You Just Bombed a Job Interview. Now What?
It is such a euphoric moment when you get that ‘phone call’. Yes, they want you to come to an interview for that dream job! You immediately run into a euphoric fit, jumping up and down, hooting like an owl. You call your best friend, and tell him/her about it. The two of you engage in an excited chat about how great it is to be working for such a great company.
Once the euphoria settles down, you begin to prepare for that big event which should be a breeze by now; you have been preparing for this for so long. You even rehearse the interview process with the expertise of an Oscar-winning actor.
The next morning, brimming with confidence, you arrive at the company with your briefcase full of success tools. You are dressed in your best business attire, firm handshake and the winning smile – secret weapon. The interview goes off without a hitch, just as you rehearsed the night before. You think you did everything right to win that dream job. You even sent a handwritten ‘thank you’ note after for good measure. Now, the waiting begins.
A long few days later, you receive an envelope – or an email – with a message, thanking you for participating in the interview, and that you were great, but the company has decided to go in a different direction. You immediately launch yourself into that famous ‘emotional response cycle’: shock, denial, blame, acceptance, etc. You begin to wonder about the whole thing – yourself, even – and what went wrong? Countless questions race through your mind, but the central question still remains — I bombed the interview, now what?
Here are some advice from the experts on how to prepare for interview.
Things you should not do during a job interview
1. Showing up too early or late
This should be pretty obvious, but people still make the mistake of not leaving enough time to get to their interview, and arrive late. Always give yourself more time than you think is needed to get there. You never know what will happen on the way. Remember that you are trying to prove your worthiness for the job and showing up late is a sign of a potentially poor attitude. It is also important not to show up too early. If you arrive an hour early for your interview, you may give an impression of being overeager, and you also may inconvenience the staff at the business.
2. Wearing inappropriate clothes
No matter how you cut it, first impressions matter, and you should dress appropriately for your interview. Usually a suit is appropriate, but you may need to do some detective work to find out what you should wear; sometimes simply a nice skirt or pants and a nice shirt are enough. Do not show up in jeans or relaxed clothing; don’t overdo your makeup or forget to shave. While your experience should matter more than your clothes, your clothes may be the first thing the interviewer notices, and you want to impress, not distress.
3. Negative remarks
Easier said than done, try to make anything you say positive. For example, you may be asked why you left your previous employment. It is easy, then, to spill out the troubles you had with the people and the company you were with; none of it, of course, is your fault. Even if you feel that your story should invoke sympathy, most experts agree that negative comments will not do well for you. So, try to cast your reason for looking for a new job in a positive manner.
4. Being unprepared
Anyone can go into an interview and become nervous; I was. However, if you are well prepared, it will help you to do the best you can, in spite of your not-so-calm mental state. Remember the drills and rehearsals you went through the day before, and calm down. Most importantly, have a question or two to ask at the end. Without it, you will appear more than just unprepared, you will look uninterested.
Related articles
7 bad answers to common job interview questions – Emily Moore, Glassdoor
What to Do When You Just Had a Bad Job Interview? – Linh Pham
8 signs your job interview isn’t going very well (and how you can'turn it around) – Workopolis
Interview Tips: Things You Should Never Say During a Job Interview – Resolve Recruit
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One thought on “You Just Bombed a Job Interview. Now What?”
Thanks for your informative article. The things you mention are very useful for anyone who is going to get a job interview signed. Can I get some of your board ideas for my own blog writing for my own language (Thai) providing to readers.
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