How to deal with hardo interviewers?

Within the last couple of weeks, I noticed that some of my interviewers were pissed off and were in bad moods from the start (literally right off the bat, meaning I didn't say or do anything to piss them off - they sorta just hopped on the call that way). Of course, this doesn't happen all the time and I am thrilled when I get chill/positive interviewers. With that said, how should I navigate an interview when my interviewer is a bit of a hardo? I find that it is a bit difficult to form connections when someone is mad (I understand this from both sides since I get under the weather sometimes too).I totally get that this is a stressful job but I would like to know how to overcome this obstacle when I face it.

4 Comments
 

Just smile, remain positive and don't let their negative energy bring you down. Still try to connect with them even if they appear to be mad. Some people are just reserved/shy and it comes off as them being a dick. If they're pissy with you that's on them, has nothing to do with you. This is also why it's important to be interviewing with more than one shop in case you run into an asshole, you can just forget about it and focus on your next interview which may be better.

 
Most Helpful

I myself had a number of issues with such situations, including people who refused to shake my hand, people who didn’t give a salutation (i.e. no “Hi, I’m so and so, nice to meet you, literally just looked down at a paper and asked “So…, why are you here today?”), and people who consistently (and intentionally) addressed me by the wrong name. I think in some of these cases, as annoying as it may be, they may be trying to see if you can keep your cool or remain professional even when others are not going to afford you the same respect. If you think about this, this happens all the time to them, so they want to make sure you can also handle others being this way. I also have to admit, when I told others about these experiences, many were very surprised, (I.e. How could they treat a woman like that in an interview?!), but in IB sometimes that’s how it goes. 

Just stay calm and smile. Better yet, make it your goal to make their day a bit better. Really put the effort in to trying to connect with your interviewer. If you can turn their frown upside down, they’ll be sure to remember you!

 

Numquam praesentium vel ea omnis sunt quos. Dignissimos unde rerum et laudantium. Ipsam ex enim assumenda illum asperiores.

Architecto dicta vero repellendus iusto. A quibusdam error illum impedit consequuntur magni amet voluptatum. Architecto tempora repellendus itaque natus dolore eos. Perspiciatis laborum doloremque voluptatem quas facere. Rerum dolor quaerat doloremque cum officiis architecto natus. Ipsa quas magni repellendus et rem odit animi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”