The Art of Interruption

Interviews can be intensely vulnerable and emotional experiences for candidates. They’re trying to put their best foot forward, but nerves inevitably get in the way. Based on my experiences interviewing many high performers, believe me: even stellar candidates can end up rambling in an interview!

It is essential to learn how to interrupt candidates when they drone on. And it's fine to do so. In fact, if you ask candidates at the outset “is it okay if I interrupt you to keep us on track?” you will hear an enthusiastic yes the vast majority of the time. They are eager for your guidance. They would much rather be interrupted (from a place of warm curiosity, of course!) than be allowed to hang themselves by unknowingly over-talking.

This leads us to Hack #1: Get over your fear of interrupting.

When you do it with an “I’m-just-so-curious-I-can’t-help-myself” look on your face, they will be grateful for your interjection. So let go of the fear—you're not being rude.

Hack #2 is more of a “pre-interruption.” It’s a vibe you create that makes interruption easier: Vocalize frequently.

It can be, “mmm,” it can be “yeah,” it can be “huh.” It can even be a well-timed “wow.” While the candidate is talking, make your voice heard from time to time. Like a fighter shadow-boxing in the corner, it warms the very muscles (your voice) that you'll need when the time comes to interrupt for real. And it also gets the candidate used to hearing your voice, making it less abrupt when you choose to fully interject.

Hack #3 might surprise you, but here it is. When the time is right for your interjection: Do not wait for the conversational “lull.”

Ever notice that basically everyone waits for that little gap when the other person stops talking? Guess what—in interviews, that can actually be off-putting. The candidate will often assume (correctly) that you’ve been waiting to jump in for quite a while. They may also assume (correctly) that you have not been paying full attention since. If you interrupt right when you need to, it feels fresh and spontaneous, it keeps the conversation current, and it reinforces the “I-can’t-help-myself” vibe.

Hack #4 might be my favorite. If you’ve been to one of our trainings in the last 5 years, you’ve already heard it: The “W” face.

When you are ready to interrupt, make your face look like you are about to ask a question. Purse your lips. Tilt your head. Raise your hand (or just your right index finger?) the way you do when you are about to ask a question. 90% of candidates will simply stop talking. It is obvious you are about to ask a question (as most questions in English begin with a W). Even if your question is a "how" one, the W shape of the lips is unmistakable.

What if the candidate is not looking at you? This brings us to Hack #5: The “S” sound.

If you want to interject with a person who is not looking at you (either directly or on a screen), just pretend you are about to start a question with the word “So,” as in, “So, what was…[insert the rest of your question]?” The S sound hits a higher frequency than other sounds humans make, which makes it stand out—and that’s true in person and over a video call. It’s a great attention grabber, and it allows you to “pipe in” without fully talking over them.

Great interviewing is all about time management. And time management is often (not always) about lots and lots of interruptions. If you’ve been uncomfortable doing it in the past, commit yourself to getting over it. Keep in mind—if you do it from a place of legitimate interest in the candidate, they won’t mind it at all.

They may not even notice!