Many hiring managers see interviews as an opportunity to interact with applicants to determine their personality fit for the organisation. More often than not, candidates who are able to sell themselves with their witty responses are the ones who stand out.

This shouldn’t make them the top choice for the job though.

Traditional interview styles are often oversimplified and geared for the comfort of an extrovert. This makes it hard for introverts to interview well. In this case, you may miss out on employing the most qualified person for the job simply because they aren’t as socially fluent as others.

Don’t be so quick to dismiss the seemingly quiet, awkward, or shy applicant for the outwardly expressive and charismatic – as they might be the one to lead your company to success. Instead, change your approach when interviewing introverts so they’re able to put their best foot forward.

What You Need to Know When Interviewing Introverts

They’re not a fan of small talk

Most of the time, introverts prefer not to chat about different things under the sun. They may even find it uncomfortable discussing the weather or the traffic situation in their area.

The only time they may enjoy talking is when they have something to say. So, keep the pleasantries brief and get straight to the point.

They need to be asked the right questions

Veer away from enquiries like, “Do you like to be the centre of attention?” which make it seem you view introversion as a negative trait and opt for something like, “Do you like to work independently?” instead.

Doing so will enable you to draw out information that you really need about their character.

They are likely to undersell themselves

You’ll soon find that introverts aren’t the type to brag or oversell their skills and accomplishments. While they may not tell you everything you want to know about them, don’t mistake this as a lack of enthusiasm.

What you need to do is redirect the questions so they will yield concrete examples about their experience.

They may take longer to answer

Someone who’s introverted is going to reflect on your question and have to gather their thoughts before speaking up. Allow for their pauses rather than judge them as slow on the uptake.

They just want to make sure that they understand your enquiry correctly so they can provide the right answer.

They are going to be frank sometimes

In the same way that they want you to be direct with them, they’ll be candid with you.

Introverts will let you know what you want to know minus the fluff. You might find this off-putting, but they consider this as a way to respect your time as you won’t have to waste minutes analysing their words.

They might appreciate a two-level approach

While not all of them are, some introverted individuals are self-conscious and uncomfortable in showing their faces even if it’s through a video interview.

Consider doing a voice-only call first until they become familiar with you. Schedule the video for next time when you really need to see their face while answering your questions.

They are often misunderstood

Ensure that your mind is open when you’re speaking to introverts. Think of them as an onion with numerous layers to their personality. They’re more than just their timidness or quietness.

There’s something about remote conversations that tend to make them more withdrawn so be understanding regarding this.

They appreciate any advance warning

Help them minimise the unknowns that can cause them undue stress. Send them information about the interview so they are able to plan ahead on how they’ll be able to demonstrate their capabilities.

You might provide a list of possible questions, if not the things you’re currently looking at on their resume.

They’re happy to elaborate

Don’t worry about asking more for your clarification because they’re often happy to provide details. Not only will this make introverts feel more comfortable towards you, but also it will help you avoid making choices based only on your gut feeling.

Having more data will lead to a more informed decision, after all.

They want you to listen to them

Because they don’t talk as much, they like it when you pay close attention to them when they actually do. Look into their eyes as they explain their answer. Take notes when you can too.

They will be left with a good impression of you as a hiring manager plus you’ll have notes to reference when choosing.

What Else You Can Do About Interviewing Introverts

Each person has the potential to be successful in the role they’re assigned in their own ways. You must never judge an applicant based on their silence or loudness. Rather, hire people who are competent. Pick someone who’s likely to stay in your organisation and will do their job well.

To this end, you need to ask the right questions and conduct the interview appropriate to their personality type. Ways to effectively interview extroverts were covered in a published article last week, which is why we’re discussing interviewing introverts this time around.

It would certainly be useful to know if a candidate is introverted prior to your scheduled interview so you can prepare yourself as an employer or supervisor. Remote Workmate can be of assistance for that purpose as our services include conducting the initial screening of potential remote assistants.

The process starts with knowing your requirements for the position. We may ask about character traits you prefer to see or would rather skip. We’ll then post the job opportunity, filter the candidates, and endorse only those who pass the standards you’ve set.