The Interview Room.

A room that can break you into a sweat, get you tongue-tied and make even the most comfortable, silky scarf feel like a strangulation device. A room that can sometimes resemble an interrogation room rather than an interview room.

The job interview process has always intrigued me. As an avid metaphor fanatic, I like to think of job interviews as a game of jousting. Everyone in the room must wear their armor and during the interview there are multiple attempts at poking the ‘opponent’ with sharp intellect, solidifying capability, credibility and authority.

Scanning for signs

An employer and potential employee meet each other and proceed with a conversation much like an awkward first date. On the exterior it sounds like they are discussing roles and responsibilities, skills and experience, while internally they scan each other for signs of psycho or prison warden.

Some employers are direct and practical, while others use seemingly fancy tricks like brainteasers and quirky questions to assess the candidate’s personality and or response style. 

Truth or dare

I’ve always wondered how much of what people say in an interview about their experience and skill, is actually faked. I mean, in a world where we’re encouraged to “fake it til we make it” can we really expect the answers to be honest or are we just kidding ourselves with this charade?

I wonder whether the process should have progressed somewhat in the past decade or two. Surely there’s another way to ‘match’ potential employees with their ideal role and company using some form of tech or AI?

Authenticity is key

In my experience, the top interview skills are preparedness, charisma and an ability to think on your feet. If the employer feels a good chemistry with an authentic candidate, they are going to be willing to invest in them.

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