Job interviews don’t always go as planned. Over the years, Glassdoor Community members have shared woes like panel interviews pitting candidates against one another, avoiding questions about religion in secular jobs, and interviews that felt more like FBI interrogations than discussions about work. But even when you’ve bombed an interview, you can still get a job offer — and it happens more often than you may think.
Rebounding your way into an offer is all about acknowledging the elephant in the room. Whether you’re still processing whether or not you’ve heard an off-limits question or you’re recovering from spilling soup down the front of your shirt, here’s how to move past it.
Signs your interview didn’t go well
Ever feel so worn out from working on a massive project that you blanked while answering a simple interview question? Make an overly honest comment in a panel interview? Or get so nervous that you vomited? There are dozens of ways an interview can go off the rails, but these are some of the most common.
Brutal honesty during an interview
I didn't try to market myself, and didn't make sure to put myself in the best possible light. Instead, I was casual and brutally honest. When I was finished, it seemed pretty clear to me I wouldn't be picked.
—Lyn Alden, engineer and investment strategy writer
There’s an unwritten rule that candidates are supposed to gloss over the negatives in their current positions when seeking new positions. For example, when asked, “Why are you looking to leave your job,” the appropriate answer might be, “I’m looking for more opportunities with more potential for growth.” So what if you slip up and say you’re leaving because your current boss is a nightmare?
Sometimes, really being yourself may resonate with your interviewer — particularly if it’s your potential manager and your personalities mesh well. If you’re worried the interviewer isn’t impressed with the unvarnished truth, dial it back by apologizing and admitting that your overshare was inappropriate. You might even earn their respect.
Wardrobe malfunctions
“Between the crying, the exhaustion, the inability to answer simple questions, and my heel breaking right before I stepped foot into the building, it's amazing to me that I got the job.”
— Jena Viviano, career coach
Broken heels. Stained clothes. Ripped seams. We all have nightmares about showing up for an interview unexpectedly splattered in mud or doused in coffee, but it’s not the end of the world. Being able to laugh off outfit snafus and still nail your interview responses can demonstrate how you perform under pressure.
Getting sick during an interview
I had a bad head cold and was coughing a lot... I got into a coughing fit and literally threw up on my nicest suit, sitting across from the interviewer. I think they let me in because…they saw that I was mortified but maintained enough composure to push through the rest of the day.”
— Wei-Shin Lai, M.D., CEO of sleep technology company AcousticSheep
Interviewing is exhausting. Sometimes the toll it takes on your body can trigger anxiety attacks. Then there are times when food poisoning or the flu literally come up when you’re meeting with a hiring manager.
When you feel embarrassed about becoming sick or leaving an interview early, follow up with the company if you’re still interested in the position. Explaining that you were nervous or ill can go a long way in repairing any damage that was done.
How to redeem yourself after a mistake
All you can do after something goes wrong in an interview is regroup. Give the interviewer an honest picture of who you really are and what makes you qualified for the job.
Glassdoor Community members say it’s important to remember that the interviewer is human, too, and not let one bad interview change the way you think of yourself or your skills.
“As someone who has interviewed many people over the years, I can usually tell when someone’s nerves got the best of them…Do not let one interview discourage you or derail you from continuing to strive for change and advancement,” one community member added.
If you’re lucky, your interviewer may look past whatever happened during the interview — big or small — and make you an offer anyway.