Plot Twist: The Day I Interviewed the Hiring Manager.

There comes a point in the job search when the interviews stop feeling like a test and start feeling like a rerun. You know the script. They ask you the same ten questions recycled from a dusty “Top Behavioral Interview Questions” blog. You smile, recite your carefully polished anecdotes, and pretend you haven’t answered the exact same question three times already this week.

But last week, on a Zoom call, something inside me snapped. Or maybe snapped isn’t the right word, maybe it was more of an epiphany. A thought that whispered: What if I flipped the script? What if I interviewed them?

It was bold. It was reckless. It was, if I may say so myself—glorious.

Setting the Stage

The hiring manager appeared in the little Brady Bunch square, sipping coffee, clearly ready to unleash a series of questions designed to make me prove I was “the right fit.” But halfway through his second question about “a time I faced adversity,” I leaned in and said, “Thanks for your time today. Before we go further, can you tell me about a time you failed to support one of your employees and what you learned from it?”

The silence that followed? Cinematic. You could have piped in dramatic music. He blinked. Blinked again. The man looked like someone had asked him to recite the quadratic formula in Latin.

“The silence was so thick you could butter toast with it.”

Finally, he stammered something about “growth opportunities” and “resilience,” which I translated as: Yes, we burned someone out and then called it character development.

Turning the Tables

Once I realized I had momentum, I didn’t stop. I went full journalist mode. Barbara Walters would’ve been proud.

• “Why is this role open? Did someone quit, get promoted, or mysteriously vanish into the HR Bermuda Triangle?”
• “What’s the biggest challenge of managing people here—besides convincing them not to leave during lunch and never return?”
• “Can you describe your leadership style without using the words ‘synergy,’ ‘empowerment,’ or ‘passionate’?”
• “On a scale of 1 to ‘we’re basically a cult,’ how would you describe the company culture?”

By question three, I could see the sweat forming. By question four, I could hear his voice wobbling. This wasn’t the confident hiring manager with all the power anymore. This was a man realizing he hadn’t prepared for my interview.

The Closer

And then came my mic-drop closer:

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

He froze. Absolutely froze. If Zoom had a buffering wheel for humans, it would’ve been spinning over his forehead. After an eternity, he muttered, “Hopefully… still here?”

That was, without question, the most terrifying answer I’ve ever heard in an interview.

The Bigger Point

Here’s the truth: interviews are supposed to be a conversation. But somewhere along the way, companies turned them into one-sided interrogations. They forgot we’re not auditioning for the role of Corporate Survivor: HR Island. We’re professionals, deciding if we actually want to invest our time, energy, and sanity into their company.

And honestly? If a hiring manager can’t handle being asked a few tough questions, how on earth are they going to handle leading a team, navigating conflict, or keeping employees from updating their LinkedIn profile during lunch breaks?

“If they can’t handle being interviewed by you, how are they supposed to handle leading you?”

The Plot Twist We All Need

So here’s my invitation: the next time you’re on Zoom, flip the script. Ask the questions that actually matter. Don’t settle for their vague answers about “culture” and “opportunity.” Make them prove why you should work there.

Because at the end of the day, job hunting isn’t just about proving you’re qualified. It’s about figuring out if the company is worth your time. And sometimes, the best way to find out is to turn the tables and watch the hiring manager squirm.

“We’re not contestants begging for a rose on The Corporate Bachelor—we’re professionals deciding if we actually want to spend 40 hours a week with these people.”

And honestly? It was the most fun I’ve ever had on Zoom. No breakout rooms required.