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5 Interview Wrong Turns

#3: Not Recognizing What Extroverts Like

You can always tell when you’re dealing with an interviewer who’s an extrovert. They smile a lot, always look you straight in the eye and are generally more chatty and gregarious. While that may put you at ease: beware! How you frame stories to extroverts can significantly influence their opinion of you.

Consider this question: “Tell me about an interaction you had with a patient needing assistance at your last job.”

Now consider these two response openings:

A: My first interaction with a patient took place at Brooksworth Hospital on my very first day on the job. I went to see my supervisor, who said, “Welcome aboard, Pat! I hope your new employee orientation went well. I know this is your first day, so go roam the hospital and get a feel for the place and the different departments.”

B: My first interaction with a patient took place at Brooksworth Hospital on my very first day on the job. I went to see my supervisor, who said, “Welcome aboard, Pat! I hope your new employee orientation went well. I know this is your first day, so go roam the hospital, making sure you greet and offer assistance to any patient you meet.”

While they seem similar, they set up the candidate’s interaction with patients in different ways. Response A implies that you interacted with the patient because you took the initiative. Response B says you interacted with the patient because you were specifically told to do so. Extroverts will think you’re helpful and obedient only if you give a response like A. They believe that interacting with a patient is natural and that if you are told to go roam the hospital, that means you were also told to interact with patients.

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