There are many different types of interview techniques available - and it's not a case of one suit fits all!
The panel interview is perhaps the most traditional. The one-on-one is the most relaxed. And the skills-based interview is a great way to determine if someone can hack it in a role before you’ve even let them in the door.
These are all fairly standard interview types, but there is one interview style rearing its head that could land a company in hot water. In some cases, this interview style has led candidates to leave in tears. The stress interview has been cropping up more and more in recent years as HR managers and CEOs take a more radical approach to hiring.
What is a stress interview?
A stress interview is one in which the interviewer conducts themselves in a way that tries to elicit a stressed response from the interviewee. Tactics might include embarrassing, intimidating or provoking the interviewee to see how they respond to the pressure. The interviewer might be completely unprepared and put pressure on the interviewee to lead the proceedings.
The jury is still out on whether this is a proper interview technique, or if some people are just so bad at conducting interviews that they leave people in tears. With more people taking to social media to share their worst interview stories, it might be that poor interview technique is being inaccurately labelled a new style. The arrival of sites like Glassdoor also makes it easier for people to share their stories.
Why would you want to stress interview someone?
The basic theory behind the stress interview is that you can see how the person will react under pressure. However, it’s difficult to say if this is really accurate. After all, an interview is already a pretty stressful situation to be in. In many cases, the stories people share about stress interviews are more distressing because the job they are applying doesn’t sound very stressful.
What tactics are used in stress interviews?
It’s often the attitude of the person doing the interviewing that makes it a stress interview. Acting uninterested in the person in front of them, checking their phone, allowing people to come and go or even conducting the interview in a very public place have all be attributed to stress interviews.
A 22-year-old named Olivia recently took to Twitter to share her story of a stressful interview that left her in tears. She described how the interviewer called her an underachiever, picked apart her writing portfolio and told her she wasn’t a very good writer. She was obviously surprised when the company got in touch to offer her the job. She declined and took to Twitter to share her story.
Should I worry about this?
It’s important to remember that interviews are always two-way streets. If a company is rude, dismissive and tries to elicit a poor reaction from you in the interview, you have to wonder if you even want to work for them.
If you’re hoping to work in a stressful field like events, you’d be right to worry about the stress interview. Remember that stress interviews are not the norm. That’s why stories of stress interviews go viral when people decide to speak out.
When preparing for an interview, make sure you do your research and find out everything you can about the company. Those working in event recruitment will know that jobs in London vary wildly, but they are also plentiful. If you don’t like the culture of one company, it’s better to walk away with your head held high and wait to find a company that truly appreciates your skills.
