Flirting During the Interview
Apparently it can be involuntary!
The most uncomfortable interview I ever had involved an interviewer who insisted on flirting with me. And for the record, I have no flirting skills, and my response was to scream, “Gack!” and run outside to my car to hide.
Here is some creepy research on male interviewers who think female interviewees are attracted to them:
Male interviewers who believe female job applicants are attracted to them may subtly elicit flirtatious behavior from the women—unbeknownst to the women and regardless of whether they are even attracted to the men.
Did you read that? Women may flirt without knowing it! And they’re not even attracted to these folks. Gack!
And, yes, I do understand that this entire research is based around heteronormative assumptions. I know. I’m sorry. It’s not my research.
Makes sense … considering the human tendency to mirror behavior (esp. when one is in the “inferior” position, e.g. the interviewee). I just don’t know if it’s fair to call it flirting if the intention to flirt isn’t there. Can’t they just refer to it as “being cute?”
Well, you’re making me feel much better….