What to do when awkward silence descends on your job interview

What to do when awkward silence descends on your job interviewWhat to do when awkward silence descends on your job interviewAwkward silence has a way of eclipsing thefriendly banter that was once putting you and the recruiter at ease during a job interview.But while you might feel really odd if this happens fairly often during the questioning, there are ways to both settle down and use it your advantage.Dont freak out - even if youd rather runVicky Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions, tells geschftliches miteinander Insider why you shouldnt go down this road in a piece about interview mistakes that wont jeopardize the position.The awkward moment. You know it well. The moment you walk down the hallway with your interviewer, and egads, you have nothing to say, she tells the publication, adding that occasional quietness isnt out of the ordinary at an interview, so theres no need to get worked up over it.Dont read too much into itYoull drive yourself nuts if you do.A post on the Business Talent Solutions website says that you shouldnt overthink the silence.When you dont get an immediate reaction from the interviewer, its easy to start thinking that they didnt like what they heard, that their expectations werent met, or that they are hoping to hear more, the post reads. Dont overthink it. It is likely that they just need some extra time to jot down some notes, think about how your answer matches with the position they are trying to fill, or how they should ask the next question.Ask your questionsCareer coach Hallie Crawford told Glassdoor that you can get your own questions in during awkward silences, because the interviewer may be giving you time to weigh in.Take advantage of the opportunity to address any concerns you might have about the position, the work environment, or something else that might have come up during the interview, Crawford said. You can also take the unexpected silence as a time to let the manager know youre excited about the position and the possibility of working for the organization.The right type of questions could show the recruiter that youre prepared.Count to fiveAlyse Kalish, Associate Editor at The Muse, wrote about this trickin the publication.Count to five between pauses. Odds are high you wont get to five because the pauses are not anywhere near as long as you think, Kalish said. Or, if it really seems like your interviewer is waiting for you to initiate the next conversation, follow up with a question related to your own responses, such as Does your company work the same way?