Okay, so the worst has happened. You stammered your way through answers, perfected the art of the blank look and failed to impress your prospective employers.
It is imperative now that you follow up. A bad accounting job interview doesn’t have to sink your job search ship. Follow up correctly and you stand a chance of transforming a bad accounting job interview into a winnable situation.
Step 1: Make Peace
This first step is critical in moving beyond the initial experience. Make peace with yourself. Accept that things did not go as smoothly as you envisioned and prepare to take action.
Step 2: Own It
To recover from a bad accounting job interview don’t pretend that nothing happened. A more proactive stance is to craft a careful email acknowledging the disconnect between your answers and what the prospective employer was looking for. Keep it brief. Explain that you feel you can do better. The language here is critical. Using words such as “disconnect” show that you take responsibility for resolving the communication gap. You’re not laying blame, preserving your personal brand in the process.
Step 3: Reiterate Your Interest
The final step in recovering from a bad accounting job interview is to finish your email by reiterating your interest in the company. Be sincere. Identify the core values that make you want to work for the organization. Express, without any sense of entitlement, that you would love another opportunity to speak with them. Finish by wishing them the best. Leaving things on a positive note is certainly the best way forward.
By taking the time to create an email that acknowledges the disconnect that occurred and offers a succinct explanation, you stand a better chance of recovering from a bad interview and moving towards success with your company of choice. But at the end of the day, if the situation doesn’t change, remember not to beat yourself up too much. You may just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move on to the next opportunity!
Let us know what you think! At Clarity Recruitment, we’re always interested in hearing from accounting and finance professionals like yourselves, who are ready for new, exciting opportunities that can take their careers to the next level. And be sure to follow us on Twitter (@clarityrecruits) and connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook for more great tips and advice.
