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Searching for a new job? Interviews can be pretty stressful! But being prepared before you enter an interview can help you stay calm, give your best and ultimately, land your next job. As part of your preparation, you should understand the types of interviewers you may encounter.

There’s no “one” interviewer.

Depending on the nature of the position, as well as the company, you could encounter one of several types of interviewer. Here are five of the most common types, and how you should handle them:

The Group. Interviewing with one recruiter is hard enough, but depending on your “luck,” you may encounter a group interview. They can often feel like an inquisition, as you sit under a single bulb, staring into the cold eyes of a table of interrogators. Perhaps that is a bit dramatic, but it sure can feel that way! When you’re in a group interview, you’re likely to encounter a range of interviewing styles, so rather than try to “figure them all out,” simple relax, take a deep breath, and make good eye contact with each interviewer as you are interacting with him or her.

The Friend. You might think this type of interviewer is a bit over the top. An overenthusiastic handshake, overly rambunctious smile. This type of interviewer may ask you questions about your personal life, and may seem like he or she wants to be your buddy. This type of interviewer can be difficult to handle, as the attempts to put you at ease can distract you from your professional demeanor, and the goals of your interview. Rather than lose your guard, try to learn from the interviewer and be a little less stiff and rehearsed. Let your answers flow normally, and you’ll do fine.

The “By the Book.” Some interviewers are no-nonsense, by-the-book kind of people. They have a set list of questions, they ask them, and you answer them. For this type of interviewer, you should be on your A game. A lot of the preparation and tips you’ll find for interviewers are for this type of interviewer, so think about the standard types of questions you might encounter, and your responses. Don’t veer too far off the interviewer’s course, stick to your answers, and you’ll do fine.

The Jerk. Yup, from time to time, you’ll encounter interviewers who are just plain rude. Maybe they ask you inappropriate questions (which could be illegal). Maybe they make sarcastic remarks after your responses, or they cut you off at every turn. When you encounter this type of interviewer, try your best to stick to the interview. Disregard inappropriate questions, and try to steer the interview back to appropriate territory. And if you ultimately feel that the interviewer is so rude that you do not wish to work for that company, you can absolutely thank the interviewer for his or her time and declare that you are no longer interested in the opportunity.

The Bored One. Maybe this interviewer isn’t an HR rep or recruiter, but a manager in the department needing an employee. Or maybe there’s another reason. But this type of interviewer tends to be more interested in checking his or her phone, reading email, or staring at the wall than in talking to you. If your interviewer isn’t interested, it can be hard for you to stay focused, but do your best. Be friendly and approachable, answer questions to the best of your ability, and do your best.

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