We all have those awkward pauses during interviews. After you’ve asked a question and your interviewee finishes answering, does your mind go blank on how to respond to them? I’ve often found myself in embarrassing situations where I constantly looked back on how I responded to a person. That’s why I’ll be informing you about some of the ways you can respond after your interviewee finishes answering! 

Source: careerlunch.com

Thank you 

I’ve come to realize that sometimes a simple thank you is enough. Say it and move onto the next question. Even if you feel the urge to add on more words to make it seem like you are contributing to the conversation and avoid the awkwardness, thanking them for their answer and then transitioning to the next question can be a safe bet. Try it! 

Take notes and relate

While the person you’re interviewing is talking, try to take some notes on the important things they say. Sometimes, you can find a key point that is relatable to your own life or perspective. Latch onto that idea and after they finish speaking, tell them about it. It’s okay if the conversation moves in a different direction and you’re in a time crunch to ask all of your questions. You can always revert back to it.

Ask them to elaborate 

One safe option is to always ask them to elaborate on the things they say. But before you do that, make sure you do your research on the person so that they’re not asked to repeat information that is easy to know. It keeps the conversation interesting on both ends! Plus, it’s always nice to know that the person who’s interviewing you really cares about the interview and has done prior research. 

That’s interesting! 

Simply say “That’s interesting! I didn’t know that. Thanks for sharing.” Personally, these words have helped me avoid being the most awkward interviewer ever. Instead of trying to wreck my brain to find something to say, this phrase is often more than enough. 

Source: tenor