Maintaining Your Composure During a Bad Interview

Job interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience, but when a bad interview presents itself, candidates need strategies to maintain interview composure. Take comfort in knowing that you can make the most of a tough interview experience and salvage what has gone wrong by focusing on your skills and traits that meet the qualifications of the position.

During a tough or bad interview, some employers use scare tactics to destabilize you, explains LearnVest Planning Services. The interviewer may not smile at you, try to intimidate you and pause awkwardly in between questions to make you nervous. Be aware of your body language in these instances, and put on your best smile to make it through those awkward or tense moments to show you can focus on the positive when negativity surrounds you.

Aggressive interviews where the interviewer bombards the candidate with difficult questions right away such as "What are your weaknesses?" don't have to throw you off-track. Prepare for the most difficult questions prior to the interview so you are ready to respond. Relax, take a deep breath and make eye contact when responding to questions. Get creative and acknowledge your faults, but more importantly, explain how you plan to turn those weaknesses into strengths.

A bad interview can take a turn for the worse if candidates begin to divulge too much personal information. If the interviewer asks questions such as "What are your hobbies?" or "What do you like to do for fun?" resist the urge to share information that reveals your age or family status that can be used to discriminate against you. Keep your responses professional, and focus on activities that do not reveal too much personal information, such as a round of golf on the weekends or reading a good book.

Candidates faced with odd or vague questions that don't seem relevant to the job can make the most of the bad interview questions by steering the conversation toward skills and achievements. For example, if the interviewer asks about your favorite color, you can respond with blue and explain how the color is calming, which is a personality trait that aids you when faced with deadlines and pressure. Maintain interview composure by controlling your body language, too. If you think the question is odd or a waste of your time, don't let your facial expression, hand gestures or eye contact display your annoyance no matter how much the bad interview affects your mood.

Bad interviews are bound to happen when seeking a new career. Even if you determine that the position is not an ideal fit for you, use the interview opportunity to rehearse answers to tough questions and perfect your interviewing skills. Your ability to turn a negative experience from a bad interview into a positive learning opportunity shows your willingness to work through adversity and excel in the workplace.

Photo courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net