How to come back strong after you bomb an interview!

1. How to come back strong after you bomb an interview! Mr. Endicott Personal Career Planning Class 110

2. What do you do? • If you blow the interview for your dream job, you can recover • It’s a cruel truth that when we want to come across at our most capable and confident, those are the times when it’s hardest to do so. • Take job interviews for example: • The more we want the position, the more difficult to hit just the right notes of confidence and enthusiasm to actually win it • Interviewers are looking for certain answers, and the combination of what you say and how you say it is what builds impressions • It’s no surprise that we often don’t live up to our own expectations • Worse, we have a bad day and blow it altogether • So if you do have an off day, succumb to nerves, or lose your game… • All is not lost. You can recover, and even go back stronger than before.

3. Step 1: Make sure the disaster you perceived actually happened • In general, we notice way more of our own mistakes than others do • Just because you didn’t hit each of your main points, all is not lost • Remember, the interviewer doesn’t know what you intended to say, just what you said • Ask for feedback on your interview • Follow up with the hiring manager/ HR person • Ask what they thought went well/what you could do better • See what kind of response you get • Remember that follow up is also part of the interview • Being open to feedback is a sought after characteristic from employers

4. Step 2: Call in reinforcements • Find folks who work in the company/trusted colleagues connected to it • Have them act as supportive surrogates for you • They can dig around/ find feedback for you • Help you determine your next step • They can also offer your side • For example: “John enjoyed the interview, but felt he didn’t represent his work as well as he could have. You should give him another chance to come in. He’s a good, capable guy.” • Use LinkedIn and social media to find people in your network who have links to the company you’re interviewing with • Ideally, you tapped into them before you went in for the interview • If not, now’s the time to ask them for help!

5. Step 3: Be Honest. Ask for a second chance. • This may seem overly solicitous or smack of desperation • But you can pull this off and come across as enthusiastic • It takes guts to say… • “I reflected on our conversation, and wished our interview had gone better. I’d love to work at your company, and if you’d be willing, I’d welcome another opportunity to prove myself by coming back in and talking further.” • The trick is to do this only once • Or you will come across as needy or desperate • Make your offer of what you can do • Make it confidently and succinctly • Hope for the best… • Or call in your reinforcements

6. Step 4: Make an offer they can’t refuse • Consider this an action that overrides the words that you said in the interview • Determine how you can provide something valuable for the company and provide it • Free of charge, no strings attached • For example: • If you came across as weak on industry trends, produce an analytical piece on the market and send it to the company • If you didn’t have a great answer for sales results, refer a potential prospect to the company • Make a valuable introduction • Develop a product strategy plan • Send a process improvement • You get the idea… • Go out of your way to do something thoughtful, credible, and valuable for the hiring company • You show initiative and smarts, and remove the negatives from the interview • Actions, after all, speak louder than words!