this can be a real advantage for a prepared candidate. Without preconceptions provided by a review of your resume, the interviewer’s impressions of you will be shaped entirely by what you share during the conversation and how you share it. Use this clean slate to craft a compelling narrative about why you’re the right person for the job.
Final Thoughts
While it’s easy to feel disappointed and even undervalued when an interviewer doesn’t seem prepared, you should mentally reframe the situation immediately. By sticking to your agenda, you’ll highlight your experience and your strengths and ask insightful questions. Doing this will enable you to turn your interviewer into an advocate for your candidacy.
Command the Interview is committed to helping candidates win their desired job by giving them the skills and confidence to present themselves well in interviews. To learn more about our services reach out to us at Kerrie@CommandtheInterview.com.