Dear Liz,
I was invited for a job interview a month ago and I wasn't prepared. I did a horrible job at the interview, to be honest.
I didn't know anything about the company (we'll call them Angry Chocolates) and I hadn't thought through the job opportunity. The interview was painful. I knew within ten minutes they weren't going to hire me.
The reason I was unprepared is that I thought I was going to get an offer from another company.
It turns out that I didn't get that job either. Now I'm wondering how long I have to wait before I can apply for a job at Angry Chocolates again. I really liked the people there.
I'm going to keep job-hunting of course, but when can I go back to the folks at Angry Chocolates, and how should I do it?
Thanks,
Marina
Watch on Forbes:
Dear Marina,
I would focus your job-search energy on other opportunities. Once you have an unfortunate interview with an organization, it's tough to go back to them and say "Can I have a do-over?"
It's one thing if you interviewed well and they simply hired someone else. In that case you could apply for another job in the same organization the next day. They might call you the next time they have a job opening.
Your situation is different because you probably didn't leave the greatest impression on the people who interviewed you.
If another hiring manager likes your Pain Letter and Human-Voiced Resume and wants to interview you, they may ask around.
Sign up here to get top career advice delivered straight to your inbox every week.
They may ask their HR folks whether they know you.
Then they may hear "Oh yes, we met Marina last month when she interviewed for a Supply Coordinator job. Unfortunately she was totally unprepared and didn't have any questions to ask us, or any insight about the role."
Your regrettable interview experience may dog you. I would invest your limited job-search time and energy on other organizations. If you need a job now, you can't wait for the folks at Angry Chocolates to forget about you.
Get a job somewhere else, chalk up the experience to learning and trust in the fact that if you and Angry are meant to cross paths once again the universe will make it happen.
All the best to you in your job search!
Yours,
Liz
