Recovering From Interview Blunders
Unforeseen Circumstances
Blunder: You're late!
Solution: Call as soon as you realize that you'll be late. If you'll be less than 15 minutes late, tell the interviewer when you expect to arrive. If you'll be more than 15 minutes late, ask if you should come in or reschedule the interview. Apologize and show that you respect the interviewer's time. Explain briefly, accept responsibility for your tardiness, and don't make excuses. Once you arrive at the interview, apologize again, and then move on. Note that your interview may be cut short or may be rushed due to your tardiness. Also see our query: Dear Cindy – Good Reasons for Being Late to an Interview?
Blunder: "Wardrobe Malfunctions"
Solution: Fix or hide minor problems. Find a restroom and wash out a mark from a small spill, or cover it with your jacket. If you find an obvious run in your stockings, buy a new pair or remove them and don't replace them. If you spill a cup of coffee on yourself and there's no way to hide it, acknowledge it at the start of the interview and turn it into a joke. With luck, your interviewer will sympathize with you.
Blunder: You spill or break something during the interview.
Solution: In the case of a spill, apologize, clean up, and move on. Offer to pay for anything that you break or damage. Being clumsy shouldn't cost you the job, as long as you show good manners and stay calm. (One of our most successful sales associates spilled a cup of coffee on the rug during her interview, but she was still hired and has been working here for years.)
Can I Retract That ...?
Blunder: You answer a question badly.
Solution: If you've just started to give the answer, start over by saying something like, "Let me rephrase that …" or "What I meant to say was …," etc. If the interviewer has already moved on, and you believe that the question you answered inadequately was an important one, try to address it again naturally in a later question. For example, if an interviewer asked about your leadership abilities, and you feel you didn't answer as well as you could, when a question comes up such as "Why should we hire you?" or "Why do you want to work for us?" refer more effectively to your leadership abilities.
Blunder: You accidentally reveal too much personal information or say something that you didn't mean to say.
Solution: Stop as soon as you catch yourself, say something like, "Sorry, that wasn't relevant to the question," and move on.
Blunder: You're stumped by a question.
Solution: One option is to stall for time by asking the interviewer to clarify or repeat the question. Otherwise, you can answer the question in a general way (e.g., "I'm not familiar with the technique you're describing; my experience in the area has included …") or admit you're stumped (e.g., "I have not encountered that before, but I'd love to learn more."). Either way, keep your answer short and don't pretend to be more knowledgeable than you are. Don't become defensive and respond with something like, "I don't see how that's relevant to this job." The interviewer may be testing your ability to handle stress with an unreasonably difficult question. (For more on this issue, see: When the Going Gets Tough.)
Blunder: You tell a joke that falls flat or offends your interviewer.
Solution: In the case of a failed joke, move on as quickly as possible. If you find you have offended your interviewer, apologize and move on. Remember that although humor can be an effective icebreaker, not everyone shares the same sense of humor. Never tell a joke that is sexist, racist, targets a particular ethnic or religious group, or has sexual overtones.
Body Language and Communication Style
Blunder: The interviewer seems uninterested in you.
Solution: Pay more attention to the interviewer's verbal and nonverbal cues. Does the interviewer want you to speed up or slow down? Are you listening attentively while the interviewer speaks and responding appropriately with nods and verbal acknowledgements (e.g., "Mm-hmm," "OK," "yes," "I see")? Also pay attention to your own speaking style and body language. Are you making eye contact and trying to engage the interviewer? Are you using tone of voice and varied pacing to enhance your delivery? Are you using natural gestures to punctuate your answers? Does your body language project confidence? Do a quick assessment and correct the areas that need improvement, but don't panic! This may be a tactic to see how you react to unusual/difficult people. Also, some interviewers may be inexperienced, and others may lack social skills themselves.
Blunder: You're nervous, and speak too quickly or giving rambling, disjointed answers.
Solution: Take a deep breath and calm down. Concentrate on making your answers clear and succinct. Take a short pause before answering, so you can pull your thoughts together. Avoid overusing verbal ticks such as "umm," "like," and "you know," since they make you seem nervous and insecure.
Blunder: You use too many qualifying statements, such as "I think that," "maybe if," "it seems that …"
Solution: Qualifying statements weaken your answers and project a lack of confidence. During an interview, make a conscious effort to cut them out of your speech. Some women habitually use qualifying statements to avoid appearing aggressive, and some cultures encourage them to avoid seeming boastful. If this applies to you, practice speaking directly and confidently until it becomes comfortable and natural.
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Although it may seem catastrophic, making a blunder at an interview won't necessarily cost you the job. A statement that you consider to be a huge gaffe may have been barely noticed by the interviewer. In the case of a well-recovered error, it may serve to showcase your ability to handle adversity and therefore improve the interviewer's impression of you. No matter what, stay calm, accept responsibility for your actions, and move on. Even if you don't land the job, learning from your mistakes will make you more confident and better prepared for your next interview.