What to do after interview mishaps
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking and a slipup or two is inevitable. You might think that a mistake might cost you a job, but it is not always the case. It is best to be aware of the most commonly committed mistakes, as the best way to avoid making them is to know about them beforehand.
You were nervous and couldn’t answer.
Preparing for the interview can help calm you down, because interviews are unfamiliar situations; ‘ practice interviews’ can make you feel more at ease with the situation. But if you’re there and you couldn’t answer, try politely asking the interviewer to clarify the question. Take a deep breath, then quickly analyze the question. Don’t try to make a list of answers; instead focus on one good idea you have then develop it.
You are late.
If you think that you are going to be late for 10 minutes at most, call your interviewer and tell them when you can make it. do not forget to apologize and give a valid reason (‘I woke up late’ does not count). If you are going to be more than ten minutes late, ask if they want you to keep heading for their office or id they want to push the interview to a later date. Even though your action may be perceived negatively, express that you know their time is valuable. Once you get there, give a proper apology, let the issue go down the drain, and never dwell on it because doing so will only make matters worse.
You kept saying, “ um, ah, like, ano…”
These filler words, along with long pauses, make you appear less articulate and unsure of yourself. Eliminating this take time and needs to be a cautious, steady effort. Situations like a job interview can make a person nervous, resulting in the use of verbal fillers. Pay close attention at the way you talk. Listen for your use of these fillers at all times and when you notice that you have been doing it for a while, simply slow down, get your verbal composure back, and try to focus on constructing your sentences better. Discipline yourself to pause even in the middle of sentences while you struggle to think of the next word you want to use.
You had out-of-date or incorrect information on your resume.
This often happens when an applicant revises his or her resume and fails to remove some of the out-dated (the wrong address, the number of the cell phone you lost), mistaken ( you misspelled your old company’s name or listed the wrong person as your superior) or irrelevant data (hobbies, likes/dislikes, etc.). Once the error is spotted by your interviewer, own it up to it and apologize. Complete transparency is the best solution. Give an explanation as to how and why it happened but make sure that you do not sound like you are only trying to make an excuse. Show that you have high integrity through your words despite the lapse.
You cursed or said the wrong thing.
First, stay calm. Do not draw more attention to it by crying or repeating the act; instead, apologize then take a deep breath and ask for a moment so you can clarify your statement.
You offended the interviewer.
Maybe it was the tone of your voice when you answered the question; maybe you expressed an opinion that the interviewer found offensive; maybe you interrupted the interviewer. Whatever it is, apologize immediately. If you don’t know how you offended your interviewer, offer an apology before you ask what you did wrong. Do not get angry as well; even if you don’t understand what you did wrong, it might be a situation to test how you handle unpleasant situations. Be contrite and express a desire to improve. But if you said something truly rude (like telling a female interviewer that you believe “women have no place in the workplace; only men should work”) then perhaps its best to excuse yourself, apologize, then ask permission to leave. HR personnel share stories with each other so it is important to express your sincere apologies and not to leave on a sour note.
--- Manila Bulletin ---
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