4 Job Interview Problems And Solutions

Originally Posted on the NPT Jobs Career Center

Here’s a nightmare scenario: You’ve done countless hours of preparation for your job interview, to the point where you are very confident about your chances. So naturally, you forget all of your talking points when it comes time to talk to the hiring manager.

This scenario is one that is all too common these days and it’s all the more frustrating because of all the preparation that job seekers do. Unfortunately, even the best laid plans can’t stop the simple fact that mistakes can happen. The key is to have a plan when disaster strikes so you can quickly recover without damaging your chances of getting the job. Below are four of the most common interview disasters along with solutions on how to recover from them:

Problem: Whether it’s because you overslept or misread the train schedules, you’re running late for the interview.
Solution: Call the office once you have determined you are going to be late and let them know when they can expect you to arrive.

Problem: You forgot to bring copies of your resume and/or portfolio.
Solution: Make sure to have a copy somewhere online, whether it’s in your e-mail or on your LinkedIn profile, that you can print out when you get to the interview.

Problem: Something happens to your suit/dress on the way to the interview, making it look far less nice than it did before.
Solution: This is one of the worst-case scenarios simply because there’s not much you can do other than replacing the damaged part of your outfit. The best course of action is to continue as planned to the interview and explaining what happened to the hiring manager.

Problem: In your anxiety, you forget the name of the interviewer.

Solution: Assuming you don’t see a nameplate on his desk, you should find a good time to ask for a business card. That will refresh your memory when it comes time to write a follow-up note.