6 Practical Tips for Recovering from a Bad Interview

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." Winston Churchill

Staying positive while job hunting can be tough, especially if it's been awhile since your last success. Looking for a new job is right up there with moving on the list of things people dread doing. Unfortunately, job hunting takes a whole lot longer than packing a truck. Landing the perfect job is largely an outcome of maintaining a great attitude. As hard as it may be, it is absolutely crucial to remain optimistic -- even after the worst of interviews.

Everyone has a bad interview now and then. Even the most patient person gets frustrated after getting the run around. It is important to know how to handle these mini-travesties when they happen.

Here are some quick ways to shake it off, find the silver lining and get your job search right back on track.

1) Get it off your chest by talking about it with someone you trust. Everyone needs to vent, so indulge your emotional side for a few hours and tell the story. It'll feel good to have rehashed it. The last thing you want is for pent up frustration to effect the next interview. Get it all out and then prepare to move on.

"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." Lily Tomlin (1939 - )

2) Admit mistakes and fix them. If you were late, if you tripped up, if you forgot to tuck in your shirt - whatever it was, seize the opportunity to learn and grow. You have the ability to change your actions and become an even better candidate the next time around.

"The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go." Richard Bach, The Bridge Across Forever

3) How qualified were you? Now that you know what these qualifications are, you can address them. If you are missing a particular skill, figure out the best way to address it. Either be open and honest about not possessing that knowledge or go out and seek training. Do not let a few missing skills dissuade you from you're pursuit. If you are reasonably within reach, keep striving.

4) Use your follow up to reconnect on missed opportunities or small talk. Often interviews can go well with the Q & A, but fall flat on personal rapport. If you were unable to find a small talk opportunity to connect with a potential employer on a more personal level, use your follow up to do so. Consider an email or call the following day asking a legitimate question and take that opportunity to try again.

On the other hand, remember that an interview is just as much for your sake as it is the employer. If no chemistry was present and you felt uncomfortable, ask yourself if this is really the job for you.

5) Take the opportunity to assess your interview performance. What did you say? What did you not say? How was you demeanor? Could you have been more prepared? Even after a successful interview, it is important to evaluate yourself. Adjusting your "sales pitch" on an ongoing basis will help your cause tremendously.

"Continually strive to improve yourself." Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

6) Never burn bridges. While the temptation is there to let the would-have-been-employer really know how you feel, absolutely nothing positive will come from this. Instead follow up with a letter or note, thanking them for the opportunity, regret that it did not work out at this time. Consider stating "please keep me in mind" so they know you would be interested in future opportunities. In some situations you may even be able to ask if they can recommend other companies or contacts.

"He who burns his bridges better be a dang good swimmer" - Unknown

Your job hunt is bound to be full of ups and downs alike. It's how you recover from the bad moments that will matter in the end. Persistence and the courage to dust yourself off are characteristics of any success story. Learn, grow and smile -- the right job is just around the corner.

Have an awful interview experience you would like to share? Any tips we missed? Disagree with our advice? Make your voice heard in our comments below!