You’ve prepped, practiced, and put on your best blazer. But within minutes of walking into your job interview, something feels off. The energy is flat, the conversation stilted, or the interviewer seems distracted.
Bad chemistry happens. The good news is that while you can’t control the interviewer’s mood, you can control how you show up. How you handle these moments says as much about your professionalism and resilience as your resume does.
During my 18 years as an executive at Google and now running my own business, I have interviewed hundreds of candidates. Some stumbled when the energy dipped. Others handled the awkwardness with calm, confidence, and adaptability. Those were the people who stood out.
Here are four key ways to handle bad chemistry in a job interview, without losing your footing.
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1. Separate truths from tales
It’s easy to spiral: They cut me off, my answer was awful, this whole interview is a disaster. But pause and ask yourself: Were those facts, or just your story about the facts?
In my book, “Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It,” I call these “Truths and Tales.”
Truth: The interviewer interrupted you.
Tale: They hated your answer.
The more empowering tale? They had a set number of questions they were required to get through. They were racing the clock.
Reframing what happened helps you stay calm in the moment. One awkward vibe doesn’t mean the interview is sunk. This person may be just one of several decision-makers. Their mood may also have nothing to do with you.
Finish strong, then reflect afterward. Was this simply a one-off dynamic, or a signal that this might not be the right boss for you?
2. Find your spark
A disengaged or difficult interviewer can trigger defensiveness. Resist the temptation to match their flatness. Instead, double down on warmth and enthusiasm.
When I interviewed for my job at Google in 2006, I had a piece of paper with me that I’d scribbled the word “SMILE” on, in all caps. I wanted a reminder to help me maintain my spark, no matter the interviewer’s mood.
Keep your body language open: shoulders back, hands relaxed, eye contact steady. Let your tone carry genuine excitement about the role or the company. Even if the spark doesn’t catch, you’ll be remembered as someone who brings energy and positivity to the table.
Research takes this a step further. Studies show that enthusiasm in leaders is correlated with positive perceptions about the leader’s performance.
3. Don’t be afraid to pause
When the chemistry feels off, nerves kick in and suddenly you’re filling every silence with chatter. This can make you sound flustered.
Flip that instinct. Before you answer, pause for a beat. Breath in for two and out for two. Then respond with a crisp, clear point. Those extra two seconds calm your nervous system and make you sound more confident.
You can even take a longer pause (I recommend up to 15 seconds) to write down bullets for a tricky question.
If they ask, “How would you handle the effects of AI in this business?,” you might jot down a few thoughts like:
- Research competition
- Continuous education
- Mindset shift
- Risk analysis
Then circle two you want to use for answers. Pausing not only makes your answer shorter and tighter, it also gives your interviewer space to engage. That can reset the rhythm of the conversation.
4. Turn the focus onto them
If the interview feels stuck, sometimes the fastest way to shift the energy is to shift the focus to them. But wait, isn’t the interview about you? Will they balk when you turn the focus to them? If it’s already an awkward interview, you might as well take the risk.
If you get this interview question, “What would you prioritize on this team?,” answer the question and then smoothly get them talking: Perhaps, “What are actual priorities for you this quarter?”
This allows you to catch your breath, glean information for your next interview, and gives them a chance to talk about themself. Research shows that pleasure centers light up when we talk about ourselves. Talking about their own work might energize them and change their vibe.
Ultimately, you can’t control an interviewer’s energy, but you can control yours. In today’s workplace, where adaptability and resilience matter as much as technical skills, that might be the real test you’re passing.
Jenny Wood is a New York Times bestselling author, former Google executive, and former Harvard Business School researcher. In her new book “Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It,” she breaks down nine bold traits that defy conventional career advice. Jenny is the founder of Own Your Career, one of Google’s largest career programs.
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