What to Do When You Botch an Interview (and Really Want the Job)
By Karen Friesen
I remember it as if it were yesterday.
I’d landed an interview for a job I really wanted, prepped my rear end off, and sashayed my way into the meeting ready to nail it. Fast forward an hour and I slunk out of it having, well, not nailed it at all. If the entire scene had been a sitcom, the audience would have been ROFL. But in my real life? Not so funny.
Years later, I still cringe. It was a panel of three wolves (disguised as regular people) across an intimidatingly long table from increasingly unnerved and overwhelmed me. And as they asked questions – as interviewers tend to do – I FROZE. I bumbled. I stammered. I lost all ability to participate in a strategic and savvy manner. And, oh my goodness, the sweating.
Spoiler alert: I didn’t get the job.
You might have a similar experience stored away in your career hall of shame. That job you knew you were perfect for, but when you reached “go time” at your interview, things went sideways. You didn’t perform they way you know you could have.
It’s a rotten feeling, for sure. But does it mean all hope is lost? Maybe not.
If you’ve botched (or think you’ve botched) an interview for a job you really, really want, there are actually constructive steps you can take to redeem yourself, and maybe even get a second shot at the job in the process. (Had I only known about these back in the day!)
Do This:
Start with a deep breath and think this thing through.
Replay the interview as objectively as you can and consider the possibility you didn’t mess up at all, in which case, there’s nothing you really need to do.
Is it possible you’re overthinking your performance and being too self-critical? Was it a matter of failing to smile wide enough or talking a bit faster than normal (very common among nervous interviewees), or was your blunder something worth addressing – like forgetting a major point about your career experience?
Ask yourself: Can I – or should I – do anything about it? The last thing you want to do is call unnecessary attention to something the interviewer may not have noticed at all. On the other hand, if you’re confident you need to do a bit of damage control or provide key information, you have options.
Send a (strategic) thank-you note.
Whether you knocked it out of the park or swung and missed, the thank-you note is your opportunity to reinforce your interest in the job and also circle back to address any areas you feel might have been lacking in the interview. Use the note wisely in reiterating what skills and experience you offer that make you a great fit.
For example, you could say:
“As I reviewed our discussion about my digital marketing experience, I realized I should have mentioned a social media campaign I launched and managed for my last employer. We generated record-breaking engagement and led to a notable bump in leads.”
Ask for a do-over.
If you’re confident you just weren’t on your game, consider politely requesting an opportunity to re-interview or answer further questions. This option is best suited for a situation where your lackluster performance was the result of an extenuating circumstance – for example, a family member’s illness or other significant event – that understandably threw you off kilter.
Asking is worth a shot, and there’s little downside to putting yourself out there again in a professional way. If you get a “no,” then thank them and express your interest in future opportunities with the organization.
Don’t Do This:
As you examine your options, keep in mind a couple of things absolutely not to do:
Grovel.
Begging for another chance or going overboard with excuses or apologies is unlikely to get the results you want. (Never works for people auditioning for American Idol, now does it?) Of course, if you said or did something truly inappropriate or wrong, apologize. And then move on.
Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Job interviews are tough for even the most confident and polished among us. The biggest favor you can do for yourself is learn from your mistakes and say “I got this” the next time around.
Going Forward
If your efforts don’t result in a second chance, next interview, or job offer, give yourself a hot minute to be disappointed and then press on.
Be ready next time.
You should go into any interview having researched the company or organization, fully in touch with the reasons you want the role, prepared for the most commonly asked questions, and also ready with a few of your own for when you get asked the inevitable: Do you have any questions for me?
Learn from it and move on.
Take the botched interview for the learning experience it is and explore ways to tackle the next opportunity with renewed optimism. The right job for you will appear. And when it does? Make sure you’re ready.
For more quick and actionable advice on job search, career development, and thriving in the workplace, be sure and check out Jenny’s recently released book, Do This. Not That: Career . In it, you’ll find 81 lessons on how to handle the most tricky job search, workplace, and career growth situations.
It’s available now through all your favorite book retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, and Books-a-Million
