The job interview. Some folks thrive on the moment. Others need more time to get themselves mentally prepared. All of us have experienced the letdown afterwards when you know you could have done better. When you finish a job interview that you know you didn’t do well at, do not make the mistake of trying to forget about it. As painful as it is, you need to remember every last detail. Why? So that you can make the necessary adjustments and avoid making those same mistakes again.
A client I’m working closely with had a phone interview last week for a senior level management position at a hospital. He diligently prepared by doing everything we talked about: researching the company; talking with current employees to find out about the culture; driving by the business and walking in to get a feel for the environment, the pace, and to grab marketing material to review prior to the scheduled job interview; etc.
The phone interview lasted almost 90 minutes, which is lengthy for initial stages of the hiring process. After the interview concluded, my client was disappointed with his performance. In his words, the interviewer gave him quite a few “softballs” (questions that are very easy to answer and conversational) and he didn’t make contact with those questions the way he feels he should have.
What to do next? My recommendation is to write notes immediately afterwards. Include items you believe were highlights as well as areas you would have liked to have done better. Spend 15-20 minutes on this exercise while the job interview is still fresh in your mind. There are many variables that play into this event. You want to give yourself praise for those things you did well. You also want to be objective about the problem areas so that you can attack them appropriately to do better the next time.
So many variables play into a job interview. After all, we’re talking about people. You have some control over the environment and you can absolutely influence the decision. The first impression you make on your audience can not be overstated. I attended a Human Resources Association meeting last week and you’d be surprised how many admitted that they knew within the first five minutes whether or not they would continue the hiring process with the candidate. Positive attitude, appropriate dress and genuine excitement for the opportunity will set the stage for a great interview.
We are our worst critics. Yet, if you truly believe you did poorly, take an objective approach. Every experience needs to be viewed as an opportunity to learn and to improve. If you need additional support, reach out and hire a coach to help you overcome this critical challenge.
