How to Deal With Rude/Asshole/Disrespectful Interviewers?
Hey everyone,
I recently finished an informational interview where the interviewer suddenly turned a tad rude when he started asking about the education section on my resume (I'm a non-target), and started asking me "how people from a school like that ever plan on entering an industry reserved for the best of the best" and saying "I don't know about you, but I would start looking for jobs more suited for people like you and that no name school"
This caught me off guard, but I maintained a smile on my face and told him I noted the point, and tried the move the conversation to a different topic. I don't know if I'm overreacting, but this seemed to be a bit rude and targeted. Am I overreacting?
And if so, how would you recommend dealing with asshole interviewers during a live interview. Should I simply maintain a smile, tell them that what they said is a quality point, and try to move the conversation forward or?
Thoughts and help would be appreciated, thank you!
Not overreacting, well played on your part. Would avoid working there if at all possible, sounds like a snake pit.
Gotta eat shit with a smile on your face in these circumstances. Any chance that he was testing how you’d react? I’ve heard some stories from my buddies at nontargets where MDs would act the same way during interviews.
This is the first I'm hearing of something like this, can you elaborate please?
Also, I don't think he was, because this wasn't a 5 second tidbit - the entirety of the rest of the conversation went along these lines.
He was probably being a dick, but to the previous comment it is possible that he took this approach to test how you'd react under a situation like that, how you remain calm and poised, how you get the convo back on track, etc. It actually isn't a terrible strategy if that was the intention. You wouldn't believe how much BS you take from clients, how much they try to call you out or trip you up or put you down, so asking a BS question like that in an interview is actually a good way to test how you handle yourself in an unpleasant pressure situation like that. But realistically he was just being a dick, you have to take it in the interview room, and then you just walk away from them because you don't want to work at a place like that and put up with BS like that every day.
This interviewer guy is obviously delusional and thinks he's some kind of Albert Einstein for believing that the industry is only for "the best of the best". His most important skill is probably overinflating DCF projections and providing comments about logo's being aligned in the middle rather than to the left.
All jokes aside, if you dont get invited for a follow up interview, write an anonymous complaint about this to HR/seniors/even CEO outlining how this person treated you, that you felt he was abusive or discriminated you because you are from a lower/middle class. If this guy has treated you like this, he's definitely done this to others. People in this business understand how important PR is these days. Nobody wants insecure narcissists such as your interviewer working for them and ruining their name. Chances are he'll get warned/first strike or maybe even out on his ass if he's done this before. All this may not get you an offer from this firm, but it sure as hell will feel good.
I've been in a situation like yours, non target, no experience and was looked down upon for every internship that I applied to, untill I was finally given an opportunity thanks to an awesome interviewer for a lmm pe firm, which I then converted into a MM IB intership then leveraged those two internships to get a BB IBD offer. Remember not to give up, all you need is to get your foot in the door, and internships will become easier to land after that. Make sure to keep your head up, continue to apply as much as you can, roll your dices and you will land that first gig. Best of luck!
Send him a dick pic on LinkedIn
I did an informational interview with a business connection of my father, and to this day I remember the shitstain of a person this guy was. opened up by talking about how he went to harvard for UG and HBS and did investment banking and how someone with my background could never make it in finance, saying things like "I guess you could TRY and get into a good school, but I don't know how much that would help." I've not tried to get into business school and made partner within 5y of becoming client facing.
then, someone I did admin work for before becoming client facing told me to my face during my year end review (after I mentioned I'd like to explore growth opportunities within the team and wondered what thoughts they had) that she saw no future in the industry for me. she's been in the business twice as long as I have and I make more than double what she does now, she got kicked out of our firm for lack of production.
OP, you will encounter douchebags in life. they are equally represented in all ages, races, genders, religions, and backgrounds (yes there are douchey buddhists). the best thing you can do is what us sales guys tell ourselves when a prospect says "fuck off," is that every no is one step closer to a yes. so don't sweat the small stuff, keep focusing on doing the right stuff consistently and repeatedly, and with diligence plus some luck, you should find your way.
and rather than conversing with them ever again, kill them with kindness and always remember that living well is the best revenge