Learning from interviews

You didn't ace your job interview. It happens sometimes - even to the very best.

Think positively. Every single job interview is an opportunity to learn. And the more interviews you do the better you get at them.

Most of us have botched an interview at some point in our lives. Maybe those jobseeker nerves got to us or we just weren't prepared. That can really affect how we perform in an interview. Even people going for $300,000 jobs can have days when interviews don't go well.

Read on for some tips about how to capitalise on the experience and make your next interview a success:

• Don't be discouraged. You can make up for an interview that went awry. So never burn your bridges. Go back and ask for a second chance. By showing enthusiasm you might change the recruiter or hiring manager’s opinion of you.
   
• Reflect on the experience. Write down a list of what you did well and what you could improve. As well as this take a deep breath and ask your recruiter or the interviewer for some feedback about what you could have done better. If the answer suggests you need to brush up on your interview skills or relax more, take this on board and look for positive ways to change. That could be having dummy interviews with friends, colleagues or relatives, to ensure you get your pitch across in the future.
  
  If nervousness is the problem, then remember that employers expect you to be nervous. If you think you need extra help, then search for an interview skills course for employees or join a group such as Toastmasters, which will help you improve your self-confidence.
   
• Follow up. Make contact with the company and show that you're the right person for the next job. That might be with a letter, or phone call. Sound positive, and thank your contact for the interview. Then keep the relationship alive by checking in from time to time.
   
• Thrown by tricky questions. If you were hit with sticky questions, think of better ways to answer them. Or consider emailing your answer after the interview. It could boost your commitment in the eyes of the interviewer. You never know when you'll face those same questions again.
  
  Work on ways to slip in aspects of your unique selling point (USP), your skills, and your accomplishments when answering these questions. Here is a list of common interview questions. Make sure you can answer all of these before going to any interview. This will help you prepare for an unexpected opportunity, or when you get a telephone interview out of the blue after submitting your resume.
   
• Plan your preparation for next time. Was there an area of preparation you could have done better? Did you know enough about the company? Check out their website and social media presence. If for example, you'd gone for a job at Commonwealth Bank Group and you'd read the company's Sustainability Report you could find out in advance about the its sponsorship of StartSmart Pathways, The Cerebral Palsy Alliance Centre and Women in Focus. These are very useful facts to drop into an interview.
  
  Or if you wanted a job with Qantas, and you followed the company on Facebook, you'd know that it had been shortlisted in the Passenger Choice Awards. Employers want people who fit the culture as much as have the correct skills and showing this sort of interest will pay off.
   
• Watch videos. There are quite literally thousands of videos on YouTube about job interview skills. Watch some and learn from them. SEEK has published videos for jobseekers about tackling interviews and post interview tips. All of SEEK's videos on YouTube can be found here.

Work on ways to slip in aspects of your unique selling point (USP), your skills, and your accomplishments when answering these questions.