Following up after a less-than-stellar interview:

7 Comments

1. AnonymousJuly 3,2024 at 2:17AM UTC

   Contact the interviewer or recruiter and thank them for interviewing you. Let them know if you are still excited about working for the company. Ask when you can expect to hear back from them and what the next steps are (if that wasn't covered in the interview.) Whatever you do, DO NOT highlight a less-than-stellar performance, as they are the judge of that. They very likely chalked it up to nervousness, and if they are worth working for, they expected it (depending on the position you were applying for).

2. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJuly 3,2024 at 7:52AM UTC

   I do not recommend you contact the interviewer and point out something negative. Ever.

   First off, it may have not seemed as bad of a performance as you seem to think and even if they did think it was a poor performance, why would you want to reinforce that?

   If you haven't already done so, I would recommend you send a regular follow up thank you email.

3. Maggie SoldanoJuly 4,2024 at 3:02PM UTC

   Definitely send a follow up email to provide more examples relevant to the question, but don't share that you picked a bad anecdote. Just let them know that you were so excited about meeting them and you recall another example that could be relevant to their decision. Be appreciative and graceful. You got this!

4. Cindy GloverJuly 7,2024 at 3:58PM UTC

   I’d definitely send email with you first thanking them for their time and then explain how you’d intended the conversation to go - we are all human and if they can’t understand that- you don’t want to work there - good luck!

5. AnonymousJuly 8,2024 at 3:50PM UTC

   Use the opportunity of sending your thank you to reiterate your strengths/accomplishments and why they align with the needs of the role. Also, it may not have been as bad as you think :).

6. AnonymousJuly 8,2024 at 5:48PM UTC

   Good companies don't hire actors! Write to the interviewer and let them know a different response and second response to their follow up. Be sure that you keep it succinct and specific to their business and challenges. History predicts the future, let them know how you dealt with these things in the past and that is how you approach the future. Reinforce your interest in them and the role, and let them know you are really into it for the long haul and not just from one conversation. Then wait for a response. If the person was not the hiring manager but you have met the hiring manager you might consider sending the note to them acknowledging your miss and letting them know how you recover quickly.

7. AnonymousJuly 11,2024 at 1:31PM UTC

   Oof. This happened to me while I was interviewing for my current role!

   One of my interviewers asked a fairly common question in such a way that my brain went totally blank, then it decided to that the best! way! to! answer! said question was to latch onto a article that I had been reading on the way in to the interview about a company in Toronto revoking their hybrid schedule (and then being truly awful and rubbing salt in the wound by putting up signs around the office of things like a sad dog and the caption “I bet Fido misses you” and otherwise just really being rude about the situation) - and using THAT as my answer.

   Why, brain? Why?

   I got a call from the recruiter, who was (rightfully!) like “wtf, I thought you said you were fine with our hybrid schedule?!??”

   I was. I am. I explained what happened, and I’ve never actually experienced a “relieved laugh” until that moment. I saved it and got the job, but why do brains do this? Lol!