Mixed signals and confusing interview. Thoughts?

The interviewer began by jumping right in to questions about my experience, skipping the first few questions I was expecting ("tell us about yourself" and the like). He came off unpretentious and likable, but the questions he asked were awkward and threw me off a little. I definitely felt like he was rushing and distracted through the process, and I noticed he didn't make much eye contact, which worried me. He also responded to two emails during the interview, but he apologized for the interruptions.

About 2/3 of the way through we figured out that he was interviewing me for a different job than the one I had applied for. He was a little surprised and told me they weren't hiring for the position I had actually applied for for another half a year. At this point I was sure they had made some mistake contacting me. After that, he stopped asking questions, and explained generally what they do and how they work. I took this as him softening the punch of me blowing the interview. When he asked if I had any questions, I didn't know what to say, so I said I didn't. Then, as he was getting up to leave, he asked about my salary requirements. I was a little stunned but I gave him the number for the job I thought I was applying for, and he seemed to agree with my answer for this other job. He gave me his card and asked for writing samples, and that was that.

I'm really confused. I sent a thank you email and writing samples. I have some experience with the things that this other job does, but I tailored my résumé to fit the job I was applying for, so they don't know that. And I just checked the company's website and saw that they posted an opening with the title of the job I was being interviewed for (but didn't apply for). But the salary question is a pretty good sign, right? Or am I being overly optimistic? I've been looking for a job for over a year now, but this was only the 3rd interview I've had, so I don't know how to read these mixed signals.

If phi then psi in College Park, Maryland said: the salary question is a pretty good sign, right?

Based on everything else, I would not read too much into his salary question. The interviewer was embarrassed and maybe was drawing a blank on what to say next when wrapping things up. Would you say you are 60% qualified for the job they need to fill now? Maybe 75%? You know they are looking for that 100% match.

Trust me, I know how hard it is to land a job. But consider this: knowing what you know now, do you want to work for a company that is so disorganized? Sure, we're getting desperate, but if you were hired there you might be miserable and be drained at the end of the day. Unable to conduct your exit plan and look for another job.

However, if you want to work at that place despite these warning signs, I would suggest concocting a plan to make them drool over you so they hire you for that other job. Who knows? they may even skip posting it. And hopefully you'll be interviewed by someone else.

Brush yourself off, remind yourself what a talented hard worker you are, have someone critique your resume', and keep up your job search.

I wish you success in finding work soon.

It used to be that employers deferred asking about pay until far later in the interview process. Now they ask up front. They obviously use pay as a screening tool to exclude candidates.

I don't like how this interview went down for you. Don't forget, the interview process provides you with a glimpse a company's culture. Also don't forget you are interviewing the company as much as it is interviewing you. You should hold it to the same strict standards it is holding you. Therefore, if I were you I'd move on. Don't call, e-mail or follow up. Keep looking. If the employer calls you, fine.

Good luck with your job search.

It used to be that employers deferred asking about pay until far later in the interview process. Now they ask up front. They obviously use pay as a screening tool to exclude candidates.

I don't like how this interview went down for you. Don't forget, the interview process provides you with a glimpse into a company's culture. Also don't forget you are interviewing the company as much as it is interviewing you. You should hold it to the same strict standards it is holding you. Therefore, if I were you I'd move on. Don't call, e-mail or follow up. Keep looking. If the employer calls you, fine.

Good luck with your job search.

Don't get your hopes up because of the Salary question. It sounds like this interview was botched from the beginning. You weren't even interviewing for a position you applied for.

But I know you realize interviewers have ways of trying to throw you off your balance by asking you questions like those. They want to analyze how you will act.

I will say when he asked you if you had any questions you should ALWAYS have questions of your own. Even if they are simple ones, it will at least give you the chance to "fire back".

Nothing a prospective employer says or does means anything unless it's an offer of employment.

I'd be rip roaring peeved if I were in your shoes. I've experienced similar situations and a good handful of bizarre actions by employers.

The whole process of trying to land a job is legal torture.

First, thanks for responding. Would it change anyone's opinion (that has responded) if I mentioned this interviewer was a VP? Might that excuse his being rushed?

The frustrating part is that I had a whole series of questions to ask him based on the assumption that I was interviewing for the position I applied for, but they didn't make sense in the context of this other position. The only thing that came to mind was "Am I even a candidate anymore?" and I thought that might be a bad idea :/

Honestly, I think I would thrive in that kind of work environment. But I take your point. Thanks :)

I've dealt with a lot of VPs and people who hold the title of VP who clearly didn't earn it.
And although I've worked with some good ones, they can be a bit "flighty" due to the amount of responsibility and multitasking. They don't generally do good with low-importance, administrative tasks.

Best bet, is to try and develop a relationship with him. Stay in touch but not intrusive or pushy.

And, as others have said above, Salary questions mean nothing.

If phi then psi in College Park, Maryland said: Would it change anyone's opinion (that has responded) if I mentioned this interviewer was a VP? Might that excuse his being rushed?

Not for me. Just consider how this person would be if you were working for him directly. Not only that, as you wrote, he apparently was interviewing you for a position other than the one for which you applied. He and/or the company come off as being disorganized.

Also he could have waited until he was finished meeting with you to answer the emails. No email can be that urgent to cause a meeting to be interrupted.

If you feel you would like to work there and do the work he is offering I would follow up. He is giving you a chance to prove yourself and that is more than most of us can muster up even once a year in this terrible economy. Follow all leads but keep looking for new ones.

If phi then psi in College Park, Maryland said: Honestly, I think I would thrive in that kind of work environment.

That's interesting. Why do say that?

If phi then psi in College Park, Maryland said: First, thanks for responding. Would it change anyone's opinion (that has responded) if I mentioned this interviewer was a VP? Might that excuse his being rushed?

VP, you say? Yes, that changes my opinion. I would stay away from that company.

Unix Brat in Asheville, North Carolina said: That's interesting. Why do say that?

I actually enjoy the kind of work that this other job is responsible for. Also I do my best work under pressure, and finally I think that I would feel more comfortable working for someone who can own up to their mistakes without fear of losing prestige (which he seemed to do) than someone who is more invested in being right than being truthful. Does that make sense?

I've had times where interviewers would answer calls during our interview and apologize. Never had them respond to emails though on a laptop right in front of my face.

I understand you didn't ask questions because they were all geared to the other position. There was a time I set up a interview with Sears, schedule time and everything and when I came in the first thing that happened was some one (not sure who it was) came up to me put me in a room and told me the position I was going to interview for has been filled. She then told me to re-apply to a differn't position in which I had no experience or met the qualification for (I believe it was selling womans jewlery)