When You Know You’re Bombing an Interview



Have you ever been in an interview when you knew you were progressing down the path of bombing it? I can think back to when I had interviewed for a coveted summer internship with Merck and I knew I had bombed the interview while I was still interviewing. A handful of interns were to be chosen nationally for a internship that included many benefits, including an opportunity to work on a special project at Merck, meeting the CEO, a summer in a different part of the country with flights, rental car, and hotel paid for, etc.

I had wanted the internship so badly. But the way the interview was going, I could feel myself kissing goodbye to the opportunity. It was as if I were a Stepford wife at times.  Other times, I drew blank stares when asked some simple questions. I had also had 2 other interviews with two other Merck employees that went well, but this one was just plain embarrassing.

So what do you do when you’re in a similar situation? What do you do when you’re in a pharmacist job interview and you say something you knew you shouldn’t have said (or you wish you said it differently)?

Here is a simple solution to save the interview:

Shift your mindset right away:  “Unclutch” from your mind starting to give yourself a hard time about why you’re bombing the interview.  Observe your thoughts coming up and then let it go (“unclutch” from them).  Otherwise, you may find yourself getting distracted from the rest of the interview questions.  This can take you away from being completely focused and acing the rest of the interview.  You are perfectly capable of saving the rest of the interview.  The truth is

What to say to save that part of the interview:  Bring up what you answered (the part you bombed) and clarify what your answer was.  Elaborate on anything you meant to say but didn’t; explain what you said which you didn’t mean to say.that most interviewers know that people get nervous.  As long as you regroup your thoughts, you can save the interview.

What if you are answering questions and can just tell that the interviewer isn’t impressed with your answers?

Acknowledge the interviewer’s reaction artfully.  Depending on whether it’s appropriate in that moment or at the end of the interview, ask your interviewer “are there any concerns you have about me XXX [insert the topic during which you noticed the interviewer wasn’t impressed] or doing the job well?”  Depending on what the interviewer says, then bring up examples that may help dissolve their concerns.

Stay tuned for a future article that will give you the answers to a few other interview questions I’m frequently asked (including “Should you acknowledge that you are messing up the interviewer?”).  I will also share with you what happened with my bombed interview at Merck & whether I got the job there that summer, if you’re curious.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a job right now and don’t want to make easily preventable mistakes that make you lose out on a job you really want, here is my gift to you…Access your free gift:  the 5 Biggest Mistakes Pharmacists Make in a Job Search.  Put your name & email in the box after you click on the link above, and you will get valuable free tips that can help you stand out from everyone else.  Good luck with your upcoming interviews and use the resources on this website to help you beat your competition.

Interview Coming Up? Get the Job!

You’ve done the work to market yourself to stand out from your competition.  You’ve been requested for an in-person interview.  It’s time to get the job!

Here are a few things to check off from your interview checklist:

1.  Prepare for the interview enough that you’re comfortable to ask for the job.
Know the names & titles of everyone you will be interviewing with.  This includes key interviewers within the pharmacy, HR, and perhaps people such as the CEO.  Prepare for your interview by anticipating the questions that will be asked of you.  Decide how you will answer challenging questions.  Research and figure out questions to ask that are both important to you and which reflect on your interest in the position that you are applying for.  Plan to ask for the job at the end. Asking for the job is something that most pharmacists are not used to doing.  There is an art to it and the pharmacists who know how tend to get the job.

Go through the interview process by asking a pharmacist job market expert to do a mock interview with you.  This will give you an advantage over other applicants.  You will have practiced interview questions being asked in this job market and ace the interview with confidence.

I know a pharmacist who has been able to talk herself into jobs that others haven’t been able to.  It is because she is amazing with marketing herself.  She will be a guest on our upcoming invitation-only teleseminar “How to Get the Job You Want Without the Experience”.  The teleseminar will be useful to pharmacists who don’t have the specific experience for a position, but want to apply for a pharmacist position in a different practice setting.  It will also be useful to new pharmacy residents & grads.  The first 32 pharmacists who enroll in the “Get the Job” Membership program will be invited to attend.

Many pharmacists are imbalanced on what part of the interview process they are good at.  Some are good at getting the interview, but not the job.  Others are good at getting the job, but have trouble getting interviews.  The good news is that this is something that can be learned.  You just need to have a handle on the secret of what works & what doesn’t in this tight job market.

2.  Get directions ahead of time. Map it out via Google Maps or Mapquest.   I prefer Google Maps because it also gives you the estimated time in traffic.  Also, call to request directions.  Someone familiar with the area will be able to give you landmarks that make it easier to find where you need to go.  Have the phone # of the interview location handy, in case you get lost.

3.  Look and feel sharp.  Take care in presenting yourself to make a memorable first impression, from brushing your hair neatly, to dressing professionally in colors that complement your skin tone.  It is better to overdress one notch than to under dress.  When you feel sharp, you radiate confidence and the hiring managers can feel that.

3.  Bring a few hard copies of your resume.  This offers something tangible for the hiring managers to hold on to.  They have it ready and can make notes on it if they wish.  Few pharmacists actually do this, so you would be standing out by bringing this to your interview.

What part of the interview checklist have you done in the past and gotten results from?  What part do you have challenges with?  Share your experiences below.

Good luck at your interview! Remember, give yourself the best chance possible–you only have one shot.