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Of all the interviews that are given each day in the professional world, there is no doubt that there are just as many disasters as successful ones. With the economy in a slump, and the job market almost non-existent, scoring an interview for a job is an extremely big deal. Sure, you may not have that job as of yet, but the opportunity to have an interview is exciting enough. But what do you do when you thought you were fully prepared to contend for the position of your dreams, and your plans fall astray before you even get there? Here are some situations and fixes for you to keep in mind to help you keep calm when the opportunity arises.
Crisis #1: You arrive late. Fix: No one wants to hear a list of excuses. The fix is simple… apologize. Call the office so that they are aware you are going to be late. Once you arrive, give a brief apology and get right into the interview.
Crisis #2: Your cell phone goes off during the interview. Fix: Although your cell phone should always be turned off before an interview, it is very easy to forget when your mind is focused on more important things. The best thing to do in this situation is to immediately silence the phone, apologize for the interruption and continue with the interview.
Crisis #3: You have a stain on your outfit. Fix: Try to disguise the mishap as best you can and always carry a stain remover pen on you. Chances are your interviewer will be more focused and your credentials and never even notice the stain.
Crisis#4: You flubbed the answer to an important question. Fix: If you are lucky enough to realize you flubbed on an answer, politely ask the interview if you can re-phrase your response. If you realize after the interview is over, try sending an email with a message along the lines of “What I meant to say was…”
Crisis #5: You said the wrong name of the interviewer/company. Fix: It is perfectly normal to be nervous at an interview. It is also common for people to have multiple interviews in a short period of time. If your interviewer catches your mistake on the name, apologize and let them know how important this interview means to you.
Crisis #6: You are unqualified/not interested in the job. Fix: If you feel you are unqualified, make it known that you are willing to learn and provide examples to prove you are a fast learner. If you are no longer interested in the job, politely tell the interviewer that you changed your mind and thank them for their time and the opportunity.
For more tips on how to fix disastrous interviews, check out this article!