What if a Job Interview Isn’t Going Well? How to Save the Interview: Do’s and Don’ts

Job interviews are stressful. There is really no way around that because they are so important – for both parties involved. So what do you do if you are being interviewed and you realize it is not going well? Here are some Do’s and Don’ts that can possibly change the fate of the job for you:

THE DON’TS:

Do Not: mention the awkwardness. Instead, try to relax and turn it around with increasingly better answers. Your interviewer will likely appreciate you having the gumption and the where-with-all to take a bad situation and make it better. It will show your potential new boss that you do not give up easily and that you can be creative and perform in high-stress situations.

Do Not: keep the same tactics. If what you are currently doing is not working, then definitely change something up. You have to think about it in a way that “you have nothing to lose”. Mashable  suggests if you have been addressing the interviewer as Mr. or Ms., ask if you can call them by their first name. That informal gesture may cause enough relaxation to change the course of the interview, and more importantly: THE RESULT!

THE DO’S:

Do: quickly analyse what may be going wrong. Perhaps there is something that the interviewer picked up on that is turning them off. Maybe they are just trying to see how you handle the pressure? Try to figure that out and make a few adjustments before it is too late.

Do: more than just answer the questions. Not only should you ask questions, but ask questions about your answers. For example, “Did that answer your question?” or “What else can I tell you about me?” Make your interviewer interested in you and add personal touches that are still somewhat professional in nature. You can also ask something along the lines of “Does my answer fall in line with your current employees methods?”

Do: still follow up and employ all of the tactics you would if the interview had gone perfectly. Remember that some follow ups might help you stand out, such as including a photo with an email follow up or sending a written thank you note.


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