What Interview is That?

There are different styles of interview.

• The Interrogation
• The Date
• The Sale
• The Transaction
• The Match
  

Your job is to figure out what style of interview you are in very quickly.

The Interrogation

The police interrogation style is conducted in an atmosphere of hostility. It
is designed to trip you up and get you to contradict yourself. They assume
you are lying to them. The interview is about deception.

This job interview is not a conversation. It is not a free exchange of views.
You do not want them to like you for yourself. You want to fool them into
thinking you are legit.
Do not reveal anything more than necessary. Anything you say may be taken
down and used in evidence against you. However it may harm your defence if
you do not volunteer information that you later rely on in court.

A question is designed as a probe to reveal something about you other than
what was asked. Work out what the real question is and answer that.

Never say "What? You think I killed her?"

The Date

The date style interview is conducted in an atmosphere of awkwardness and
anticipation. You both want this to be the one. You're both nervous. The
interview is about reassurance.

Whatever they say, you say, "Oh, I know."

Never say "Yes, you look fat in that."

The Sale

The sales style interview is conducted in an atmosphere of strained bonhomie and
mutual flattery. They want you, you want them, both sides believe they will
profit from the deal. Each side paints a picture of a world that satisfies
the aspirations the other is assumed to have. The interview is about
self-deception.

You talk about them. See, you look like the kind of company that recognises
quality when it sees it. I admire that kind of perceptiveness.

Never say "Do you want to buy it or not?"

The Transaction

The simple transaction is conducted in an atmosphere of profound pragmatism. The interview is about satisfying immediate needs.

You stand around in pink hot pants. The client winds down a window and says how much? You name a fair price. The client says hop in.

Never say "Sorry, I've got a headache."

The Match

The match is conducted in an atmosphere of competitiveness. There may well be testosterone involved.

They ask a question. You bat it back. They bat it straight back at you. Don't confuse this with banter. This game is not for the fun of it.

The main question is whether you should let them win. Usually the answer is yes, but after a decent fight.

Never say "I give up. You win."

Quiz

Identify the following interview styles:

• One of them is nice, and the other is nasty.
• "So... what's your sign?"
• They shine a light in your face.
• "We need someone dynamic, thrusting, passionate."
• They sit you on one side. They all line up on the other side.
  
• "Over to you."
  
• They ask you the same questions over and over again.
• "Oh, I love Jane Austen."
• "How much?"
• There's a big mirror on the wall and occasionally they look at it and shake their heads disgustedly.
  
• "Phew. You almost had me there."
  
• "That's an impressive CV. What do you look for in an employer?"