In today’s tough job market, the pressure is on to ace each and every job interview candidates are fortunate enough to land. But these things don’t always go as planned. So how do you know if you bombed your interview–and what should you do about it? 
There are a few cues you can take from your interviewer to gauge if you’re doing well. For instance, if the hiring manager asks many follow-up questions or says things like, “What I actually wanted to know was…” or “Could you be more specific?” those can be signs you may not be understanding their questions or are answering them incorrectly. Other cues include not making eye contact or cutting the interview short.
Still, it’s important not to gauge how well you did entirely from the interviewer’s responses–after all, they could be having a stressful day themselves. If you think you didn’t do well in your interview and want to make amends, consider mentioning it in your follow-up email. You don’t have to apologize for your responses–just thank them for meeting with you, and consider saying something like, “With regard to your question about my communication skills, I just wanted to clarify/expand on…” This may give you some peace of mind, and will show your potential employer that even though your responses were a bit shaky, you’re serious about the position.
When it comes down to it, the only way to lessen your chances of bombing an interview is to prepare. Research the company–check out their mission, any recent news articles, client profiles, employee profiles–whatever you can get your hands on. That way, you can relate your responses to the mission, goals, and culture of the company. Remember to research the actual position as well, and have a full understanding of the responsibilities involved.
It can also help to practice being in the hot seat. Have a friend interview you, and record your conversation. Play it back to gauge your confidence and identify any nervous habits or speech patterns. Many career centers also offer mock interviews, so you can get a feel for answering questions in front of someone you don’t know.
Job interviews are nerve-wracking, but there’s no need to beat yourself up if one of yours doesn’t go as planned. View each interview not as an end-all for your job search, but as a learning opportunity to improve for next time.
Have you ever bombed a job interview? How did it turn out? We’d love to hear your stories!
