The Bad Interview

Even the best prepared candidates can sometimes find themselves in the bad interview situation. It may be the result of some action on your part or on the part of interviewer that you are meeting with. Don’t get caught off guard as there are always ways to still control, as best as you can, the damage that was done.

If the error was a physical snafu on your end, attempt to remedy the situation as gracefully as possible. If you have spilled something on your shirt or tie and cannot do anything about it in time, simply acknowledge the stain as you are sitting down. We’ve all been there and it is easier to just get it out of the way and not allow them to think that you are a disheveled slob. Your interviewer may offer you a drink and, out of courtesy, you should take it. What do you do, however, if you spill it all over the table? Simply apologize and start cleaning it up. Since you planned ahead, you will have brought extra copies of your resume to replace the one that is covered in soda. If you trip, fall, or are otherwise ungraceful entering into the room or sitting in your chair, laugh at yourself and apologize, blaming it on your nervousness because you really desire the position. Just do not make too big of a deal out of the situation.

Interviews can also begin to go south during the process itself. You may answer a question and then moments later realized that you were wrong. If it is something that you are sure they noticed, bring the conversation back to that question and acknowledge your mistake. They may see it as a sign that you can admit your errors, which is a positive trait, and you will have the opportunity to then give a better answer. You might realize during the course of the interview that you are unqualified for the job. Do not let that get in the way of your confidence in speaking with the interviewer. They have read your resume and know what you are offering in terms of education and experience. Often, the employer may want someone that they know can learn the job. Don’t make the decision for them and lose a great opportunity.

Sometimes, the interviewer is to blame. If you are being interviewed by a manager or department head, they may not be trained in what they can and cannot ask. General questions about your personal life are none of their business, but you will feel uncomfortable not answering. That, however, is exactly what you should do. Decline with tact and explain to them that you do not like to get into personal matters while discussing business. It can even get worse if they start asking illegal questions. Every state has laws that restrict employers from asking you questions relating to your religion, marital status, ethnic origin, medical history, age, religion, and dependents, pregnancy, or your plans for having children. Check with you state department of labor before interviewing to make sure you know the rules for your area.

The decision whether or not to answer is your choice. Most of the time, the interviewer may simply be making small talk with out realizing that they have goofed. In that case, answer the question. Other times, the interviewers may be trying to eliminate concerns that they have, legal or not. You may answer the question by addressing the underlying concern. Simply rebuff the concern with “Can I meet the demands of the job? Yes.” The last choice is to remind the interviewer the question is illegal and state that you would rather discuss you qualifications for the position. That should stop the line of questioning, although may hurt your chances for an offer. If the line of questioning is discriminatory and the company managers flout the law, you probably don’t want to work there anyway.

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