You'll almost certainly never get the full treatment. Even the guy who invented the process quit operating that way after achieving a few years of notoriety. But you may run into someone who kicks off the interview by throwing down the gauntlet:
"I can't see how you're qualified for this job!"
He goes on from there with argumentative, demeaning, and perhaps embarrassingly personal questions. Maybe he deliberately misinterprets your answers. And probably he avoids looking at you...gazing over your head, thumbing through his calendar, and shuffling papers. You're getting an updated version of the stress interview.
What to do? You have to call his bluff. That may be all he wants. Say:
"I'd appreciate it if you'd look at me when I'm talking to you.
If we can get this conversation on a more cordial basis, we'll communicate much better."
Maybe just saying something like that will pass his "test." If not, I suggest you get up to leave, turning back as you get to the door:
"I'd still be willing to have a good conversation with you, but this session doesn't really seem worthwhile."
Chances are, he'll call you back, say you passed his "test," and continue the interview on a new and more cordial footing. By then, however, you wonder whether you should even consider working for this guy or the company he represents. So do I.
Who's in Charge of the Interview ...You or the Interviewer?
No question who's responsible for the outcome of the interview. You are. You've got to get your message across. If your appropriateness, your ability, and what a fine person you are fail to register, it's your loss. And it's your fault, not the interviewer's.
But who's in charge? Now that's a different question. Believe it or not, some people think that you should take charge. Go in, say "Hello," and see if the interviewer asks the questions that draw out the information you want to convey. If not, begin answering different questions from the ones she asks, and twist and lengthen your answers to make sure you cover all the important points that support your candidacy. Be poised and pleasant, but don't be afraid to demonstrate aggressiveness and leadership...crucial qualities in an executive.
If you're interviewing for Vice President - Marketing of a company that sells vacuum cleaners door-to-door, that's probably good advice. Barge in and take over. But for any other job, in my opinion, a much more polite and sensitive approach is absolutely mandatory.
First of all, you're selling yourself as a "fine person"...polite, socially poised, and someone who, if hired, will wear well as a co-worker over the years. Somehow, the pushy vacuum cleaner salesman doesn't fit that description.
Secondly, and equally important, if you try to take charge and control what information is covered, you may not convey what your interviewer wants to know. You may bore her with a persuasive pitch on points she was willing to concede...meanwhile, failing to address the doubts and concerns you would have discovered if you'd sensitively followed her lead.
Moreover, since the interview is a demonstration of how you think and operate, there's a good chance your interviewer may conclude that you're a "hip- shooter"...a superficial thinker, who plunges ahead before gathering information, and checking preconceived assumptions. After all, that's the way you behaved in your interview.
Therefore, all things considered, don't try to grab control. In terms of personal image, you can't afford to dominate the interview. And in terms of accomplishing your objectives, you don't really want to.
