Your observation is astute. There will be hiring managers who are risk adverse. It is likely their own insecurities are showing through to you – whether real or perceived. Their insecurity has nothing to do with the you, more likely it is their relationship with their boss or company.

Unfortunately, candidates are not in a position to resolve this and find it challenging on what to do about it. The best advice I can give you is to ensure that your future boss sees you as a team player who gives credit to upper management (yes, I mean him or her!). If they see you as someone who is after their job, it will only elevate their fears. Your goal is to minimize the fears so they trust you and see that you will be a benefit to them.

I’ve come up with a theory. The people doing the hiring may have more pressure on them than ever before. Hence, they are being very risk adverse, in order to protect their own jobs.

How would you suggest approaching a risk adverse hiring manager?