Cried During a Job Interview? Here’s What To Do Next

If you are reading this article, it has probably happened to you. You went for a job interview and one way or the other you ended up crying your eyes out. Being overwhelmed with positive emotion is not necessarily a bad thing. However, crying during a job interview is by most hiring managers and employers considered as a ‘lack of control’. Crying is, therefore, a big no-no for some hiring managers,  which of course spoils your chances of landing the job.

Even though this embarrassing moment can seem like the end of the world, the fact that you ended up crying whether during or after the job interview might be a sign. When it’s not related to anger or sadness, we also tend to cry when we’re in a stressful or anxious situation. So in relation to the job interview, there are probably three main reasons why you ended up crying:

You were nervous

Some are better than others when it comes to hiding their nerves. However, getting nervous right before or during an interview is absolutely normal. The good news is, it happens to everyone! The important thing is that you are not overcome by it. I mean, it can feel quite nerve-wracking and stressful when you’re sitting across a desk with 2 or 3 people firing questions and staring at you.

What tends to help is to remind yourself that the job interview is not only for you to prove that you’re a perfect fit. The company needs to be a perfect fit for you too. It is a great opportunity to observe your potential manager and work environment. Additionally, doing some stress-releasing exercises before the interview might help calm your nerves too.

You were not prepared

Sometimes you can walk into a job interview not necessarily feeling nervous. However, based on the questions you were asked, you quickly realise you might have been unprepared. 0Unfortunately, you can’t fully anticipate all the possible job interview questions, but that’s even something you need to prepare for. You might not have the ‘perfect’ answer for everything, but the best you can do is to be yourself – and that sometimes might help to take the pressure off you.

Let’s not forget though, that having a ‘black-out’ is a real thing. The worst thing to do is to just ramble on. What you should rather do is just be honest.

You felt intimidated

Believe it or not, there are some instances where hiring managers or employers can make unpolite or inappropriate comments. Also, some employers can intentionally use intimidating interview techniques to test their candidates. So, even though you’re at a job interview, the whole conversation feels like a test.

Also, if you are eager to work at a certain company but during the interview, the hiring managers only keep talking about how great the company is and how lucky you would be if they hired you… that can be extremely disappointing and feel quite intimidating too.

So What’s Next?

Assess the situation

It’s important to assess the situation and reflect on how you thought the interview went. If you left the job interview feeling worse than before you walked in, that company might probably not be the right place. However, if the overall conversation went well, a few tears here and there might not necessarily be a deal-breaker.

Follow-up

If you had a positive feeling about the company, just like with any other interview, you might want to follow up after the job interview. Don’t feel embarrassed about the situation. You’re definitely not the first person that has cried at a job interview. Feel free to email to the hiring manager thanking them for taking the time to meet you.

Improve your interview skills

Making an effort to improve your interview skills will not only help boost your confidence but it will also make you stand out and leave a great first impression. You can improve your interview skills by practising interview questions, knowing your CV in-and-out and by learning how to sell yourself and your qualifications. Essentially in order to ace any job interview, preparation is key.

Seek help from a career coach

If you’re naturally an emotional person and struggle with controlling your emotions during a job interview, a career coach might be able to help you overcome those emotions. A career coach will be able to help you practise and improve your interview skills and most importantly identify areas where there is room for improvement in order to be successful in future job interviews.