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Original poster

I have just done the worst interview. Please make me feel better.

43 replies

massivefacepalm · 07/07/2020 11:31

I've just emerged from an interview for a job I really wanted and also really needed - we are in a COVID-related financial mess and need the income. It was the perfect job in an organisation I've wanted to work for for years. Opportunities like this that call on my skillset are few and far between.

Anyway - it was a disaster. I was so nervous I couldn't think straight. I spent DAYS preparing but still struggled to answer coherently. Didn't make any of the brilliant points I had up my sleeve. Got knocked sideways by some really straightforward questions. The whole thing finished much quicker than expected which makes me think they a) gave up on me or b) my answers were massively superficial.

I am absolutely gutted and just having a little cry to myself. It has been a long process to get this far and the other stages went really well so I'm furious with myself for getting this far and then screwing up. I'm also embarrassed.

Anyone been there? What did you do? Come cheer me up while I wallow for a bit.

OP posts:
Ajoor · 07/07/2020 11:33

Quickly write a follow up email. Thank them for their time and add the extra points you wanted to make. My friend did this before and it got her the job!

CleanandJerk · 07/07/2020 11:37

That is a great suggestion.
Dont be so hard on yourself. I am sure you did better than you thought.

Original poster
massivefacepalm · 07/07/2020 11:38

Really - is that a thing? To write back? Hadn't even crossed my mind.

OP posts:
ThanosSavedMe · 07/07/2020 11:40

Try it out, what have you got to lose? Good luck

MrsPhyllisTyne · 07/07/2020 11:42

Definitely write to say thank you and use it as an opportunity to say what you wanted to.

Good luck, OP! Star

Peach1886 · 07/07/2020 11:44

Definitely a quick email, without going OTT explain that your nerves got the better of you and what you should have said was x, y and z.

No need to overdo it (you may not have been nearly as bad as you thought!) but it won't hurt to show self-awareness and say that it didn't go nearly as well as you had hoped, having prepared thoroughly and it being a good fit for your skills and experience.

I've been there and it's awful (it's always for a job you really want as well!) but if it doesn't come off there will be a silver lining with something better coming along later ...even if you can't see it at the moment.

Best of luck x

thepointoforder · 07/07/2020 11:49

Yes definitely do that. My brother did this once, and got the role. It shows initiative.

AnotherBoredOne · 07/07/2020 11:52

Yes definitely try this. We've interviewed and our preferred applicant was terrible in the interview but we got her back for an informal chat and she got the job.

Thesuzle · 07/07/2020 11:52

This just happened to my daughter, she thought she had messed up the last question (zoom interview) but you dont know who you are up against and how badly they did either
Fingers crossed

Qwicks · 07/07/2020 11:53

@ThanosSavedMe

Try it out, what have you got to lose? Good luck

Yes!

Disfordarkchocolate · 07/07/2020 11:54

I had an interview a couple of weeks ago. My only constellation was that I didn't have to spends days wondering if I'd got the job.

Sunshineonacloudyday20 · 07/07/2020 11:54

I agree I would write to them and expand your answers. It shows initiative and allows you to get across what you couldnt in the interview. Everyone gets nervous, everyone has bad days! They may ask you to come in for a second interview?

Krong · 07/07/2020 11:54

Agree with all of the above!!

You have nothing to lose, you never know, could get you another chat with them so you can really shine. I'm sure they understand the immense pressure everyone is under at the moment.

Love51 · 07/07/2020 11:55

I had one of these yesterday. My speakers stopped working towards the end of the interview. I was up in the night berating myself for a stupid answer to the what support would you need question. I haven't cried but have eaten a lot of biscuits and have a banging headache. And am struggling with my actual job due to tech issues (not of my making!) Dreading the excruciating embarrassment of"the call".
The people who said about emailing were more helpful. I'm just keeping you company!
Hope it wasn't as bad as you think, and the good things you said make up for the strange ones!

Original poster
massivefacepalm · 07/07/2020 12:03

Hmmm, this is interesting. The job is in the public sector so I wonder how a follow-up would be seen in terms of fairness etc? I'll mull it over for an hour.

Love51 I really want the call to come - I just want to get it over with! I've also incorporated biscuits into the tears! So furious with myself. Hope yours was better than you thought too!

OP posts:
youhave4substitutes · 07/07/2020 12:08

No, don't mull it over for an hour! Get on with it

Ajoor · 07/07/2020 12:09

@massivefacepalm

Hmmm, this is interesting. The job is in the public sector so I wonder how a follow-up would be seen in terms of fairness etc? I'll mull it over for an hour.

Love51 I really want the call to come - I just want to get it over with! I've also incorporated biscuits into the tears! So furious with myself. Hope yours was better than you thought too!

The job my friend did this for was public sector. You have absolutely nothing to lose and I think time is of the essence.
ShopTattsyrup · 07/07/2020 12:13

I have no practical advice but if it cheers you up I'll tell you about the time I had a university interview for my nursing degree (many moons ago).

When asked about what tasks I thought nurses performed in a hospital setting I said "injections" my brain then went blank, so my stupid panicky mouth just kept repeating injections on a loop sounding more and more manic each time until I started hyperventilating because I sounded like I was applying to become the next health care serial killer. They fetched me a glass of water which I then promptly threw into the interviewers lap while gesticulating wildly about how I'm "not usually like this!"

I was not offered a place at that particular university

Time40 · 07/07/2020 12:13

The job is in the public sector so I wonder how a follow-up would be seen in terms of fairness etc?

Why would it not be fair? Just do it now, OP - it's a brilliant suggestion! Good luck. Come back and let us know if you get the job.

worriedmama1980 · 07/07/2020 12:14

Honestly, I wouldn't consider points sent by email: we've always recruited with a panel, assessing as we go, if people were allowed to make follow up contributions by email then surely everyone should have that chance.

I think depends what you want out of it- if it's somewhere you'd like to work again, possibly with the same people, an email that says thanks for the opportunity, I was very nervous and didn't get a chance to make the points I wanted to but it was good to meet you all and I hope our paths cross again could be well received.

An email that says 'when you asked about x and I said a and b, I really meant to add c d e and f as well, and I hope you can take this into consideration' could get someone's back up a bit. But then everything depends on the people involved.

However it may be they're thinking 'oh on paper we thought she looked great, she didn't do herself any favours' and an email that shows self awareness might be helpful. It might even mean if they're considering a second round of interviews you're back in the running.

worriedmama1980 · 07/07/2020 12:15

Just to follow up and say I'm not public sector and it sounds like other people have experience of emails working in that context so go for it

MrsJasonIsbell · 07/07/2020 12:16

This happened to me last December. I had also studied with one of the interviewers which made it extra embarrassing!!
I feel your pain OP!

LimpidPools · 07/07/2020 12:20

Well, they do have that chance worriedmama1980, it's just a question of whether they need or wish to take it.

As has been said, if the OP does email, it can't really hurt. The worst they can do is ignore it.

YonBonnieBanks · 07/07/2020 12:23

public sector recruiter here.

We are very strict on basing our decision on the interview and application/CV only. This ensures fairness. So a follow up email is nice but would not change our decision or scoring.

I cannot speak for other public sector employers though but I'd expect a similar approach.

Wildlynx · 07/07/2020 12:31

I had a follow up email from someone I recruited as they didn't do a great job in interview and it swung the decision in their favour. (Not quite public sector but may as well be). Do it!

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