Bad Part-Time Job Interview? Don't Beat Yourself Up!

By Julia Dunn on June 15, 2015

We’ve all bombed a job interview at least once in our lives. Not only does it feel disheartening to lose a job opportunity due to a single bad interview, but it takes a toll on your confidence and outlook in general.

It can be difficult to process the aftermath of a bad interview, especially if you saw yourself as very qualified for that particular position, but the employer didn’t get a chance to see that about you. As college students, landing our first few jobs is important for building up work history that will lead to a long-term career later on.

Image Via: http://sironaconsulting.com

The truth is, one bad job interview doesn’t mean you’re unemployable or worthless, and it doesn’t mean you’ll never get a job. There will be more interviews in your lifetime, and luckily, there are a plethora of strategies you can use to ensure you do not repeat any mistakes that may have cost you jobs in the past.

Self-recovery from these types of rejections is crucial to developing strength that will serve you well in interviews to come. After an interview that leaves you less than optimistic, many of us ask, “how can I better prepare to avoid another bad interview in the future?”

Image Via: janasays.com

Here are a few things to remember when processing a part-time job interview gone awry, as well as some tips to remember so you nail your next interview.

It’s Not Necessarily Personal

Image Via: www.linkedin.com

Employers often have a vision of who they’d like to hire and what skills that person absolutely must have for the position. If you weren’t hired for a position, try not to take the rejection too personally, since employers may have been looking for one particular skill you don’t happen to possess.

At any rate, job interviews go both ways; you are interviewing the interviewer just as much as they are interviewing you. Maybe that position isn’t for you, but another job is! Keep searching for a job that’s a good match for you.

Don’t Endlessly Replay the Interview In Your Head

Image Via: https://jobmob.co.il

After a disastrous interview, one of the worst things you can do with your time is ruminate over the little things you think might have ruined your chances during the interview. There is a difference between obsessing over the interview’s flaws and constructively assessing what you could have done better in the moment of an interview.

If you’re going to fixate on your interpretation of how the interview went, at least make your analysis constructive and conducive to your future success, and step outside yourself for a moment to look at big-picture aspects of the interview that could have been stronger.

Thinking about it over and over aimlessly without constructive intent will only amplify your anxiety, especially considering the vulnerability you display during an interview. Don’t overthink so much that you become self-conscious about things that your interviewer may not have even noticed or viewed as a fault of yours.

Remind Yourself of Your Strengths

Image Via: https://ctecentral.files.wordpress.com

Create a list of your skills, accomplishments, strengths and top qualities. Post this list in your room and internalize it every day, or tape it to your bathroom mirror before you leave the house for the day. Whatever you do, remember you are valuable and the world needs you! Remembering your positive qualities will give you the confidence needed to present yourself well at your next interview, and cause you to radiate good energy.

Send a Thank-You Message to the Employer

Image Via: http://paperdirect.com

Sometimes when an employer must choose between two candidates for a position, the one who sends a thank-you sentiment after their interview is the one chosen, simply because the gesture shows gratitude and character. This can save you even if your interview doesn’t go as smoothly as you’d have liked. If you have your employer’s email address or phone number, send a quick message via email or leave a short voicemail thanking them for granting you an interview.

If possible, even delivering a handwritten card to the employer will make a great impression and show courtesy that might keep you in the running for the job.

Organize Your Experiences

Image Via: http://hrsearchpartners.com

With different job interviews come different sets of experiences you should emphasize for each position. For instance, if you’re interviewing for a position as a coffee shop barista, it’s probably going to help you more to talk about your experience handling cash and selling snacks at your old high school than it will to talk about the baby chicks you learned to raise in agriculture class.

Create a map of your experiences and group each one with a type of job for which you might interview. What may not be relevant to an interview for a bookstore cashier might be perfect to bring up in an interview for a position as a programs supervisor for a children’s summer camp.

Image Via: www.socialwork.career

Since you only have so much time to present yourself at a job interview, use your time there to concentrate on as many relevant experiences as possible. While this is always important, it’s especially crucial if you’re having a phone interview where the interviewer cannot physically see you—they’re depending completely on the answers you give to their questions and the information you voluntarily provide them, so make sure that what you’re saying will clearly emphasize why you’re a good fit for a position.

www.quantumleap-hypnotherapy.com

No matter what happens, don’t beat yourself up after a bad interview. Sooner than later, you’ll have had more positive interview experiences than negative, and you may not even remember this minor interview disaster down the road. Focus on success! The right job for you will follow.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format