How to Survive a Bad Interview

Following up on a bad interview can end up leaving the interviewer with a good impression of you.

You just applied for your dream job and you're sure you botched your interview. Regardless of how bad an interview seems to go, remember that even the most accomplished professionals can recall times they've felt less than adequate in a professional setting. You can recover from and survive a bad interview. Turn the experience in your favor by showing your honesty and integrity in fixing your mistakes.

Instructions

1. Take time to collect yourself. If you walked out the door feeling like you left a bad impression, take a moment to relax, collect yourself, review where you went wrong and make note of the things you wish you did or didn't say.

2. Contact the interviewer by phone as soon as possible, and have your notes nearby. Be straight-forward in saying that you were excited about your interview, and in that excitement, you lost sight of how you wanted to present yourself. For example: "It was a pleasure meeting with you. In my excitement for this interview, I feel I might have rambled and not directly addressed a few of your questions, and it's important to me that I make a good impression with you and this company." Follow with a quick recap of points you wish you would have addressed in the interview.

3. Turn negatives into positives with levity. Interviews are typically formal affairs, but if the interviewer seems personable enough, use self-deprecating humor to smooth over any bumps in the interview. An example: "I walked into my dream job interview and made the worst impression. I didn't want to make an even bigger mistake by not calling you to try and fix things."

4. Be humble, honest and passionate in your apology and reiterate the aspects of the job and the company that appeal to you. If there is a particular question you feel you missed or didn't respond to well, address it head on. For example: "You asked me what my feelings are about expanding the company's main product line. I'd like to emphasize that I think the company has an exceptional reputation for high-quality goods, and adding to that line will not only result in an added consumer benefit, but position the company to make a substantial profit as well. Here's how I would use my marketing experience to help you make that happen."

5. Clarify any points you feel might have been misunderstood or misinterpreted. For example: "I want to clarify that I left my previous position not because I was unhappy with management's philosophy, but because there was no room for professional growth. That's one of the things that attracted me to this company."

6. End with a thank you and an expression of your desire for the job. Follow up with a formal thank you letter.

Tips & Warnings

• If an interview goes badly because of an interviewer's inadequacies, follow up in a detailed letter. Thank the interviewer for her time, reiterate your qualifications for the position and briefly address a few key points about why you want the job. Chances are, the letter will be put with your application and resume and other higher-ups who review your package will have a more accurate impression of you.

References

• My Writing Resources: Terrible Interview - Can You Recover?
• Adventures in Education: Recovering From a Bad Interview
• Guerrilla Job Hunting: How to Recover From a Bad Job Interview