Have You Ever Had a Job Interview and Left Feeling...

You never know, interviews are tricky. You could always send a followup email with the points you think you left out that may help them choose you.

Just think of it as a learning experience. Its good that you are thinking about things and about what you could have said, because that reflection will help you on future job interviews. Maybe write down some of your thoughts now and keep them for notes for the future.

If you didnt get the job - that is ok. THere will be other jobs out there.

Cut yourself some slack - its been 16 years!

When I lived in NY i interviewed for a job in the winter. It was icy and i fell down on the way into the office right in front of the windows. Got back up and immediately fell down again. My boyfriend, who had driven me to the interview was supposed to wait in the car. While i was sitting in the lobby waiting for my interview, he came in, sat down, whipped out a magazine and put his feet on the table to read it (EX-boyfriend). After quietly arguing with him in the lobby (more stress!) i got him to leave. Good thing, because the Senior Partner decided to interview me right in the lobby because his office was cluttered. He then took me on a tour of the offices. I thought everyone was being soooo nice because they all had huge smiles on their faces. I thought "this must be a great place to work!" When getting my coat out of the closet after the interview, the senior partner said "is that a rip in your skirt?" i said 'no, its slit like that". He said "that far up?" I turned and looked at the back of my skirt. When I fell on my way into the building, I ripped the skirt and caused a slit all the way up to the waist. I was horrified and ran out of the building. I WAS NOT WEARING A SLIP OR UNDERWEAR! I had toured the offices that way! The good thing is, i ended up getting the job! After i started working there, the other Legal Assistants admitted they were smiling because they were buzzing each other on the intercom as i walked by to say "look at the girl on the interview as she walks by - her butt is hanging out!" Sooooo embarrassing!

Practice makes perfect... take this as a learning lesson if you don't get this job, and apply your hindsight to the next interview so you can ROCK IT!!

Good luck :)

I had one of those two years ago; totally feel your pain! First, I showed up only to find out that my first point of contact was a temp employee that had worked in the position for two years and was also interviewing for the job (university job so it had to be opened to the public). Kind of tough to compete w/ an incumbent that knows the job, eh? Then, I was so nervous I had to keep referring to my own resume for talking points!! To top it off, the panel of interviewers (HATE the panel situation) were late to the interview and I stupidly referred to how I am ALWAYS on time later in the interview and they all kind of laughed uncomfortably and apologized again for being late. That was absolutely not my intention of calling attention to the fact that they were all late, but the damage had been done. I walked out knowing that I had bombed.

But ... I vowed to know my stuff inside and out for all future interviews. I googled common interview questions and did out-loud run-throughs on those questions over and over and over. It helped tremendously and by the time that I had another interview (for my current position), I was poised and prepared and they actually did ask variations of the questions that I had been preparing for.

Hey, it happens. Don't beat yourself up over it. I truly believe that if it's meant to be, it will be ... good luck for your future interviews!

Yes! Like someone else said, practice makes perfect. For me, interviewing is HARD! The more I interview the more comfortable I get - but I interviewed once for the 1st time in a few years and I totally felt the same way as you.

When I first started looking for work 6 years ago it took me almost a year to get a job, and then it paid $10k less than what I was asking, which was fair market value for my area. The ONE job where I left literally in tears, is the one job I got. I left every interview feeling upbeat and excited, and never got the job. Then the one where I left in tears and told my husband I was just going to open a daycare in our home is the one that got me the job. Now 5 years and $55k more, I'm so glad I stuck with it. Don't feel down! The right one will come along, I promise!

I think we all have! : ) Don't be too hard on yourself. Employers know that people are nervous, and they take that into consideration. And if it doesn't work out, it wasn't meant to be, there is something better out there for you that this job interview was preparing you for!!

Good Luck!

It seems like the ones where I felt the worse are the ones that I got. I've been a stay at home mom for 19 years but before that, I had plenty of interviews. They aren't ever easy especially if it's been awhile. I'm sure you did better than you imagined! Good luck to you!!

Best of luck....I just interviewed last week for a new position elsewhere. Yep no matter what...I think you always second guess......Woulda...coulda...shoulda....You'll be fine. Also, I used a book to prepare for my interview...It's called Hired in 60 seconds. It's fantastic. Easy read....relevant examples and helps you mentally prepare...I hope you get the job :)

Hey don't beat yourself up. I applied for a job on all the wrong forms and got it. I was browsing through a website for a local university and came across a job while out of work. Okay I am getting near the end of my unemployment so I will just casually throw in my application. Went online I used the inhouse version of the application. I filled out the form and then faxed it as requested.

A day or so later I realized that I used the wrong form so I chalked it up and figured it was done. A few weeks later I get a call for an interview and went. Yes there was a panel of five people so you have more than a one on one to answer to. I just did the best I could do and wound up with the job. This was my first interview in about 20 years.

Remember what you did 16 years ago has changed in how interviews are conducted. Brush up on the techniques but don't go overboard with rehersals. At the interview be confident, poised and alert. Bring your own questions to ask it seems employers like that (shows you have done some homework) and that you are not just going through the motions.

I feel you probably got it but time will tell.

The other S.

PS What were you interviewing for?

Yes. The last interview I went on was totally awkward and strange. When I left the interview, I figured I didn't have a chance and didn't give it a second thought. Who knew - two days later they offered me the job. The interview should have been my warning, but I took the job anyway and left after a year because I couldn't stand my boss. I think the interview was weird because my boss was socially awkward. The worst part about the whole thing was that he was let go a month after I quit. If I had known that was going to happen, I might have stayed. Live and learn.

Yes I have. The thing I did differently for the next interview was to prepare better. Up until that point, I had never really done much to "prepare" for an interview, other than to look nice and make sure my resume was updated and error-free. But after feeling like I just bombed the last interview, I started looking online for interview tips. I also found lots of sites that list common interview questions and give examples of answers. The one I used was on about.com. They gave questions, told what the interviewer was really trying to find out by the question, and then gave sample answers. I studied these before my next interview and I'm glad I did because I was asked several of them! And I wound up getting the job :)

Sure, but just like high school and college tests--sometimes the ones YOU think you bombed are the ones you do the best at! Good luck!

I have left feeling like I bombed it and got the job. I have left feeling like I nailed it and never got a call back. If you don't get the call....It's ok. It was just a dry run for the really great job you were meant for. You know exactly what you will do differantly next time.