By Guest Blogger Shelly Goldman, CPCC; CEIP; Founder, Goldman Group Advantage; Career Coach; Executive Recruiter; and Co-Author of “An Insider’s Guide to Finding a Job”
Have you ever gotten tongue-tied answering a critical question in a job interview? Tripped over your feet as you walked into the room? Shown up to the interview 15 minutes late, wearing a quarter-sized coffee stain on your shirt? Or maybe referred to the company by the wrong name? Let’s face it, mistakes and accidents happen – and during a job interview is no exception.
For every mistake, there’s usually a reason. There was a traffic jam, you got a flat tire, there was a leprechaun standing in the elevator who dumped his latte on you…. Wait a second -this is no time for excuses. Job interviews are make-or-break situations!
Whether you run into bad luck or bad timing, is it possible – in a situation where first impressions are everything – to remedy the situation and get the interview back on track? The answer is yes. Employers expect job applicants to have a few pre-interview jitters and hiring managers expect people to make mistakes.
According to a survey conducted by Accountemps, interviews are the number one place that job candidates make mistakes during their search (cited by 32 percent of the chief financial officers interviewed). The resume was a close second.
When you make a mistake in the interview, it doesn’t necessarily squelch your chances for getting hired. Whether you choose to address a shirt stain with a self-deprecating joke or take a moment to re-group and circle back to the “questionable” question, demonstrating your ability to recover from an awkward situation just might impress and help you build a rapport with your interviewer. However, don’t just take my word for it!
In researching and writing the book Insider’s Guide to Finding a Job (co-authored by Wendy Enelow), I interviewed Katherine Virdi, who at the time, was the Director of Human Resources for IntelliDyne, a large, technology consulting firm headquartered in Falls Church, VA. An experienced and esteemed HR professional, she has interviewed thousands of job candidates at every possible level.
I asked Katherine, “Can a candidate recover from an interview faux pas?” Her response was so memorable that over the years I have shared it with many of my coaching clients. Now I’d like to share it with you:
Yes, a candidate can recover from an interview mistake! If a candidate makes a mistake, acknowledge the error, apologize, if appropriate, and move on. If it is just one mistake, it might not be a factor in the final decision-making process.
Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. If a candidate deals with the mistake well, it demonstrates his or her ability to handle a stressful situation and can leave the interviewer with a positive impression.
Since talking with Katherine about this topic, I have gone on to ask the same question to other hiring authorities. I am happy to report, everyone I spoke with shares a similar opinion. We all make mistakes. The most important factor in surviving a slip-up is how the job candidate bounces back and whether or not he or she can build a rapport, is likable and can demonstrate how he or she would be a great addition to the team.
So go wipe that stain off your shirt, tie those shoelaces, learn a few jokes and win them over with that charming personality of yours! And good luck with the interview!
Shelly Goldman has more than 20 years of successful, diverse experience as a career coach, career management agent and executive search consultant offering guidance and support services customized to each client. She is a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). Prior to founding The Goldman Group, Shelly served as a Vice President of Training and Recruiting for a national food service organization.
Hi! I’m happy I found your blog. I am 47 years old and have been on diability for 4 years now due to a cancer diagnosis in 2007 in which I had to undergo a series of treatments, including two brain surgeries. Before my diagnosis, I was employed as a Human Resources Assistant and I never had a hard time finding a job. After my last surgery in August 2011, I decided I really wanted to go back to work since I knew I was out of the cloud of cancer. The surgery left my right side weak and I walk with assistance. It is very hard to get a job interview due to lack of employment over the last five years and if I do get a interview, my walking with assistance is a big elephant in the room. I have signed up with the Ticket To Work Program but have not, at this time, had much success. How do I handle the question of why haven’t I worked in the last five years? I truly want to go back to work, but I honestly feel judged. Any suggestions on working from home? I have excellent typing, computer, customer service skills. I just need to find my path.
Thanks so much!
Kimberly
Great blog post. As an employment specialist I know that everyone has the experience of making a mistake during an interview. You just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and continue with dignity. We are all human and therefore imperfect.
I understand how you all feel. I have Bipolar II and after working faithfully with the Federal Govt. for 25 years, I got fired for something I didn’t do. I was using FMLA and they just flat wrote me up almost every day for being late or leaving early. I knew all the guidelines and showed them over and over again, but they ignored the laws. I have been under more stress than ever due to the fact that OPM has decided they overpaid me $6,413 since 9-25-2010. Yea..ha ha..They are paying the wrong insurance company, and I am at the end of my rope… I am waiting for a hearing from SSD, but that could take up to 5 years, even with an attorney, which I have.
My phone is cut off–I am trying to pay my bankruptcy the best I can so they won’t convert my case to a Chapter 7 and sell my house right out from under me. I have applied and applied and applied for two years and never hear anything!! You can apply online and it’s horrible.
I am not stupid, as Forrest Gump said, but I don’t have any money for gas in my car, etc. I go to food banks, but have to ask my friends to take me and I went from making $2,000 a month to $766. I just don’t understand how life could be so bad so quick…best of luck everybody.
I’m disabled with a mental and physical disability and I still want to try and work at the best of my ability, but I fear that I will not be hired due to disabilties that require me to miss days of work. What job could I find that will work with me?
Hi Christin,
If you are receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, you may wish to consider participating in the Ticket to Work program. The Ticket to Work program can help you return to work full or part time without losing your benefits. You select an Employment Network (EN) and they work with you to find a job that meets your skills, abilities and interests. To find out more about the program, visit http://www.choosework.net/about-program/program-overview.html or call 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-833-2967 TDD/TTY), Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST. You can find information on ENs and other resources in your community by visiting http://www.choosework.net/resource/jsp/searchByState.jsp.
Best,
The Disability.Blog Team
This post gives confidence and strength to many of the candidates, it also motivates and helps in learning new things.
Hello,
I am a severely disabled American that worked at the USPS in Milwaukee for 18 until they discriminated against me. Now I’m blackballed from working for the federal government for pointing out how they did it. Fred A. and I were told we could work for any other federal agency.
I have applied for over 500 jobs in the federal government without 1 job offer. Should I have taken the USPS to federal court and sued their pants off or just take the blackballing without retribution toward those that discriminated against us?
SIncerely,
James A. T. Sr.