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>I think this shows how difficult interpretations can be It's not interpretation, really, I think. It speaks to the asymmetry of the situation and how, if you
by ska 5y ago
>I think this shows how difficult interpretations can be
It's not interpretation, really, I think. It speaks to the asymmetry of the situation and how, if you are the interviewer, you need to be thoughtful about what you say at all.
I learned this early on, much to my chagrin. An interviewee was obviously stuck and getting themselves in a muddle so I stopped them and redirected to a different question; I thought it was in a lighthearted manner and communicated that I wanted them to relax and regroup - found out later they felt I was making fun of them and had a terrible interview experience. Ever since then I've been much more careful and explicit.
What I thought was being considerate was read as being condescending, I suspect, even though my intent was pure the situation is fraught with potential for miscommunication.
- microtherion 5y agoIt's difficult to know how best to react to interviewees being stuck. If you leave them stuck, they may take it badly; if you redirect them, they may take it as a sign that they "failed" this part of the interview. I try to say something along the lines of "OK, I think it's time to move on to something else; in an interview situation, you sometimes go down a blind alley, but that does not really reflect on the real world, and I think I've seen enough to move on to the next subject."
- ska 5y agoThe latter is similar to the approach I take also - but tellingly also what I thought I was saying in the situation related about. I'm more careful with language now.
- microtherion 5y agoYes, and even if it _was_ in fact what you were saying, it may not have been the message that got through to them.