Bombed the job interview? Don’t give up just yet

Many candidates assume a poor interview is fatal, but a timely follow-up can still change how an interviewer sees you

Interview requests

A bad interview doesn’t have to end your job search. Following up to correct or clarify what went wrong can sometimes change an interviewer’s initial judgment.

Like anyone who’s ever job searched, I’ve had my share of bad interviews when I wasn’t at my best. My nerves got the better of me, I hadn’t slept well, traffic threw me off my game, and a Mexican lunch wasn’t settling right.

One time, I arrived early for a 10:30 a.m. interview so I walked up and down the hall outside the interviewer’s office. A guy was painting nearby, and we struck up a conversation. Then I looked around for a chair so I could sit down and gather my thoughts. Not seeing a chair, I leaned against the wall across from my interviewer’s office. The moment I realized what I’d done, my interviewer opened her door. I could see she wasn’t impressed as she looked toward the painter, who said, “I’ll redo it.” I took off my jacket, folded it, and carried it into my interviewer’s office. The interview was curt and short.

It’s inevitable that, no matter how well you prepare you are for an interview, there will be days when you don’t perform your best. Sometimes I wasn’t as articulate as I’d like, or I didn’t connect with my interviewer, or the interview ended abruptly before I could convey my value propositions, leaving me wondering if I could still salvage the opportunity.

If you haven’t interviewed in a while, nervous energy can easily spiral into anxiety and self-doubt. There’s also the possibility, which I’ve experienced a few times, that your lacklustre interview performance was due to a lack of chemistry with your interviewer or feeling that things didn’t quite “feel right.” In such cases, accept that this wasn’t the right job, company, or boss for you, trust your gut instinct, and move on.

However, if you genuinely want the job, instead of beating yourself up and dwelling on what went wrong, focus on ways to bounce back from a less-than-stellar interview. Think you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

1. Send an email ASAP after the interview

On the same day, send an email that highlights your skills, experience, and value, and elaborates on any points you feel you didn’t communicate as effectively as you could have. Your email should include:

• Express gratitude for the opportunity to interview
• Acknowledge that you wish you had communicated certain aspects of your experience and skills more clearly
• Clarify or reinforce your value by highlighting a key skill, experience, or insight that sets you apart
• Reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and the company

Subject: Thank you and follow-up

Hi [Interviewer’s Name],

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me this morning about the [job title] role at [company name] and your vision for [specific aspect of the role].

Upon reflecting on our conversation, I would like to expand on when you asked me to share a situation in which I demonstrated leadership. After I left, I realized I should have mentioned the marketing committee I led during my time at [previous employer].

This cross-functional team consisted of five individuals from various departments, and our goal was to ensure that all company materials adhered to brand guidelines while maintaining high design standards. Our efforts led to a 70 per cent increase in employee satisfaction with internal materials, which had a positive impact on overall engagement and productivity.

Again, thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

When composing your email, avoid being too candid, like, “I’m so sorry I completely bombed the interview.” Instead, keep it more professional, such as, “I wanted to expand on a point about my leadership experience,” or “I have more concrete examples I want to share with you regarding my software knowledge.”

2. Call and request an opportunity to elaborate

The majority of job seekers will only be comfortable sending a version of the email example I gave. Job seekers who stay within their comfort zone are more likely to have a prolonged job search. However, a bold move that has worked for me is to call and say something along the lines of, “Hi [Interviewer’s Name], do you have a few minutes? [wait for response, which will likely be ‘yes’] Thanks. During our conversation yesterday, I felt that I didn’t fully convey my experience in [specific area]. I’d like to better explain how my experience in [specific area] relates to the [position].”

Sure, you could insert a paragraph into your follow-up email asking to schedule a call, but that isn’t nearly as proactive (read: controlling your job search) as taking a deep breath and making the call asking for a chance to elaborate. I’ve yet to meet a hiring manager who wouldn’t be impressed by a candidate trying to recover from a bad interview.

Everyone messes up an interview now and then; however, don’t assume you’re automatically out of the running. Think about how you can recover from a poor interview. Dwelling on a bad interview accomplishes nothing, especially when it’s possible to bounce back.

Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job.