The Empathy deficit in Interview Panels
“The first impression often foreshadows the final outcome.”
Never have I understood the rationale behind the hostility, belittling, and stress tactics used by interview panels—especially in academic institutions. Recently, I have been interacting with students who attended MPhil (clinical psychology) interviews, and I must admit, I am baffled by the snarky and insensitive remarks they encountered.
Yes, you are a panel of professionals, assessing the knowledge of those who come before you. But must the questions be entirely devoid of empathy, concern, or even basic appreciation? What harm would it do to acknowledge effort rather than tear down confidence?
It is especially disturbing to hear the disdain shown towards candidates who have volunteered or worked with helplines. Questions like “What good has your work done for mental health?”, “You know nothing about suicidality.”, or “Let me enact a suicidal client—try giving me hope.” are not only ruthless and insensitive but also uncalled for—particularly from professionals who have reached a significant height in their careers.
I have seen senior professionals struggling with suicidal clients, and it is so easy to be a difficult mock client in a mock session and not let the interviewee succeed— (I can ace that contest of enacting a difficult client!)
If this is how the journey begins, is it any wonder that bullying, harassment, and mental health struggles persist within these so-called pioneer institutions?
Being told “You know nothing.”, “You should not be here.”, or “You will never succeed in life.” should not define a student’s worth. But when such sentiments are made evident from the very first interaction, should we even be surprised at the mental health crisis within academia?
What troubles me even more is seeing students normalize these experiences. I understand the deep desire to feel validated, to earn one’s rightful place in the mental health space. But at what cost? I just pray we do not lose the human being they are—their empathy, their passion, their sense of self—all in the pursuit of proving they belong.
Academic stress and pressure are no longer hidden issues. What is truly alarming is the callous attitude of authorities—those who expect students to endure, to prove their worth against all odds, rather than fostering an environment of growth. Even more ridiculous are the preparatory centers that teach candidates to suck it up and praise the interviewer who mocks them the most, and that ensures success. I hope this success is worth it!
I have enjoyed being on interview panels and have witnessed firsthand how respectful curiosity and compassion can coexist with critical evaluation—even when rejecting candidates. This is an art, and it can be done without crushing the spirit of a human being. I wish we could teach this skill to interviewers in academia because selection should not come at the cost of humanity.
Do you have an Interview experience to share; comment here: Interviews