How to Recover From a Bad Job Interview and Get the Job
It can happen to anyone. For one reason or another - a late arrival, botching answers to key questions, failing to show knowledge about the company - you had a bad job interview. Although the proverb is true, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, you do have an opportunity to make up some of what you lost in your bad job interview.
Was It as Bad as You Thought?
First of all, lets make sure it really was a bad interview. Often, people are their own worst critics, and this is by and large a good thing. But when it comes to a job interview, you might be seeing things that werent actually there, or, at least, that werent nearly as bad as you perceived them to be. Give yourself some time. Take a walk, and clear your head. Try to put the interview into perspective. Obviously, things like arriving late are indeed negatives that will count against you, but others are less clear cut. Did you really stutter your way through the most important questions, or are you remembering it to be worse than it was? Were you really caught flat-footed by one of the interviewers questions? If you were, did it show? Did you fail to impress your interviewer with your knowledge of the company? Are there several things that were on the tip of your tongue that you were never able to express? Answer these questions, and youll be able to tell yourself whether the interview was as bad as you first thought.
Is The Job Really for You?
Even if youve had a bad job interview, it might be a blessing in disguise. Did you feel like you werent able to connect with the interviewer? Did you feel out of place in the office? Were the questions exceedingly simple and not a challenge to you? Or were they largely over your head?
If you feel youve had a bad job interview, you need to ask yourself whether its a symptom of you being ill-suited for the job in the first place. Sometimes job interviews convince the perspective employee that they wouldnt be right for the job, rather than the other way around, and theres no shame in that. If you think this might have been the case, dont be afraid to tell the employer so. Thank them for their time, and tell them that, based on the interview, you dont believe youd be a good fit for the job at the present time, and explain why. This will let the employer know where they stand and allow them to correct the record if you misunderstood something in the interview.
It Was a Bad Interview, and You Want the Job. Now What?
If youve carefully considered what occurred in the interview, and youve come to the conclusion that you did indeed perform badly, and further, that youre still very interested in the job, its time to go to work. The first thing to do is to analyze what went wrong.
Ideally, you would have recorded the interview, so you can go back and check your responses to each question. If you dont have the luxury of a recording, youll have to do your best to remember, with the aid of any notes you took. Go back over the questions you answered, and write down all the things you wish youd said in response to each question. For example, if you were asked to describe one project where you took charge and completed the work in a unique or outstanding way, and you werent able to remember the specifics, take the time to write down everything you can remember, now that youre not under the gun. Go back through your records and come up with stats to back up your answers. If you feel you need third-party materials, such as a note from your old boss talking about that particular project and what they thought of your work, dont hesitate to ask for them.
Once youve got everything assembled, its time to write a thank you/recovery note. This is a way to follow up your bad job interview with concrete examples to back up your less than stellar answers to the interview questions. If the interviewer was otherwise impressed with you but was under whelmed by your answers to a few of the questions, this is your chance to set the record straight and take back the initiative. Put together a concise, hard-hitting letter, using verifiable facts to back up your case wherever you can. When your prospective employer receives the letter, they will know, even if you didnt show it in the interview, that you very much want the job and further, that youre uniquely qualified for it.
There are any number of reasons why you can have a bad job interview. Often, its not as bad as you thought, and equally often, the interview gives you additional information that convinces you that the job isnt for you after all. But if you have a bad job interview for a job you really want, writing a timely, fact-filled and enthusiastic recovery letter can show the employer yet again that you are the best person for the job.
Copyright, Cecile Peterkin. All Rights Reserved.
Questions and Answers
Article Tags:
job interviews
Two very different women. Two very different styles and generations. So what do they have in common? Oprah's message has been clear almost since the beginning of her show – 25 years ago: "Accept yourself for who you are and believe that you can do what you want to do -- live your Best Life."
Yes, it's Awards time in Hollywood. Several award shows honor the top-performers in film and TV. There are several actors and shows "nominated," and one award is given per category on each show.
Welcome to this article, I have wrote this article as I know with past experiences that Interviews can be the most nerve rattling experience that any person can endure. I myself have had interviews for jobs which I really wanted and needed at the time. It is hard enough these days to even get your foot in the door in the first place but to get your foot in the door and then mess everything up in your interview because of your lack of interview experience is just sole destroying.
So, what does this have to do with the job interview? Isn't the same scenario happening in the job interview? A pool of candidates is chosen – we are not sure how. And one-by-one they are eliminated until one person is chosen.
Following every interview question there is a concern or another question. Your job is to process the question thinking about what the interviewer's concern might be. In other words, why is the interviewer asking you this question?
You know it's coming, but have you formulated a good, honest answer that the interviewer won't question?
Teaching English abroad in Vietnam is a unique experience for anyone who seeks to explore a beautiful country with a rich heritage. You may find people who say that it is not difficult to find jobs in Saigon, but the converse is true. It depends on where and how you conduct your search.
Thailand is a beautiful country with an expanding opportunity to teachers seeking opportunities to travel and teach. The steady demand for native English speakers means that any confident applicant with basic teaching skills can secure employment without difficulties.
Doctor jobs are growing in demand. Canadian research discovered that over four million Canadians lack a family physician Because four million Canadians don't have a family physician, the need for physicians is enormous Provinces throughout Canada are desperate to fill these vacancies.
Although Singapore is an island nation, it has grown to become a modern and efficient first world model country in Asia too. The infrastructure is remarkable and education sector largely successful.
Malaysia is a beautiful country with a thriving tourism industry. Like other emerging countries in Asia, the education sector spurs the knowledge-based economy. The education reforms have been instrumental in producing a quality workforce that satisfies the professional demands of various industries.
As job seekers broaden their horizons to include positions far from their home town, and human resources departments try to deal with the deluge of job applications brought on by the recession, telephone interviews have become much more popular. Here are some telephone interview tips that will help you get...
As the worldwide economy becomes more strained and the demand for expertise in the workplace increases, people will be relocating from different cultures and countries, in order to provide for their families and establish careers. Individuals will be spending the majority of their waking hours side by side with men...
Businesses these days are in a unique position in which there are four generations in the workplace. First, there are those who have been working for years and who, in better economic times, would be close to retiring. Then there are the Baby Boomers who are approaching retirement and, in...
Discuss this Article
