[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/embrace-your-interview-mistakes-how-to-deal-with-them-gracefully#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/embrace-your-interview-mistakes-how-to-deal-with-them-gracefully","headline":"Embrace Your Interview Mistakes & Learn How to Deal With Them Gracefully","name":"Embrace Your Interview Mistakes & Learn How to Deal With Them Gracefully","description":"Written by\u00a0Lisa Rangel, Executive Resume Writer Ideally, let\u2019s not make mistakes on an interview. However,\u00a0job seekers\u00a0are human. Humans make mistakes. So mistakes will happen. I think an interview mistake can be an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. When I recruited for my team and for the clients for whom I found talent…","datePublished":"2012-01-03","dateModified":"2017-08-23","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/author\/admin#Person","name":"Lisa Rangel","url":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/author\/admin","identifier":1,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d232d4d94c36a87067529574d8bf976cdcbe10988a09d79e9fbc2b75ce6cb95a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d232d4d94c36a87067529574d8bf976cdcbe10988a09d79e9fbc2b75ce6cb95a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Chameleon Resumes, LLC","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chameleon_FullColor-1.png","url":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chameleon_FullColor-1.png","width":1000,"height":442}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/mistakes-job-interview-whoops.jpg","url":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/mistakes-job-interview-whoops.jpg","height":"85","width":"113"},"url":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/embrace-your-interview-mistakes-how-to-deal-with-them-gracefully","about":["Blog","Interview Preparation"],"wordCount":872,"keywords":["bouncing back from interview mistakes","handling interview errors","how to handle interview mishaps","interview mistakes","top interview blunders"],"articleBody":"Written by\u00a0Lisa Rangel, Executive Resume WriterIdeally, let\u2019s not make mistakes on an interview. However,\u00a0job seekers\u00a0are human. Humans make mistakes. So mistakes will happen. I think an interview mistake can be an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive.When I recruited for my team and for the clients for whom I found talent as a search firm recruiter, I would actually welcome the mistakes made by candidates. I did not automatically weed out those candidates that made errors and I did not immediately move on those that interviewed without a misstep. How candidates handled the mistake, the type of mistake they made and the level of perfection achieved on the interview by candidates factored into my decision to advance a candidate to the next round of interviews. What should you do if it happens to you?(1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Own it, address it and move on.\u00a0 If you do run late to an interview or misspeak about a specific topic, own it and apologize. Do not blame others or make excuses. If you do, it can demonstrate that you will make excuses or blame your co-workers for errors you actually make or for situations beyond your control. I once had a leading candidate not call me on a mutually-agreed upon specified date\u2014but three days after the date, she called without a real viable excuse for missing the deadline. However, she still made the call three days later to apologize and stated she understood that I would probably remove her from the process. But she still wanted to call and thank me for my time and consideration\u2014and if there was any room for reconsideration, she was still very interested in the role, despite what her actions may show.\u00a0 I thought that type of call took a lot of guts. There were no excuses (\u2018I misunderstood\u2019), she did not pretend it never happened (crazy to me that people actually do that!), she did not blame anyone (\u2018my co-workers screwed up their work and I have been working like crazy to meet a deadline for them\u2019) and she did not avoid the call by never making it. She made the call, owned her responsibility and was gracious and humble. I gave her another chance figuring she would handle mistakes on the job in that same graceful way.\u00a0(2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t keep bringing it up. Nothing annoys me more than the overcompensating candidate. Over apologizing and revisiting the error repeatedly is a bigger interview crime in my opinion than most actual interview mistakes. It shows a lack of self-confidence, a certain level of immaturity and a tad bit of self-centered drama that most employers just don\u2019t want to contend with on a daily basis. This behavior is a precursor to when the candidate makes mistakes at work, the management can expect several apologies throughout the day as the candidate attempts to redeem themselves in their own mind.\u00a0(3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have a sense of humor about it. Show that you can think on your feet. \u00a0\u00a0If the candidate can make the interviewer laugh, the job seeker may actually score some points. Handling awkward situations with humble humor is evidence to the interviewer that you let mistakes roll off your back, are not easily distracted and don\u2019t take yourself too seriously.\u00a0(4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If it is technology-related, have backups and\/or be ready to present old school\u2014without the tech.\u00a0 Your laptop decides not to work on the interview? Have handouts of your presentation ready. Email yourself a copy of your presentation to your Gmail account to pull up on another computer, if offered. Bring a thumb drive with the materials you need. Show that you will be ready no matter what!\u00a0(5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If an interview is perfect, it did not guarantee a candidate was advanced. Hearing this may make some job seekers crazy, but if a job seeker is too rehearsed and too perfect, it just left me wondering, \u201cwhat flaw was I not seeing?\u201d After all, we all have flaws.\u00a0 Be yourself. Be genuine. Show humility and strength—showing strength only is a one-dimensional presentation.\u00a0(6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Accept that the job was not for you to have\u2026own it, apologize and move on to the next opportunity.\u00a0 OK. I get it. Sometimes you make a mistake that you cannot recover from: Did not know a key piece of information. Said the wrong comment. Offended someone inadvertently.\u00a0 Missed the interview time. If that is the case, accept it was not your fate to have that job. The powers of the universe kept you available for the right job to come along.\u00a0 Focus on the positive.For thorough interview preparation, get your copy of my ebook, Interview Confidently, Get Hired & Don\u2019t Sell Out, or review the personalized interview coaching services provided by Chameleon Resumes.\u00a0Written by\u00a0Lisa Rangel, Executive Resume WriterSign up for Chameleon Resumes BlogName: Email:   If you are interested in working with Lisa Rangel,\u00a0an accomplished executive resume writer, social media profile writer and job search consultant, to achieve the social media exposure and land the interviews you want,\u00a0sign up for an exploratory call now\u00a0and learn about the Chameleon Resumes services that can help you land your next role."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Embrace Your Interview Mistakes & Learn How to Deal With Them Gracefully","item":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/embrace-your-interview-mistakes-how-to-deal-with-them-gracefully#breadcrumbitem"}]}]