Let’s just cut to the chase - interviewing and looking for a job can be extremely tough. If you have approached your job search in a professional manner you have already:

- researched and learned all you can about the company, interview team and hiring manager.
- properly formatted your resume and made sure it presents you in the best light for the position you are interviewing for.
- bought a spiffy new suit and even got your car cleaned (see previous post - Stop Crying).

Unfortunately these things won’t guarantee success. There are a multitude of reasons the interview doesn’t go according to plan. Something as simple as the cologne or perfume you wear reminding someone of their ex (don’t laugh it happens). Maybe you used to work for a company that the person interviewing was either fired from or themselves had a bad experience (talk about holding a grudge). Bottom line, there are job search road-blocks that pop up that are no fault of your own. In these situations, I urge you to continue to be a professional, hold you head up and whatever you do don’t be bitter!

In my previous life as a recruiter, I remember having to let people know that the interview team chose another person for the job and hearing the words, “I didn’t want that job anyway”. My candidates would say things like the hiring company was so:

- disorganized
- unprofessional
- stupid
- full of crap
- under qualified

And the list goes on and on. The last thing you want to do is burn a potential bridge or lead to another company. You need to leverage all of your contacts including those that you’ve interviewed with that have turned you down. If the interview hasn’t gone the way you’ve planned, kindly accept the feedback and then dig to see if they know of other companies, people, situations that your skills may be suited for. If they’ve attended industry networking events they may have a lead at another company for you. What do you have to lose? Ask for it or you’ll never know that the potential was even there. You must always ask for constructive criticism when getting interview feedback. What could you have done better? What rubbed them the wrong way? It’s amazing the amount of intelligence this one question can gather for you. Strategically ask about the person who got the job. “How did my background stack up against the person who was ultimately hired for the job?” Ask the question and then shut up and listen to the answer.

The bottom line when you’re looking for a job is to keep your head up and not let the process get the better of you. Even when times are tough don’t let the negativity get in; it will kill your search and cause you not to think clearly. This is the time to keep your composure, be a true professional and use the situation to lead you to a job you will land. Happy hunting.

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