Unsuccessful Interview: Bouncing Back

Sometimes it can be difficult to recover from an unsuccessful interview, particularly when you felt that it went really well. But there is no need for despair. Try not to dwell too long on the negative result as it will only dent your confidence. It’s more important to dust yourself off and move forward to the next opportunity. Of course, spend a little time reviewing the answers you gave and if you feel you stumbled on some questions write these down and research how you could have responded more appropriately. Overall, you must not forget the bigger picture. If there was only one job and many candidates, it’s a bit of a lottery – someone had to lose and while rejection is not pleasant, you must not blow it out of proportion. Instead keep your mind focused on other opportunities and continue to present yourself to the best of your ability. Be selective about what positions you apply for. Don’t be afraid to turn down opportunities pitched to you as perfect by recruitment agencies. If you feel that you do not meet the requirements of the position don’t waste your time instead focus on finding the perfect match for you in a company that you want to work in. You can always ask for feedback post-interview if you think it will help you going forward. Some companies will give feedback but you might have more chance of getting feedback if a recruitment agency was involved in the process. If you badly messed up in the interview, for example if your nerves got the better of you, you might want to send an email to the interviewer thanking them for taking the time to see you. You could explain that you did not perform as well as you could have due to nerves and ask them to keep your CV on file should another position become available. It may or may not work but it will at least explain what happened and show a certain amount of enthusiasm.