You walk into the interview room, shake hands, and make eye contact. Everything is going as expected until you sit down and knock coffee all over the table.
What do you do?
Don’t panic. Even the most prepared person can have something unexpected go wrong in an interview. Before you write off the experience, know that you can recover from a mistake — sometimes, you can even improve your chances of landing the job.
Interviews are naturally high-pressure environments. The stress of trying to make a great first impression, answer every question perfectly and avoid mistakes can weigh heavily. It’s completely normal to feel nervous. That’s why Forbes offers 14 strategies for staying calm during job interviews.
When things don’t go as planned, however, here are some important tips for how to react during these stressful situations. Following this advice can help you ace the interview and impress a potential employer.
Eight Common Interviewing Mistakes and How to Recover
1. Getting a Curveball Question
It goes without saying that you should come prepared to answer common interview questions. You can count on being asked about your strengths and weaknesses, why you left your last job or how you would handle certain workplace challenges. However, in today’s dynamic job market, there’s a real possibility that you’ll be hit with a question you simply don’t know how to answer. It might be a technical question you’re unfamiliar with, or maybe it’s a behavioral question you’ve never considered.
How to Recover
The worst thing you can do is try to fake your way through an answer. Instead, be honest about your knowledge gaps. For example, you could say, "This is an area I haven’t had much direct experience with, but I’m always eager to learn." Don’t stop there — demonstrate your ability to adapt and learn by sharing an example of when you encountered a new challenge and the steps you took to solve the problem. This shows you are adaptable and have the learnability to grow into the role.
2. Stumbling Over Your Words or Drawing a Blank
In moments when you draw a blank or stumble over your words during an interview, it can feel like the silence is stretching on forever, intensifying your nerves with each passing second. The pressure builds, and the urge to say something — anything — grows stronger, making the situation even more uncomfortable.
How to Recover
It’s important to remember that a pause feels much longer in your head than it does to the interviewer. It’s okay to take a moment to gather your thoughts. Rather than blurting out an unpolished answer, take a deep breath, and say, “That’s a great question. Let me take a moment to think about that.” This shows that you are thoughtful and composed, and it gives you the time to organize your response. If you stumble over your words, simply pause, take a breath, and start over. Most interviewers will appreciate your effort to regroup rather than plowing ahead incoherently.
3. Arriving Late
Punctuality is crucial in an interview because it reflects your reliability and respect for others' time. However, life happens — maybe there was unexpected traffic, or you misread the interview time. Arriving late to an interview is one of the most anxiety-inducing mistakes a candidate can make, but it’s not the end of the world.
How to Recover
If you know you’re going to be late, contact the interviewer immediately to let them know. When you arrive, acknowledge your tardiness with a brief apology, such as, “I apologize for being late, and I appreciate your understanding.” Don’t dwell on it — move quickly into the interview with energy and enthusiasm. By showing that you can recover gracefully from a setback, you demonstrate professionalism under pressure.
4. Spilling Something or Other Physical Mishaps
Spilling coffee, knocking over a chair or tripping as you walk into the room — physical mishaps are embarrassing but not uncommon. They can leave you flustered and distract you from the interview.
How to Recover
The key here is to not let the moment define you. Take a deep breath, apologize for the accident and then refocus on the task at hand. A small slip-up like this can actually endear you to the interviewer, thanks to something called the Pratfall Effect, a psychological phenomenon where small mistakes make competent people seem more relatable and likable. The important thing is to ensure the mishap doesn’t shake your confidence for the rest of the interview.
5. Answering a Question Poorly
You’re asked a question, and as you’re speaking, you realize your answer is going off track, or worse, that you’ve completely misunderstood the question. We’ve all been there! It’s easy to get flustered in these moments.
How to Recover
If you catch yourself answering incorrectly or rambling, don’t be afraid to hit the reset button. You can stop and say something like, “Actually, I realize I misunderstood the question. Let me try again.” This shows self-awareness and a willingness to correct mistakes, which are valuable traits in any employee. In some cases, if you realize later in the interview that you provided a weak answer, you can circle back and clarify your response. Employers value candidates who can recover and maintain composure.
6. Not Asking Questions
When interviewers ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” this is your chance to show interest and engagement. Failing to ask questions can come across as unprepared or disinterested. But what if you’ve blanked on all the questions you had in mind?
How to Recover
You can salvage this moment by taking a moment to reflect on the conversation you’ve had during the interview and asking about something the interviewer mentioned earlier. For example, “Earlier you mentioned that the team is growing quickly. Could you tell me more about what that expansion will look like?” This not only shows that you were listening attentively, but it also opens the door for a more engaging discussion.
7. Speaking Negatively about Past Employers
Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, you might let a comment slip about a negative experience at a past job or a former boss. Speaking negatively about past employers can make you seem unprofessional and difficult to work with, even if your complaints are valid.
How to Recover
If you catch yourself venting, quickly pivot the conversation back to the positive. For example, if you started talking about a negative work environment, follow it up with what you learned from the experience and how it motivated you to seek out more positive work environments. Focus on what you gained and how it shaped your professional growth.
8. Being Overly Nervous or Showing Nervous Habits
Nervousness is normal during an interview, but when it manifests in visible habits like fidgeting, stammering or avoiding eye contact, it can undermine the confidence you’re trying to project.
How to Recover
If you realize your nerves are getting the best of you, focus on taking deep breaths to steady yourself. It's also helpful to acknowledge your nervousness if it’s noticeable. For example, “I’m a little nervous, but I’m really excited about this opportunity.” This humanizes you and gives you permission to reset. Most interviewers understand that nerves are part of the process and will appreciate your honesty.
Number One Tip to Remember: Turn Interviewing Mistakes into Opportunities
The most important thing to remember about interviewing mistakes is that they don’t have to define the outcome of your interview. In fact, how you respond to a mistake can tell an interviewer more about you than a flawless performance. Being able to adapt, stay composed and recover gracefully under pressure are all qualities that employers value.
Ultimately, interviewers understand that no one is perfect. What they’re really looking for is someone who can handle challenges and setbacks with resilience and professionalism.
So, if you find yourself making a mistake during an interview, don’t panic. Know that you can still ace the interview. Simply acknowledge it, recover and move forward confidently. You may just find that your ability to bounce back impresses your interviewer more than you expect.
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