How to Revive an Interview Thats Going Poorly - CareerAlley

How to Revive an Interview Thats Going Poorly - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Weve all been there. You enter the interview room with nerves. They take over, and you reach out your sweaty hand and sheepishly shake your interviewers hand. You forget all those tips to ease nervousness and its effects and are starting to feel queasy. After all, you dont want your interviewer to notice how nervous you are And then, youre so focused on where things went wrong that youre barely able to think of answers to the questions. You stutter. You stumble. This is not going well. Its a scenario that plays out in everyones life at least once. But all is not lost. You can revive an interview thats going poorly. Here are some tips to revive an interview when you feel like all hope is lost. Bad Interview? Create a trigger that will restore your focus and bring you back into the present moment. Something like pinching your leg would work wonderfully. Tweet This Reset Your Mindset This is going to be easier said than done, but if you can bring yourself back to the present moment, you can turn things around. Before you get into the interview, set a turning point. Create a trigger that will restore your focus and bring you back into the present moment. Something like pinching your leg would work wonderfully. Let this thing serve as a reminder that you have a fresh opportunity at this moment, and you dont have to worry about the moments that have passed. Yes, your interviewer may have noticed the slight pause, but worrying about the past will only hinder you in the present. When you reset your focus to the present moment, you can let go of the worry and allow yourself to shine. Ask for a Minute Heres one thing you may not have considered before going into your interview. Yes, your interviewer is busy, and yes, they probably have to get through a lot of interviews that day. But know this above all else: Theyre human. Whether or not you get the job, your interviewer will likely empathize with your nerves. Weve literally all been there. Its okay to ask for a minute to calm yourself. Tell the interviewer that youre a little nervous and just need a minute to refocus yourself. He or she will understand. And they may actually appreciate that you can come back stronger. Itll give the interviewer a better picture of how you are on a day-to-day basis with less stress, which is incredibly valuable for determining fit. Practice Simple Breath Exercises You dont want to call attention to your breathing while youre in an interview, so try to avoid loud deep breathing. If youre feeling especially nervous while youre sitting down and waiting for your interview to get started, practice a simple breathing exercise. Just shift your focus to your breath as it flows in and out. This is a simple form of meditation that can help calm your nerves and possibly ease an upset stomach (related to nerves) as you prepare for your interview. And its a whole lot better than obsessing over what youre going to say because we know that never ends well. Ask the Interviewer a Personal Question Small talk can really help ease your nerves as you prepare to answer tough questions. When you realize that your interviewer is a person with a life and maybe even a sense of humor, it can take the pressure off your chat. Just dont get too personal. You can ask about things like their commute or how long theyve worked for the company, but youre going to want to avoid asking about personal things like their marriage or kids unless they bring it up. As you can probably tell, there are numerous ways to help reduce interview nervousness to help show why youre a great fit for the company. Despite this, theres really nothing you can do to completely end nervousness, but you can take control of the situation and turn things around when you see an interview is going badly. Mastering this ability will allow you to excel in any interview and will make stressful moments in your career much easier to conquer. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to nail the interview and get hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search