How do you recover from a bad start to an interview?
Before we get to the mistake, let’s talk about how to best prepare in any case: You want to be clear about the points you need to make before your time is up. If you want to make a case for your sales skills, finance ability, or people management experience, have those examples ready to weave in and out of the response to whatever questions you do get.
If you’ve made a mistake early and think the interview will end soon, make sure you make your case as soon as possible. If it’s a big gaffe and you think it may be a deal-breaker (e.g., you arrive very late or call the interviewer by the wrong name), stop, take a breath, compose yourself, and look them in the eye. Then say, “I’m sorry. I got off on the wrong foot. Here’s the real me.” Then launch into the best 30-second pitch you’ve got, with a smile—and hope the interviewer’s tone changes.
Caroline Ceniza-Levine is co-founder of SixFigureStart, a success coaching firm that equips students and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to launch six-figure careers. Caroline, an expert in career changing, is also a partner at Redseeds Consulting, a recruitment firm specializing in management consulting, and teaches professional development at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.
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