Here’s How to Learn a Lesson From Job Interview Failure

Superior Resources Group

Finding out someone else got a job you interviewed for is annoying and disheartening.

If you had a bad interview performance, you shouldn’t consider it a failure, or the end of your search. A bad interview performance can provide valuable lessons on how to avoid any missteps or break bad habits.

Going over your mistakes isn’t just a good idea for a job search. It can also help you cope with any frustration or disappointment you may be feeling. Essentially, a bad interview analysis can be a form of self-therapy.

Consider the following tips on how to learn from a bad interview performance.

Identify the root problem

The first step in your learning/coping process should be to get to the root of the problem.

Did you get anxious and fumble your responses? If so, more practice and preparation can help you overcome nerves the next time around. Also, the more interviews you go on, the more you’ll get used to them; in the same way a performer gets more comfortable the more time they spend on stage. Also, getting a friend or career counselor to practice with can be a helpful way to build up your interview confidence.

If you couldn’t come up with a good response to one or more questions, you likely didn’t do enough research before the interview. For future interviews, consider writing out a handful of achievements and examples that showcase your abilities, including so-called soft skills like leadership and teamwork. This little ‘cheat sheet’ can be tucked in your interview materials, so you can glance down during the interview and make sure these items get mentioned.

Ask for feedback

After a week or so has passed, go ahead and ask your interviewer for tips on how you can boost your performance in future interviews. The feedback you get can help you recognize shortcomings you were not aware of or aspects of your interviewing style that are off-putting to a hiring manager. Ask for examples and use the responses you get to modify your interview strategy.

Get professional help

Informational interviews are casual interviews with a company that don’t end in a job offer but can be used to enhance your interviewing abilities. Job fairs are a great place to hold a number of these informational interviews.

Colleges and job training facilities often offer workshops on how to tackle interviews. Locate one near you and sign up for one. You can also ask a mentor or trusted work colleague to practice interviews with you and assist you with your responses to questions, professional appearance and general disposition.

At Superior Resource Group, we help job seekers with everything from resume writing to interview prep. If you have a bad interview performance in your recent past, please contact us today to not only gain valuable interview advice, but also find out about the various professional opportunities we have in store.

 

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