When Tech Interviewer Won’t Let You Even Answer

Photo by Bekky Bekks on Unsplash

I remember having an interview where the interviewer didn’t let me finish. They kept interrupting me during my answers to technical questions, giving me the answers before I’d been allowed to finish my response.

I let the interviewer’s behavior get to me. I let it affect my performance and didn’t take the correct action that might just have let me pass that interview.

So, here’s what happened, and what I learned.

The Situation

During a “quiz format” interview I got 20–30 technical questions fired at me. It’s just like being on “Jeopardy!”, but where the host feels the need to prove THEY know the answers, even if it throws off the contestant.

Here’s how the quick-fire section of my interview went.

“Explain the difference between an abstract class and an interface.”

I say “An abstract class can have implemented methods, and interfaces don’t have any implementation at all” [breath].

The interviewer cuts in with “Well you can have default methods”.

“What does git cherry-pick do?”

I say “It’s a command in Git” [breath].

I’m interrupted with “It applies changes from a specific commit onto your current branch”.

“How is a const variable different from let in JavaScript?”

I say “Const variables cannot be reassigned after declaration” [breath].

I’m interrupted with “Const variables can still be mutated if they’re objects or arrays”

I did my best to carry on. I just kept trying to answer the questions as given, but during this interview I started to feel deflated. I started to lose confidence. It quickly became obvious that I wasn’t going to be able to secure this job.

I learned

The technical interview isn’t a safe space. It’s an environment where you are there to be judged on everything from your ability to code (without IDE, on a whiteboard), your appearance and how well you play along with someone who didn’t bother to read your resume.

When I think about it, nothing screams “confidence in your abilities” quite like the overeager interviewer who gives you the answer before you’ve had a chance to think.

It’s important to be robust in the interview process not so you get that job, but so you keep your dignity and pride intact for the next interview (and you’ll probably get that job).

Why Does This Happen?

Let’s cut these hint-happy interviewers some slack. The overeager hinting usually stems from a mix of anxiety, impatience, and an inability to shut up. 

Here’s what might be going on.

They Don’t Trust You Can Do It

In my case this is certainly the impression I got.

The second you pause to think, they assume you’re stumped. Instead of letting me work through the problem, they just came in with the answer. I guess they wanted to speed up and put me into the “don’t call back” pile as fast as possible.

They’re Simply Impatient

Some interviewers have the attention span of a toddler on a sugar high. The idea of watching someone solve a problem at a natural pace is unbearable. So, they start speeding you along, treating the process like a timed quiz instead of a genuine evaluation.

They Don’t Know What They’re Doing

Let’s be honest: some interviewers are underprepared or inexperienced. They think hinting is “guiding,” but it’s really just a knee-jerk reaction to their own discomfort with silence.

They’re Just Showing Off

I think it could all be a weird flex. “Look how smart I am! I know the answer already!” Yeah, congratulations — you wrote the question. I feel like interviewers feel that candidates don’t know that interview questions usually have the answers printed right under them to help the interviewers.

Why It’s a Problem

This interviewer behavior isn’t just annoying; it sabotages the entire point of the interview:

It Undermines Confidence

Instead of feeling like a capable problem solver, you’re left wondering if they think you’re a total idiot.

It Disrupts Flow

Half the challenge of solving a problem is getting into the zone. Constant interruptions make it impossible to think clearly.

It Clouds Evaluation

If you solve the problem with their help, did you actually pass? Or did they just pass themselves by proxy?

How to Handle It

As a candidate, there’s not much you can do to stop an overeager hint-dropper, but here are some tips to manage the situation:

Politely Set Boundaries

If they start hinting too early, say, “I’d like to try working through it on my own for a moment.” It’s a subtle way of telling them to chill.

Take Control of the Process

Speak your thoughts aloud as you work. If you keep them in the loop, they’re less likely to interrupt with unnecessary “help.”

A Note to Interviewers

If you’re an interviewer reading this, take a deep breath and repeat after me: It’s okay to let candidates think. Silence doesn’t mean they’re failing — it means they’re working. By spoon-feeding hints, you’re not helping them; you’re robbing them of the opportunity to show their problem-solving skills.

Remember, a good interview is a collaboration, not a race. Give the candidate space, trust the process, and resist the urge to blurt out answers like a game show contestant who just hit the buzzer.

Conclusion

This interview is just one of the many ways technical interviews can go sideways. They’re frustrating, counterproductive, and frankly, a little insulting.

We’ve all been there, because we all need to get the job. And before you say “dodged a bullet” sometimes that job is the only one with a decent salary or in your area or you just need a job ASAP. Sometimes you even have a bad interview session (and pass) and still take the job. Because that’s the interview game.