Simple Steps To Bounce Back From A Bad Job Interview

Everyone has experienced a bad job interview. Of course, there could be a lot of reasons why an interview fell through. Not enough preparation, perhaps, or you got a bad case of the interview jitters. On the other hand, maybe it was something out of your control. Nevertheless, it’s not the end of the world if you had a less-than-stellar outcome. To help you out, we’ve listed down some tips to help you bounce back and try again.

• Take A Breather

You might feel down and disappointed after a bad job interview. It’s normal to feel that way, and it’s better to let yourself feel it for a while rather than repressing it. However, don’t let it spiral into negativity. We can be our own worst critics. What you can do instead is to try and reframe your mindset by acknowledging your efforts instead of the result. The disappointment you feel is because you went for a job that you wanted. It may not have gone well, but you can at least give yourself credit for trying. If you’re the type to write out your feelings, journal your thoughts and experience during the interview. You can list down the mistakes you feel you made and reflect on your emotions after the interview.

• Revisit And Assess Your Performance

After taking time to reflect on your emotions, you can then move on to the next step with a clear mind. It’s time to assess how you did during the interview honestly. If you wrote down a list of what you feel you did wrong, this is the time to go back to it. Walking through that interview again, you can assess what you did wrong and what you did right and hopefully do some damage control.

Could you have prepared better and brought a strong portfolio or resume? Did you do your research about the company? Were you fully engaged? Or could you have given better answers? Perhaps your nerves got the better of you. Taking note of these questions can help you identify what you need to improve for your next job interview.

• Ask For Feedback

Now that you’ve reflected on your performance during the job interview, you can also reach out to the interviewer or recruiter for feedback. They’re the ones who can let you know why they felt that the interview didn’t go well. And don’t be afraid to ask because their feedback might not be as harsh or personal as you might think. They might even be good pointers to remember for future interviews. You can also take this as an opportunity to clarify anything in case wires got crossed that may have caused some confusion. Or, if you’ve made a big mistake, you can explain it to the interviewer.

• Learn From The Experience And Try Again

You’ve received valuable feedback and have determined what you need to improve. All you can do now is to turn that negative experience into a positive one. Make a plan for the next interview so you can avoid repeating your mistakes. Focus on your strengths and improve on your weaknesses. You can outline possible questions so you can prepare a better answer or do more research. You can even practice beforehand to build your confidence up. By this time, you’re in a stronger position because of newfound awareness and confidence to get a better-suited job for you.

Like all life experiences, what you can do after a bad job interview is to pick yourself back up, learn from it and try anew. But, of course, it’s not the end of the road yet for you. And who knows, maybe you’ll find a brand new opportunity far better than what you were aiming for.

Got a bad interview experience you’d like to share to help job seekers with what to avoid? We’d love to know! Get in touch with one of the best Tech & Digital recruitment agencies in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.