When an Interview Goes Bad

While job-searching is often times a necessary evil, it is good to know what you can do to save a bad interview. When an interview lacks focus, the interviewer may lack the skills to conduct a good interview. Unfortunately, they will probably be left with the same poor impression of the interview as you. There are a few simple questions you can ask to bring the interview back on track and generate a creative and constructive dialogue, like: "What more can I tell you about my experience?"

An interview may seem like a waste of time if it becomes evident you are not qualified; perhaps the job isn't what its description implied. You could be having a bad morning and your thoughts are concentrated on an outside event in your life - you're human. An interviewer may be too passive to wrap the interview up quickly. A good trick to circumvent these scenarios gracefully is by ending things - "I appreciate your time, but it's apparent that this isn't a good match for me."

When interviews turn ugly, you have several options. First, weigh the situation carefully - many interviewers will deliberately evoke tension, even hostility, to test your reaction. Always remain cool, collected, calm and professional. If you are not comfortable, or you think that the interview has genuinely gone awry, just excuse yourself. It's rarely worth it to "fight back," and burning bridges is never wise. Plus, you'll need to ask yourself if this is truly the type of work environment you want to associate yourself with on a daily basis.