Labor / Employment, On The Job

3 Interview Tips We Can Learn From Judge Kavanaugh

You basically shouldn't do anything Judge Kavanaugh did during his hearing.

By  
on

(Photo By Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

Judge Kavanaugh was asked at one point on Thursday by Senator Lindsey Graham whether the confirmation process was a job interview. Judge Kavanaugh seemed to me to be unsure of how to answer the question. He referenced judges being appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate, but it appeared he didn’t know what kind of response Senator Graham was looking for. Senator Graham then said, “This is not a job interview, this is hell.”

I guess whether the confirmation process is or isn’t a “job interview” could be debated. But it involves: (1) a candidate hoping to get a new job; (2) that candidate having their background checked and vetted; and (3) people asking the candidate about his qualifications for the job.

That sure sounds like a job interview to me.

Unpleasant things are bound to come up during a job interview. You might be asked about your grades (which weren’t the best); you might be asked about prior relevant experience (and you don’t have much); you might be asked about some other blemish on your record (something that you thought was really unfair). The list goes on and on. If this hasn’t happened to you in an interview before, it probably will at some point.

Judge Kavanaugh’s been facing some decidedly unpleasant job interview questions during his Senate Judiciary Committee hearings. Based on my observations from his handling of some recent questions, here are my three tips for handling tough and unpleasant questions during a job interview.

  1. Don’t Get Defensive or Angry. Keep Negative Emotions in Check.

Sponsored

When you get asked about something unpleasant during an interview, don’t come across as being upset about the issue, whatever it is. No matter how right you are and how unfair the situation was to you, acting defensive inevitably makes you look bad and the interviewer will likely begin to wonder how you would handle difficult situations or conversations on the job.

During portions of his testimony on Thursday (which I consider part of his job interview), I thought Judge Kavanaugh came across as defensive and angry. I didn’t think it played well.

Imagine a lawyer interviewing for a position at a law firm. Imagine that during the interview process the law firm discovers allegations against the lawyer for some unsavory conduct. Whether the allegations are true or not, if the lawyer responds to questions about the allegations in an angry or defensive manner it will likely give the interviewers reservations about the lawyer’s ability to deal with difficult issues and communicate effectively in trying situations.

As an attorney at the law firm, the candidate would inevitably find themselves in difficult situations, likely with very high stakes involved. An ability to keep calm and maintain restraint is critical. You should convey during the interview that you’re able to do just that.

Try and anticipate difficult interview questions and be ready to handle them in a calm and professional way. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you.

Sponsored

  1. Directly Answer Questions, Don’t Deflect Them.

There were several times during the hearing on Thursday when I thought Judge Kavanaugh deflected questions and didn’t give a straight answer. The one that stands out to me was when Senator Klobuchar asked Judge Kavanaugh whether he’d ever drank so much he blacked or browned out. Judge Kavanaugh’s response was, “I don’t know, have you?”

I’m hoping it’s obvious that you should never do this in a job interview. If you’re facing a difficult question, hostility towards the questioner is not going to be well received. Responding to a question like this I believe will pretty much guarantee you’re not getting hired.

There are, of course, more subtle ways to deflect and redirect questions. For example, changing the subject or answering a question that was not asked to highlight something positive are possibilities. Deflecting in this way, however, might make the interviewer wonder about your ability to directly address difficult issues at work. Are you going to ignore problems or avoid difficult situations or conversations the same way you ignored or avoided the difficult interview question?

Instead, you should prepare answers to difficult questions that you’re able to anticipate and address them directly and succinctly. There’s nothing wrong with trying to put a positive spin on the experience in your answer, but make sure you’re addressing whatever issue they’ve raised directly and clearly. Don’t leave the interviewer wondering: “So what was the answer to that question?”

  1. Beware Of Your Body Language.

From start to finish, I thought Judge Kavanaugh looked mad. His body language conveyed to me that he didn’t want to be there and that, rightly or wrongly, he didn’t want to be discussing the topics at issue. At times his body language even communicated to me a feeling of dismissiveness when responding to some of the questions.

I imagine how Judge Kavanaugh would’ve come across to me if he’d instead been reserved and poised, maintained a calm demeanor, and kept his body language relaxed but engaged. That’s how your body language should be during a job interview.

Maintain awareness of your physical self and be cognizant of your posture, your arm placement, eye contact, and facial expressions. Practice beforehand and have a friend or family member give you pointers on your body language. These unspoken physical cues can make a big impact on how you’re perceived by your interviewers.

Conclusion

Whether he’s confirmed or not, hopefully we can all learn a few things from Judge Kavanaugh’s high-stakes job interview to use in our own professional lives.

evan-gibbsEvan Gibbs is an attorney at Troutman Sanders, where he primarily litigates employment cases and handles traditional labor matters. Connect with him on LinkedIn here, or e-mail him here. (The views expressed in this column are his own.)

Topics

, , , , ,