Former colleague on interview panel
October 17, 2015 6:33 AM Subscribe
A former colleague will be on the panel for an upcoming interview.
I'm curious if anyone in this forum has had a similar experience or, if not, if anyone has any thoughts on how to approach it.
The colleague was a manager in the same department and I was an individual contributor. Of the other two interviewers, one is a senior manager and one is from HR. My previous experience with this manager was positive but we weren't close and haven't been in touch for 5-10 years.
Before finding out who the interviewers would be I felt really confident about the position. But since realizing one of the interviewers is someone I previously worked with it feels more complicated. I guess because for most interviews I basically know what to expect and how to prepare. This doesn't change that but it adds another layer of anxiety.
I'm curious if anyone in this forum has had a similar experience or, if not, if anyone has any thoughts on how to approach it.
The colleague was a manager in the same department and I was an individual contributor. Of the other two interviewers, one is a senior manager and one is from HR. My previous experience with this manager was positive but we weren't close and haven't been in touch for 5-10 years.
Before finding out who the interviewers would be I felt really confident about the position. But since realizing one of the interviewers is someone I previously worked with it feels more complicated. I guess because for most interviews I basically know what to expect and how to prepare. This doesn't change that but it adds another layer of anxiety.
I'm curious if anyone in this forum has had a similar experience or, if not, if anyone has any thoughts on how to approach it.
I would acknowledge the former work relationship of many years ago but then treat FC at the same level of formality as you treat the other two. You don't want to make FC uncomfortable by implying favoritism.
posted by mono blanco at 7:26 AM on October 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mono blanco at 7:26 AM on October 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
I just had a similar situation, bolquist! I work in government, and I interviewed for a job in my division - same floor, different workgroup, different manager. In my case, I know the manager but we don't work closely. Obviously, I knew going in that he'd be on the panel and expected it. What I didn't expect was that a colleague in their workgroup that I'm close with told me that she'd be on the interview panel. This surprised me because they could have chosen someone else who is in the unit, but that I don't know very well. It's different than in your case because we're friendly and currently work together, but I can see your point of view. Knowing someone on the interview panel adds anxiety to some degree because it creates another layer of complexity to navigate in the interview.
Basically, the easiest (and safest) way to deal with it in my case was to treat this as any other interview, as if I didn't know anyone. Obviously I didn't shake her hand because I already know her, that would have been awkward, but all other aspects of the interview were treated as such. I made sure to study up like I would for any other interview, dress up like I would for any other, and walk in with my interview game face on. I was well aware that it would have been easy to assume I'd have the position in the bag, not study up, and treat it as a formality to scoring the job. That would have been a mistake.
If I were you, I may not focus too much of the interview on your work experience during the time that you worked with the former colleague. I say this because it's been quite some time since then, and also from the panel's POV, it's more likely that you'll be considered like any other candidate if you talk about work experiences and situation that they are unfamiliar with - just like any other candidate. If you focus on the time 5-10 years ago when you did work with that colleague, it might seem contrived. Of course it wouldn't be intentional, but it's something you want to be aware of.
My previous experience with this manager was positive but we weren't close and haven't been in touch for 5-10 years.
Keep this in mind - and actually, despite the coincidence, it works out to your advantage. This person remembers you positively and you haven't been in touch in quite some time. You have a whole bunch of experiences that you can reference outside of the work environment that you and the former colleague shared.
I understand the awkwardness, and I think the think that helped me the most was, honestly, not focusing on the fact that we know each other, and treating it like any other interview. Preparing for the interview in writing - putting it down on paper, helped. It put some formality into the process, I guess. Focusing on what they might ask helped. Once I got over the initial minute of awkwardness, the questions began and it felt like any other interview.
Best of luck!
posted by onecircleaday at 9:31 AM on October 17, 2015
Basically, the easiest (and safest) way to deal with it in my case was to treat this as any other interview, as if I didn't know anyone. Obviously I didn't shake her hand because I already know her, that would have been awkward, but all other aspects of the interview were treated as such. I made sure to study up like I would for any other interview, dress up like I would for any other, and walk in with my interview game face on. I was well aware that it would have been easy to assume I'd have the position in the bag, not study up, and treat it as a formality to scoring the job. That would have been a mistake.
If I were you, I may not focus too much of the interview on your work experience during the time that you worked with the former colleague. I say this because it's been quite some time since then, and also from the panel's POV, it's more likely that you'll be considered like any other candidate if you talk about work experiences and situation that they are unfamiliar with - just like any other candidate. If you focus on the time 5-10 years ago when you did work with that colleague, it might seem contrived. Of course it wouldn't be intentional, but it's something you want to be aware of.
My previous experience with this manager was positive but we weren't close and haven't been in touch for 5-10 years.
Keep this in mind - and actually, despite the coincidence, it works out to your advantage. This person remembers you positively and you haven't been in touch in quite some time. You have a whole bunch of experiences that you can reference outside of the work environment that you and the former colleague shared.
I understand the awkwardness, and I think the think that helped me the most was, honestly, not focusing on the fact that we know each other, and treating it like any other interview. Preparing for the interview in writing - putting it down on paper, helped. It put some formality into the process, I guess. Focusing on what they might ask helped. Once I got over the initial minute of awkwardness, the questions began and it felt like any other interview.
Best of luck!
posted by onecircleaday at 9:31 AM on October 17, 2015
When I interviewed for my current job, a former colleague (and friend - we sort of did the slow fade years ago) was on the loop and if anything, it made me more comfortable in the end. I didn't really change anything about how I approached the interview.
What exactly is your concern? It is hard to tell why you are anxious about knowing someone on the panel. Did you guys have bad blood? Are you worried this person is going to bring up something awkward or embarrassing that they know about you? The chances of that happening are slim, and if they do, do you really want to work in that kind of environment? I think the way the person acts will be very telling about whether this is a good fit for you.
posted by joan_holloway at 10:04 AM on October 17, 2015
What exactly is your concern? It is hard to tell why you are anxious about knowing someone on the panel. Did you guys have bad blood? Are you worried this person is going to bring up something awkward or embarrassing that they know about you? The chances of that happening are slim, and if they do, do you really want to work in that kind of environment? I think the way the person acts will be very telling about whether this is a good fit for you.
posted by joan_holloway at 10:04 AM on October 17, 2015
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posted by whoaali at 7:21 AM on October 17, 2015 [7 favorites]