5 Unexpected Job Interview Blunders & How You Can Fix Them

By Selipha Kihagi

Job interview blunders can happen when you least expect them. You may have prepared well and even had extra time to relax so you exhume confidence but still end up messing up. Some job interview blunders can be avoided…yes…but there are some that you may have no control over. It could be that they skipped your mind or something just didn’t work out the way you planned it to.

Whatever the case, if you find yourself in such a situation, be sure not to freak out and end up making even bigger mistakes. Think about how you can handle a blunder you didn’t expect and still do well in the interview. You never know – you might impress the recruiter or employer so much they forget the blunders. To start you off, here are 5 interview blunders and what you can do.

Job Interview Blunders And How To Fix Them

1. You wake up later than planned

If there is one thing that might cause you so much anxiety in an interview, it’s waking up late. But you need not let this mishap distort your entire plans for the day. Start by analyzing the situation; will you be late to the interview? Can you lessen the time you use preparing so you are in time?

If you find out you will be late, call the office or recruiting manager to alert them that you will be running late. Remember to make an honest apology for any inconvenience caused. Then move on to do everything else as you planned it.

2. You arrive late to the interview

You may have miscalculated on the distance to the offices where you are scheduled for the interview, or maybe you ran into unexpected traffic jam (this is very common). The best solution to this would be to call immediately you realize you will be late. However, if you are not in a position to call or you forget to and are late, remember to use the first minutes apologizing.

Recruiters and employers will not take lateness kindly, especially when you don’t take the time to call in advance. But with an honest apology that does not lay blame on the company, your lateness will be forgotten.

3. Your phone rings during the interview

This is a popular blunder among job candidates and one that recruiters and employers despise. It is seen as rude and lacking in consideration and preparedness. In the case this happens, make sure you are quick to apologize first before reaching out to put it on silent mode. Then after, apologize for not switching it off before going in.

Don’t excuse yourself to answer the call unless it is something very important – something beyond having the job. If you excuse yourself, remember to apologize for it and put it on silent or off.

4. You blunder on an important interview question

You may have done all the background research and preparation but still end up messing up; may be because of being anxious. If you go blank or give an answer that does not explain what you are being asked or that puts you in risk, fix it by apologizing for the situation then proceed to give a better answer.

It is okay if you take a moment to compose yourself. If you do not understand the question, kindly ask for clarification. You can refer to this article for more on how to clarify interview questions.

5. You wake up feeling sick

Sickness cannot be controlled, at least most times. If your body chooses the same day you have an interview to get sick, there is not much you can do to avert the situation. But being sick on your interview day may also count as a blunder. Remember calling in sick on a Monday morning can be seen as a hangover escape.

However, if you are seriously sick and no quick medicine can change that, make the phone call as soon as you realize you can’t make it. Explain your situation and, again, apologize. Then proceed to reschedule the interview for when you know you’ll be better.

Some job interview blunders cannot be avoided, but they can be fixed with an honest apology.