- 1). Take time to collect yourself. If you walked out the door feeling like you left a bad impression, take a moment to relax, collect yourself, review where you went wrong and make note of the things you wish you did or didn't say.
- 2). Contact the interviewer by phone as soon as possible, and have your notes nearby. Be straight-forward in saying that you were excited about your interview, and in that excitement, you lost sight of how you wanted to present yourself. For example: "It was a pleasure meeting with you. In my excitement for this interview, I feel I might have rambled and not directly addressed a few of your questions, and it's important to me that I make a good impression with you and this company." Follow with a quick recap of points you wish you would have addressed in the interview.
- 3). Turn negatives into positives with levity. Interviews are typically formal affairs, but if the interviewer seems personable enough, use self-deprecating humor to smooth over any bumps in the interview. An example: "I walked into my dream job interview and made the worst impression. I didn't want to make an even bigger mistake by not calling you to try and fix things."
- 4). Be humble, honest and passionate in your apology and reiterate the aspects of the job and the company that appeal to you. If there is a particular question you feel you missed or didn't respond to well, address it head on. For example: "You asked me what my feelings are about expanding the company's main product line. I'd like to emphasize that I think the company has an exceptional reputation for high-quality goods, and adding to that line will not only result in an added consumer benefit, but position the company to make a substantial profit as well. Here's how I would use my marketing experience to help you make that happen."
- 5). Clarify any points you feel might have been misunderstood or misinterpreted. For example: "I want to clarify that I left my previous position not because I was unhappy with management's philosophy, but because there was no room for professional growth. That's one of the things that attracted me to this company."
- 6). End with a thank you and an expression of your desire for the job. Follow up with a formal thank you letter.
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