If you’re in an interview that is not going well, don’t despair! Sometimes it’s possible to salvage the interview by using one of these strategies:
If you’re still in the interview, you can try to turn things around by saying something to the effect of “Let me reword that,” “Let me explain myself better,” or “Let me try that again. I’m a bit nervous this morning.” It can’t hurt! And if it works, then you’ve turned the direction of the interview around.
If the interview has finished, I always advise clients to take the opportunity in the follow-up letter to address the situation and provide a stronger or more well-thought-out answer. The follow up letter is always a great venue to provide additional information or to elaborate on a previous answer. If you’re attempting to turn around a bad interview via a follow-up letter, I recommend emailing the letter to the interviewer later that day or for a late interview, first thing the next morning. Do not let too much time pass or else it may be too late to change their opinion or reverse a decision.
Remember, quickly addressing the situation and offering a stronger, re-phrased answer is key to salvaging an interview gone bad.