How to Tell if You’re Boring the Job Interviewer

March 8th, 2010 by lewis

Most interview candidates can’t help but ask, “Am I boring the job interviewer?” I wouldn’t obsess over it. However, if you’re curious, you might want to read Gretchen Rubin’s blog post, Eight Tips to Know If You’re Being Boring.
Of her eight tips, here are the four that resonated with me:
1. Repeated, perfunctory responses. A person who repeats, “Oh really? Wow. Oh really? Interesting.” isn’t particularly engaged.
2. Simple questions. People who are bored ask simple questions. “When did you move?” “Where did you go?” People who are interested ask more complicated questions that show curiosity, not mere politeness.
3. Interruption. Although it sounds rude, interruption is actually a good sign, I think. It means a person is bursting to say something, and that shows interest. Similarly…
4. Request for clarification. A person who is sincerely interested in what you’re saying will ask you to elaborate or to explain. “What does that term mean?” “When exactly did that happen?” “Then what did he say?” are the kinds of questions that show that someone is trying closely to follow what you’re saying.

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One Response to “How to Tell if You’re Boring the Job Interviewer”

  1. March 13, 2010 at 9:09 am, DC Jobs said:

    Those are some good points. The next time a hiring manager interrupts me, I am going to smile on the inside!