Here’s something to consider before your next job application: A 2018 survey from CareerBuilder found that roughly half (49%) of employers make up their minds about whether you’re a good or bad fit within the first five minutes of a job interview.

It’s no wonder, since companies spend an average of three hours interviewing a typical candidate during the whole recruitment process, according to a 2019 report by HR software company Lever. Only about 30 to 40% of candidates who interview onsite receive an offer. So one could argue that despite doing your homework —all of the prep work and practicing with a friend or a coach— the possibilities of failing the actual interview are considerable.

While the CareerBuilder survey detailed some of the most outrageous ways interviewees “blew it”—asking for a sip of the interviewer’s coffee during the interview or showing up with a Darth Vader costume— there are some definite nonstarters. The top five deal-breakers that interviewers said would immediately get a candidate nixed included getting caught lying about something (71%), answering calls or texts during the interview (67%), acting arrogant or entitled (59%), showing a lack of accountability (52%), or swearing (51%).

But sometimes, poor performance is more subjective. Perhaps you became extremely nervous or the interviewer misunderstood something you were saying. Or maybe you were simply not as well-prepared as you thought. What do you do then?

The question makes Brian Richie, senior advisor with Labtuit.com, a TKTK-based career advising and coaching organization, think back to his collegiate days at the University of Florida, when he showed up for what he thought was an informal informational interview with the athletic department only to find that he had a full-fledged job interview. He wasn’t dressed appropriately and didn’t even have a copy of his resume —when asked for one, he pulled out his laptop.

“He looked at me like I had six heads,” Richie recalls of the interviewer, who scolded him about not being prepared or able to sell himself, cutting the interview short. “It was one of the most humiliating experiences I’d gone through up to that point,” he recalls. But it also taught him about what he needed to do to make a great impression the next time.

Here are five strategies for during and after a less-than-stellar interview.

1. Don’t overreact

In the moment, it’s easy to panic when you feel like you’re not doing well. But, it’s important to keep the moment in perspective, says Bryan Zawikowski, vice president and general manager of the Military Transition Division of Lucas Group, a Dallas-based executive recruitment firm. “I jokingly tell people that are nervous about going into interviews that if they really mess this up, they will never have to see that person again in their lives,” he says.

Keep in mind that you might not be assessing the situation objectively, especially if you’re anxious. If you find yourself overcome by nerves, admit that you’re somewhat nervous —people expect that, he says.

2. Regain composure

Do your best to regain your composure in the interview, Zawikowski advises. Turning a case of nerves or a mistake in the interview into a more relaxed, positive approach can impress hiring managers and show them that you’re able to perform under pressure. Let’s say you realized that you misstated something, made a mistake, or didn’t answer as strongly as you would have liked. Revisit the question.

“A lot of people are so embarrassed once they step in it that they don't realize that most interviewers are aware that you're human and that you're going to make mistakes,” Zawikowski says. “Do you own it and come back strong?” That can make all the difference in how interviewers see you.

3. Take your time

If you feel the interview isn’t going well, try to slow the pace. Be thoughtful in answering questions, taking time when you need to do so, says Richie. Sometimes, interviewees feel like they need to answer in rapid-fire fashion. But, slowing down and saying, “That’s a great question. Do you mind if I think about that for a few seconds?” can give you the space you need to formulate the best answer.

4. Pivot

If the interview isn’t going the way you wish or the conversation isn’t showcasing your skills in their best light, you can redirect the discussion, says Bradenton, Florida HR expert and career coach Angelique J. Hamilton. If you aren’t being asked about your strongest points or best skills, simply say, “Something we have not yet discussed is . . ." and delve into what you believe you can bring to the company.

Another way to change the conversation is to ask questions about the company and get more clarity about what the interviewer values or sees as critical for the role. Then, you can adapt your discussion points accordingly, Hamilton says. “Once you have that information, you can come up with the best stance for that situation,” she says.

5. Follow up

After you leave the interview, you have another chance to follow up in a thank-you note. But before you approach the contact with a corrective tone, be sure you aren’t misreading the situation, Richie says. Check with your recruiter or any contacts you have to get feedback before you thank the interviewer. That may give you a better sense of how you performed. That’s also good information for the next interview, whether it’s with this company or another one.

“If you can’t obtain feedback from the bombed interview, brainstorm it yourself. Ask yourself what questions had you squirming the most. Try to pinpoint the areas that threw you off your game and set a plan of action to improve confidence there,” he says. By stepping up your confidence after a setback, you might succesfully —and inadvertently— display important skills that you’ll need in almost any workplace.

