Greg Kratz* says there are many things that can go wrong during a job interview, so it’s good to think about how you might handle them.
Photo: Daniel McCullough
You spend hours — sometimes days — preparing for a job interview, hoping everything will go perfectly.
In your ideal world, the hiring manager will ask the questions for which you are ready, they’ll appreciate your skills and abilities, and they will be amazed at your insights and ideas.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t live in an ideal world.
Unexpected problems often pop up in the middle of a job interview.
Do your best to prepare for these troublesome situations, but you’ll also need to deal with some things on the fly.
Here are nine things that may go wrong during an interview, and how you should handle each.
- You show up late
Whether you were stuck in traffic or accidentally put the wrong time on your calendar, a lack of punctuality can start the interview on a bad note.
If you know you’re running late, it’s a good idea to call ahead to let the interviewers know, apologise, and see if they’d like to reschedule.
Be humble, but don’t apologise so much that you sound whiny.
Chances are they’ve been late for something in their lives, too, so they’ll be understanding.
- The interviewer is switched at the last minute
You usually know in advance who will be interviewing you, which gives you an opportunity to research the person(s) and prepare to talk to them.
If someone else meets you for the interview when you arrive, it can throw you off your game.
However, this is really an opportunity for you to get to know the new person.
“Ask questions about her position, specifically how her job relates to the one you’re gunning for, and ask about her career background in case you have something in common,” The Muse reports.
“Although it can be disquieting at first, after you get over the initial surprise … you’ll likely find that you can talk just as much to this person as to the one you planned on interviewing with originally.”
“That displays your adaptability and willingness to take on an unexpected challenge.”
- The technology you need for a presentation isn’t working
For some positions, the interviewers expect you to prepare and present information on a relevant topic.
If the computer or projector won’t work, it can lead to many tense and awkward moments.
Try to memorise the key points of your presentation in advance.
Bring a printed copy of your slide deck with you, or hard copies of other materials that will help you make your points.
Instead of wasting the precious few minutes you have with the interviewers trying to get a computer to work, move along with your presentation.
This will show that you can overcome problems and stay on track even when the unexpected occurs.
- The interviewer notices an error or inconsistency in your résumé
It’s a good idea to bring several printed copies of your résumé with you to the interview — for yourself and the interviewers.
That résumé should be accurate and honest.
If you have exaggerated an accomplishment or made an error in reporting your past positions, chances are that’s the one experience the interviewer will further explore.
If this happens, own the mistake and correct the error.
Then try to salvage the point by providing a specific example of the skills you possess.
- The hiring manager is rude or a bad interviewer
If the former is the case, you might want to reconsider your interest in the position.
Stay engaged and polite during the interview, in case they’re just having a bad day, but keep the behaviour in mind as you move forward.
If the person simply isn’t good at interviewing, The Muse suggests you remember the points you want to discuss and the questions you want to ask.
“Then, take an active role in directing the conversation to keep the person on topic,” it reports.
- The interview is interrupted
Hopefully, you remembered to turn off your phone so you won’t be the cause of an embarrassing interruption.
If that does happen — or if the interviewer seems distracted by their phone or by people walking by — you may have to work harder to keep the meeting on track.
Be polite and patient, up to a point.
If the interruptions become so frequent that a meaningful conversation is impossible, ask if it would be helpful to reschedule, acknowledging that you understand unexpected emergencies sometimes develop and you want them to handle whatever has come up.
No matter what, keep your cool.
- You get angry
Maybe those previously mentioned distractions are finally too much for you.
Or maybe you’re asked about a job from which you were fired, and old feelings of anger rise to the surface.
If you feel that happening, you must get yourself under control.
Take a few deep breaths, focus on the opportunity that awaits you at this potential employer, put a smile on your face, and do your best to switch gears mentally.
- You zone out and miss a question
You would think an interview would make you nervous enough that zoning out couldn’t occur, but if the hiring manager is droning on about something and your mind wanders, you could miss a question.
That will not look good to your prospective employer.
Make an effort to stay engaged by maintaining eye contact, leaning forward slightly when talking and listening effectively.
- You realise you don’t really want the job
As you learn more about the job, you may discover that the position you’re discussing isn’t a good fit for you.
If this happens, and you’re still interested in working for the organisation, don’t get frustrated.
Instead, continue to emphasise your skills.
Talk about why you want to work for the organisation and how you could help it prosper.
Even if you don’t get the position you were interviewing for, you may plant a seed that will lead the interviewer to suggest you for a more appropriate spot.
It’s always better to build bridges than to burn them.
As in all parts of life, unexpected problems will pop up during a job interview.
By accepting that reality and mentally preparing to handle what might go wrong, you’ll show that you’re adaptable and unflappable when it does.
* Greg Kratz is a contributing writer for the FlexJobs blog. He tweets at @gkratzbalancing.
This article first appeared at www.flexjobs.com.
