Interviews where one or more parties are distracted by their phones annoy me!

[True Dough]

I'm seeing this more and more all the time. It happens with panels or even one-on-one interviews.

Could be split screen with 3 or 4 people on a panel. The host asks one guest/analyst a question and then one of the others immediately looks downward at a phone or screen, completely disengaged. Not my turn, I can spend a minute or two reading texts or social media. It's obvious, people! And it's distracting!

It's even worse when it's one-on-one. Hosts asks question and while the respondent is sharing their perspective, the host is clearly checked out, playing with their phone. We the viewer are supposed to be interested in the reply but you the host don't care? It's so rude and unprofessional.

I have stopped watching a few sports hosts for this reason. Repeatedly futzing with some device while their guest is talking. The entire interview lasts 15 minutes or less and you can't go that long without staring at a screen and at least giving the appearance that the guest's words and thoughts matter???

UGH!!!

End rant.

[JBTaurus83]

1. It is annoying

I have been applying for jobs recently, just for a change in career, and I like to take notes of my achievements, previous work experience etc just to keep everything in a nice flow. Most interviews in the fields I’m interested in are via Teams or Zoom apps now, so I worry the interviewer will think I’m looking at my phone, when in reality I’m just trying to stay organized. I had an interview the other day where the HR Rep actually took a phone call right in the middle of our discussion!

[Marthe48]

2. We are supposed to be addicted to screens

Makes it easier to destroy our human behavior and interactions.

[Harker]

3. I'm looking at my phone right now!

[True Dough]

4. Yeah, I know you're looking at

this face on your screen:




Because, Harker, when you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you!

[Harker]

5. When I was a kid, he was vaguely frightening to me...

but I had a complete trust in Tony Bennett.

[True Dough]

6. And how did you feel

about Tiny Tim?

[Harker]

7. I had... mixed feelings.

[Skittles]

8. not just very unprofessional

VERY inhumane to treat people who are likely very nervous as if they are less worthy of consideration than what is on that phone - if they are indeed expecting a critical notification of some kind they should not be participating in an interview

[LuckyCharms]

9. Here's a pic of me reading this post.

[True Dough]

11. There's no doubt in my mind,

that has to be a Lucky Strike cigarette.

[LogDog75]

10. Their behavior demonstrates disrespect for you

I retired 23 years ago so I haven't had to be interviewed or interview anyone. When I did it was face-to-face and it made it more personal. I do understand a lot of business, especially interviews, takes place over Zoom but even so when you're being interviewed both you and the interviewer need to show common courtesy and respect toward each other and that means putting the phone away, close any computer programs, documents, tabs, etc. that don't pertain to the business between the two of you.

I'm a person who believes in being tactful with people but when they're being disrespectful of or towards me I would call them out and I didn't care who they were. In True Dough's opening post, what I would have done when I saw people paying attention to their phones is say "One of my strengths is I pay attention to people when they're talking and I can resist the temptation of having to look at my phone or computer." In an interview, I might not get the job or on the other hand the fact that called them out on it might impress them knowing they weren't getting a Yes Man.

[CTyankee]

12. Didn't Mika ban guests using phones during Morning Joe interviews a while back?

But maybe I just had an attack of "wishful thinking"....