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Apologize for poor interview in follow up email? Thoughts?

Specop 007

Specop 007

Diamond Member
So heres a situation I'm unsure how to proceed on. 2 weeks ago I had a first round phone interview that I feel went very well. I walked out confident in my performance and apparently my feelings were justified as I was scheduled for a 2nd round phone interview today.

Heres where I hit a snag. Though some poor planning on my part my wife ended up with some major oral surgery yesterday and I was up most of the night with her for various reasons. Point being I did not get a good nights sleep and it showed on the call today. While I wouldnt go so far as to say I did poorly by any stretch I definitely didnt show up with my A game. I wasnt focused nearly as much as I should have been.

Which brings me to my problem. I'm going to send a follow up email thanking them for their time. What I'm wondering is if I should briefly apologize for not being focused or whether I just roll with it and hope for the best?
 
Nah, move on. Chances are they have looked you over by now. First impressions are everything with an interview unfortunately. Live and learn.
 
If you can't get it together for an interview, I don't expect you'll have it together when you are on the job.

I would recommend you move on and don't screw up again. Drink some Red Bull if you got little sleep the night before. No excuses.
 
JackBurton said:
If you can't get it together for an interview, I don't expect you'll have it together when you are on the job.

I would recommend you move on and don't screw up again. Drink some Red Bull if you got little sleep the night before. No excuses.
Click to expand...

As harsh as that is, you are absolutely right.
 
I for sure wouldn't make any excuses or apologize. Just try to hit on what was discussed and maybe formulate better responses or ideas in e-mail. Be professional.
 
Yeah... I've received a few apology e-mails in the past from interviewees who bombed my phone screen interviews. I feel bad for them, but then I also have at least a dozen candidates applying for every job I post online. I just don't have time to re-interview them when I could spend that time talking to other applicants.
 
You may have left a bad taste in their mouths but it's not going to make it any worse if you do. This actually worked for a friend of mine's girlfriend. She didn't know how to answer questions because she didn't know the terminology. She wrote back to them later saying she did know it and do it but just wasn't familiar with the terms. She got the job.....don't know if that's a good thing or not. 😵
 
Don't overdo any compensation with the interview.
The job I have now, I didn't show my A game. It was very brief, and I thought the manager was getting rid of me because the interview was so short.
I sent one thank you letter, and they called back the next week to start the paperwork.

I guess my A game wasn't what I thought it was. I tend to get a little chatty.
 
I had an interview last Thursday that I was woefully unprepared for. I was prepared for a typical first interview, Q&A, some basic stupid HR type questions. Instead the guy sat me down, told me that he was going to get me started by asking a couple of questions, and that I should spend the next half hour telling him about my experience while he takes notes. I walked out of there thinking I had killed it after babbling like an idiot for a half hour.

Friday I emailed the person I met with the day prior. I did include a light apology, mentioning that I was somewhat unprepared for that style of interview. I then spent a paragraph reiterating some of the strengths I did touch upon the day before. I heard from them yesterday, they want me back next week for a second interview with the Directors.

If you truly botched the interview and they never want to see you again, it can't hurt. On the other hand, if they're reasonable people who think you can do the job but might just not have done well in that one interview, an email that apologizes while focusing on the positives mights just get you back for another round.
 
Apologizing at this point will make it seem like you're a problematic person. If they consider you, maybe do a brief explanation at the 2nd interview so they know they can expect even more out of you. Otherwise, move on.
 
I would just move on. Send a Thank You note, then see what happens, but apologizing makes it looks desperate and makes you look like you make excuses. If they want people who bring their A game at all times, you have already been thrown in the can.
 
Just send a thank you note. If you are apologizing, it will make you look like one of those people that makes excuses for things.
 
Chances are they have already made up their mind about you, nothing you say will likely sway their opinion. From that, if you really feel that it is in your best interest, then send an apology with the thank you or whatever. What kind of attitude did you glean from meeting with them?
 
That's like apologizing from a bad first date. Obviously you weren't feeling it, and neither was she.
 
Roll with it, hope for the best. You may have done better than you think, and you would only be bringing attention to your flaws in the interview.
 
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