如果在考虑换工作，有必要关注这条消息：2018年招聘网站凯业必达的一项调查发现，近一半雇主在面试开始五分钟内就已经决定了招不招你。

其实也难怪，根据2019年人力资源软件公司Lever发布的报告，企业招聘过程中，平均每位应聘者要面试3小时。现场面试的求职者只有约30%到40%的人最终获得录用。可能有人说，哪怕做好各种准备，跟朋友或职业教练排练，还是很有可能面试失败。

凯业必达的调研中，详细列举了一些听起来就很离谱的“搞砸”面试方式，比如面试过程中要求喝面试官的咖啡，或者穿着《星球大战》大反派达斯·维德的戏服，有些行为明显毫无希望通过。面试官们表示，最有可能导致候选人立即被拒的五大行为包括：在某件事情上撒谎（71%）、面试期间接听电话或发短信（67%）、表现得傲慢或理所当然（59%）、缺乏责任感（52%）或语出不逊（51%）。

但有时，表现糟糕比较偏主观。有可能你太紧张了，又或者面试官误解了你说的话。又或者准备得没有想象中充分。该怎么办？

看到这个问题，总部位于TKTK的职业咨询和培训机构Labtuit.com的高级顾问布赖恩·里奇回想起在佛罗里达大学上学的经历，当时他参加了体育系一场面试，刚开始以为非正式，到现场才发现是正式的工作面试。他穿得很随便，连份简历都没有。面试官要简历时，他拿出笔记本电脑准备现场写。

“他盯着我，好像我是长着六个头的怪物。”里奇记得当时面试官批评他没有做准备，自我介绍都做不好，后来提前结束了面试。“这是我最丢人的经历之一。”他回忆道。但他也从中学会应该怎样才能给人留下好印象。

以下是在面试过程中和面试后可以应用的五个策略。

1.不要反应过度

如果感觉表现不好，很容易惊慌失措。布莱恩·扎维科夫斯基表示，最重要的是把握时机，他在总部位于达拉斯的高管招聘公司卢卡斯集团旗下的军事人员专职部门担任副总裁兼总经理。“如果有人要去面试很紧张，我就开玩笑地说，就算真搞砸也没有关系，反正这辈子再也遇不上面试官了。”他说。

记住，你对实际情况的判断可能不客观，尤其是在焦虑状态下。他说，如果你感觉紧张，就承认自己有点紧张，毕竟这是人之常情。

2.恢复冷静

扎维科夫斯基建议，面试中尽可能恢复镇静。更轻松更积极地应对面试时的紧张情绪，或者犯下的错误，如此一来还能给人事经理留下深刻印象，显得抗压能力不错。比如你发现说错了什么事，犯了个错误，或者回答得没有预期中有力。那就重新回答一遍。

“很多人一面试就尴尬，没有意识到多数面试官都很清楚面对的是人，而人都会犯错。”扎维科夫斯基说。“你能控住场面，把话圆回来吗？”如果能够做到，面试官肯定会对你另眼相看。

3.慢慢来

如果感觉面试不顺利，试着放慢速度。里奇说，回答问题时要想清楚，必要时多想一点时间。有时求职者觉得应该答得不假思索。但如果能把节奏放慢，对面试官说：“这个问题很好。介意我考虑一下吗？”如此可以争取一些时间，给出更好的回答。

4.扭转形势

佛罗里达州人力资源专家、职业教练安吉丽克·J·汉密尔顿表示，如果面试没有按照希望的方式进行，或者谈话中没能充分展示自己的技能，可以调整谈话方向。如果你没有被问到强项或最擅长的技能，简单说：“我们还没有谈到……”然后深入介绍你认为能为公司做哪些贡献。

还有一种方法也能调整话题，就是询问跟公司有关的问题，进一步了解面试官看重什么或认为对该岗位最重要的是哪些素质。然后相应调整讨论重点，汉密尔顿说。“一旦掌握了信息，遇到相关问题时就能做好充分准备。”她说。

5.跟进

面试结束后，你可以借发送感谢信的机会继续跟进。里奇说，但首先要确保没有误解情况，再用比较合适的语气接触对方。感谢面试官之前，先咨询招聘人员或联系人听听反馈，可能进一步了解自己在面试中的表现。而且对下次面试也大有裨益，不管下次面试仍然在这家公司还是去另外一家。

“如果面试失败后无法得到反馈，就多想一想。问问自己最纠结的问题是哪个。努力找到导致出局的地方，制定实际行动计划提升信心。”他说。遭遇挫折后重整旗鼓，有可能成功地而且是无意中培养出几乎在任何公司都很重要的技能。（财富中文网）

译者：Charlie

审校：夏林