I just had an interview for a position that I really want. There were 2 interviewers. One of them was on her phone for 10-15 mins messaging. She kept notes, but looked kind of bored. Any thoughts on this?

22 Comments

1. AnonymousAugust 21,2024 at 6:59PM UTC

   She was bored and will provide generic notes.

2. AnonymousAugust 21,2024 at 7:14PM UTC

   Ugh. I tried to be interesting...

3. AnonymousAugust 21,2024 at 7:41PM UTC

   Not your fault.

4. AnonymousAugust 22,2024 at 1:23PM UTC

   Yeah, this can be disheartening. It happens more than you know (someone may be pulled into an interview last minute or they're juggling work). I hope the conversation was engaging. Will you be working with the person? Are you having follow up interviews (if so, ask them about the work load or if this role is empty, how is it impacting the team?).

   If she looked bored, she may have just been asked to attend and either wasn't prepared or wasn't prepped. Who knows if she was taking notes about you (maybe).

   I'd say make a note of it. It'll be an issue if you have to work with them. If they wouldn't be your manager or teammate, and you want the job- just make a note of their style.

   Good luck!

5. AnonymousAugust 22,2024 at 4:10PM UTC

   This was the follow up vote. :)

6. AnonymousAugust 22,2024 at 1:51PM UTC

   From an alternate perspective - when I interviewed for my current role, with my current boss, she was quite obviously multi-tasking. I didn't let it throw me, acted as though she was fully engaged during the interview, and kept my focus on doing my best to land the role. And I did.

   Fast forward, I have been working for her for two and a half years now and this is absolutely just how she works. She is a C-Suite executive, is insanely intelligent, is admittedly on the spectrum, and pretty much needs to split her focus (or at least appear to split her focus) to get everything done in one day.

   Please don't write this interviewer off completely, it just might lead you to working with someone who is both intelligent and incredibly valuable to the company.

7. Diane J HuffAugust 25,2024 at 1:14PM UTC

   I was going to say the same thing…about me. I multi-task everything. And even if I didn’t, I’m always managing fires. She could have been in the middle of an event or crisis or just insanely busy. That’s just how some people work. I’m not being disrespectful…my day is packed. At least she showed up and I mean that.

8. AnonymousAugust 23,2024 at 3:31PM UTC

   She might have been the note taker in the interview and focused solely on that and that might have been her purpose. I would send thank you notes to both participants and ask both if they were able to get the information they needed to assess you for the role and that if they need to speak to you again you are available at any time. Also reinforce your interest in the role, provide a few tidbits that align with what they focused on in the interview and ask for the job in the final comment on the letter. Something like: I'm really excited about joining the team and working alongside you to do XYZ. I can start on 2 weeks notice and hope I am your selected hire!

   Go get em!

9. Celena BartonAugust 25,2024 at 12:10PM UTC

   It’s super rude. Is that someone you would be reporting to? If yes, I’d skip the opportunity as that is likely how she would treat you as an employee.

10. AnonymousAugust 25,2024 at 1:54PM UTC

    It's hard to say without knowing more about the situation.It may not have had anything to do with you at all--emergency, request from a boss, etc. Personally I think it says a lot about the organization and that if you get rejected, this is very much a reflection on them and you're better off (wouldn't you want to know your potential co-worker??). I'm sorry that happened to you.

11. Janet ParkhurstAugust 26,2024 at 10:28PM UTC

    Yes, I agree. Except most of us would mutter a quiet, "Excuse me, I have to take this (or respond to this)", rather than simply text nonstop in the interviewee's presence. I agree with the other posters, too. If these interviewers are the "face" of the company you would potentially be working for, I would reject. After all, an interview is a two-way street. Who wants to work with rude, callous people?

12. AnonymousAugust 25,2024 at 2:32PM UTC

    One thing is for sure. The person on the phone is incredibly unprofessional and rude. Take that as a red flag for this company. This is how they operate?? Nope. Move on. Next. Good luck.

13. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netAugust 26,2024 at 4:03PM UTC

    Gosh I wish candidates were as perfect as they expect the companies to be. What a great world that would be... and what a much easier world.

14. AnonymousAugust 26,2024 at 9:53PM UTC

    First impressions are everything!

15. Afo Ogbeyalu KaluAugust 25,2024 at 4:00PM UTC

    Could be an unfortunate attempt at multitasking, or a deliberate demonstration of negative interviewing tactics to determine how you overcome, or deal with difficult situations . . . If you can overcome the negative behaviors and maintain your focus and professionalism.

16. Shaista SoroyaAugust 25,2024 at 7:58PM UTC

    That’s a disrespectful way of testing one’s way in dealing with a stressful situation

17. Afo Ogbeyalu KaluAugust 25,2024 at 11:42PM UTC

    It's not unheard of though. It's a tactic used by some to help a company further screen the many candidates crying for limited number of positions. I prepare my clients for these types of interviews/good cop-bad cop scenarios, as well as, behavioral interviews.

18. AnonymousAugust 26,2024 at 12:48PM UTC

    I wouldn't dwell on it. It's in the past and cannot be changed. Follow your normal process and see what comes up. As for the texter, would they be a boss or a colleague? If you won't be working with them on a daily basis, I wouldn't worry about them.

19. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netAugust 26,2024 at 4:01PM UTC

    maybe she was bored.

20. KoreyAugust 26,2024 at 7:16PM UTC

    This person was asked to interview you for a reason.... either, she is in your department, or in one that you'll be working with, whatever. I'm sure she has her reasons; however, if she is that rude and unprofessional during the interview, imagine how she will be when you start working there. The other interviewer just allowed the unprofessional behavior to continue, which to me is a problem, too. Just my two cents.

21. AnonymousAugust 27,2024 at 9:53AM UTC

    Any given time of the day, our "normal" can go sideways. When it does, it is an all hands on deck situation. It doesn't matter what we are in the middle of, our input is required.

    Of course, they could have told you that. They also could have been taking notes.

    Before 9 am today, I have 4 MS teams meetings. Two of them are on camera. Thank goodness for multi tasking. I am still able to fully engage in the conversation but also able to get small to-do items out of my inbox. If I didn't do this, I would never get out of here every day. Mentally I can not leave work with more than 10 open emails in my inbox. I usually get 50 per day or more.

    This could have been an emergency, it could have been a test to see if you could concentrate on the interview while being distracted, actually it could have just been being rude. I hesitate to say it was being rude because surely the main interviewer would have stopped that.

    Good luck. If this is something you want, I hope you get it!

22. Z PaulAugust 30,2024 at 7:08PM UTC

    Perspective and seek understanding. We can assume what the interviewer was doing but did you ask or were you told that persons role in the interview. Most organizations, don't do single interviews to ensure labor guidelines were followed.

    For future interviews ask who the people are in the interview. Most will say I am here as an observer or I am a part of the team that you will be working with, etc.