What to Do if Your Job Interviewer is Incompetent

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I recently went on an interview and was told to meet at a certain Wall Street address and to call the interviewer when I arrived. A few minutes later the interviewer arrived from the street and proceeded to walk me down the street to another building. I couldn't figure out why they would bother to take me to another address until I saw the signs for AIG all over the building.
Huge red flag for an unscrupulous company!

Michael of NJ 12:27PM September 29, 2009

I have run into this problem before... when the interviewer noticed I was taking over... he just sat his pen down and let me run with it. I got the job. He said he was impressed with my aggressive nature to run things. I was also promoted to a managerial positions almost immediately.

JohnLee of LA 12:25PM September 29, 2009

When I was a headhunter I learned most HR folks don't know squat about the hiring process. To make matters worse, more that half of them have "little guy with an official hat" syndrome.
Let's face it, when it comes to the interview, it's all about personality. Unless you're an accountant. Then you're not expected to have one.

Scott A. of NC 12:24PM September 29, 2009

When asked the standard "what's your biggest weakness?" I said "My biggest weakness is that I have no tolerance for stupid questions."

joeblow of MO 12:16PM September 29, 2009

Many times an "enticing" job classified will appear on the internet or the local newspaper. It almost seems to good to be true. Ask targeted questions about what is important: the job tasks, the heirarchy, the compensation package, and whatever you do (especially if its a 1099 position) read before you sign anything.
I recently experienced the "bait and switch" from the enticing ad in the paper to the unraveling of the front-door promises to learning the real deal after you've been in there at least a week to see for yourself.
Ask tough questions if you have any doubts or if it seems that the interviewer is being evasive. Questions like: Is this a high-turnover position? or Is the reason you're hiring for this job due to turnover or an increase in volume? Why would you want to ask about that you say...If it's volume, you hit the jackpot and get ready for an awesome challenge; if it's turnover, watch out-something isn't being said.
If you're training class starts out with 10 people and dwindles in numbers before the real first day...WATCH OUT!! If you talk to other people that have been doing the same job that you are about to do and they "hate it." WATCH OUT! There story may not necessarily be your story, but don't be naive either. When employees are happy they will tell you.

Chris W. of GA 12:14PM September 29, 2009

I disagree with HR DIrector. If the interviewer makes it clear front the beginning that there is a time limit on the interview and then proceeds to use all of the time asking pertinent questions and giving pertinent information they will not need to be "given any slack."

Marvin Helf of NY 12:07PM September 29, 2009

Maybe an incompetent interviewer wouldn't notice that the job seeker was running the meeting, but I would, and I'd find it extremely off-putting. It would be easy for that person to appearly overly eager, which I've found to be the kiss of death when interviewing prospetive employees. If the person wants the job so badly that they won't look critically at the position or the company during the interview, it sets the stage for failure later on. People who do that also often turn out to be impulsive. I've been subtly managed by a few interviewees (deflecting a question by providing the answer to a question they liked better, but that I didn't actually ask), and invariably regretted hiring them.
I think this has the potential to backfire in a huge way. I also think it should be mentioned that if the person interviewing you is incompetent (often either the head of HR or the head of the department), what does that say about the company?

Sean H of WI 11:58AM September 29, 2009

My worst interviewer was the president of a rather large company. First he asked me to list five adverbs that describe myself. Adverbs? Are you kidding me? I had prepared my list of descriptive words, so I just started adding "ly" to them! Then he asked me to tell him one thing my mother taught me that I carried with me. That's when I burst out laughing. You mean my alcoholic, vindictive, bitter mother who disowned me 15 years ago? Besides being a horribly inappropriate question to anyone, it threw me so much I'm pretty sure it ended my chances. That and when I said "Team Worker-ly". :)

Nancy of CA 11:58AM September 29, 2009

Even though the economy is not doing well we are. We are doubling the size of VeriPic over the next 12 months. This presents a unique set of challenges. Being able to interview large numbers of candidates in a timely fashion is difficult. Interviewers have a tough job. People should give them some slack. They are doing a necessary job.

HR Director of CA 11:51AM September 29, 2009

I have to say one of the most annoying things a candidate ever did in an interview was he showed up for a "high" level technical sales position wearing loafers and no socks, so every time he crossed his legs, his bare leg was starring at us. Needless to say, it was hard to concentrate, and he had horrible posture. I am not sure, but I think since he was referred to us, he assumed he was already hired, not so much.

Amanda Hall of TN 11:46AM September 29, 2009