Succeeding after an unsuccessful interview: 4 tips to bounce back

Tip #1: Analyse the reasons for the failure.

After your interview, take some time to reflect on the process. Recall the questions that were asked and how you answered them. Don't hesitate to write down everything that comes to mind; it will be easier for you to analyse the situation afterwards.

Once you have reviewed everything in detail, try to understand what caused you to fail. Think about what you could have said or done differently during the interview. Analyse everything, including your preparation. It may not have been sufficient, or perhaps it was not focused enough on the topics you discussed on the day of the interview.

Take note of the areas that need improvement, but also don't neglect to recognise your strengths! If you are certain that you have succeeded in a particular area, don't question it. You can rely on your strengths to bounce back.

Take note of the mistakes you may have made, but don't dwell on them. Remember that if you were not hired, it doesn't necessarily mean you weren't good enough on the day of the interview. The recruiters may have chosen a different profile that better fits their current needs.

Tip #2: Identify your strengths to better highlight them.

Once you have finished reflecting on your interview, it is time to start preparing for the next one. Take stock of your skills and knowledge. By knowing precisely what you can bring to a company, you will be able to highlight yourself effectively. Evaluate both your technical skills and your soft skills, such as analytical ability, communication, and so on.

Also, identify the skills that you still need to improve. Perhaps you are lacking a degree or certification? Or maybe you feel that you need to enhance certain abilities such as problem-solving or leadership skills? Do not neglect any aspect and, once again, consider both hard and soft skills.

Once you have summarized all these aspects, it is time to set goals and create an action plan. If you have identified a lack of technical skills for a successful career transition, the solution may be to take a training course to obtain a certification. However, you can also choose to work on more general aspects, such as improving your stress resilience or public speaking skills.

Tip #3: Prepare for the next interview.

All this work serves the same objective: to succeed in your next interview. To do so, focus on preparation. Start by carefully studying the company and the position you are targeting. Through the information provided in the job advert and the company's communication on its website or through social media, you should be able to identify the type of candidate they are looking for and the values of the organisation.

Be prepared to answer common questions. Practise talking about yourself and your experiences and be prepared to detail your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest about your strengths and give specific examples to illustrate them. As for your weaknesses, focus on the areas you are actively striving to improve. You will also need to be able to explain why you are interested in the position or company you are applying for. Highlight the specific aspects of the company or job that attract you and relate them to your own goals and values.

Asking relevant questions on D-day is a good way of holding the recruiters' attention by showing your motivation and your ability to analyse the key elements of the position. Why not ask the recruiter about the objectives you will be expected to achieve? You can also ask about the typical day of the professional who will occupy the post, or how the team is composed.

Tip #4: Rebuild your self-confidence.

To help you in this process, don't hesitate to practise interviews, train yourself and simulate situations. These exercises will help you gain confidence: they will be an asset if you want to shine during the real interview.

Before the interview, concentrate on your strengths and on the best way of highlighting them in order to be convincing. Even if this is not always easy, try to maintain a positive and confident attitude, even if you do not succeed. Remember that no one can claim to have succeeded in every interview. Just because your strategy has failed once doesn't mean you're bound to fail again and again!

In addition, don't hesitate to ask for help from HR experts to perfect your preparation. Recruitment firms can help you find jobs that match your skills or propose your profile to companies by highlighting your abilities. These HR experts will be able to advise on the correct approach to follow to succeed in job interviews.

Need help to succeed in an interview? Our LHH experts can help! Our recruitment consultants will provide you with practical advice and the tools you need to achieve your goals. They will also propose your profile to their clients to maximise your chances of getting an interview: contact us!