Ask The Headhunter

Dear Headhunter,

I recently interviewed for a job and had prepped with the original job description in mind. When I got there, the interviewer handed me a new job description and said he wanted to go in a new direction with the position. As if that wasn’t weird, the interviewer cut me off every time I went to speak, and asked me multiple questions about my thoughts on his business as if he himself had no idea what he was looking for. As he described his company, it was very clear that it wasn’t going to be a good culture fit and within 15 minutes, I knew I wasn’t the right person for the job, nor did I want to be. Is it ever okay to up and leave the interview?

This is definitely a difficult question but I honestly would say to wait it out. If you feel uncomfortable, your interviewer is making inappropriate advances, it's sexual harassment or you feel unsafe, get out of there!

If you are experiencing bad vibes or the interviewer is awkward, you always want to give them the benefit of the doubt. You never know what type of day the person is having and it is still important to hear them out and at least make the connection. You'll still get a sense on whether or not the job function is something you would want to pursue during your job search and on the plus side, it's practice. It may not be the job you want, but you never know what types of ideas you can draw from the conversation.

If you are interviewing with a good company, they want to put their best foot forward and make a good impression. If your interviewer really is rude or you get bad vibes, then it may be a sign of a bad company. Do your research! If others have said the same thing, then there is a reason for it. After your first interview, it is okay to politely and professional ask to be removed from consideration.

It is also important that hiring personnel remember that candidates decline positions just as much as they decline candidates. With review internet sites, a company that is not willing to put their best foot forward will ultimately suffer in the long run.

Tom Johnston is the headhunter that headhunters seek to find talent for their firms. He is the CEO of SearchPath and has more than 18 years of experience in franchising, search and recruitment, and office development. Tom is recognized as a leader and authority in the executive search industry.