The interview is over. Wouldn’t it be nice if the interviewer handed you a slip on your way out to let you know how you rated in the interview? But lacking such a luxury, you must learn to review your own performance so that you can learn from the experience.

Use this opportunity to be absolutely objective about the situation. Were you really prepared, or were you just “winging” — that is guessing — the answers? Could you have been more effective with additional practice? What should you do to prepare for your next interview?

One of the most helpful things you can do post-interview is to let go of your self-recriminations by venting. After the interview is over, go to your car, or drop in at a coffee shop, and take pen to paper to write about what just happened. Just let your thoughts pour out. When you’ve finished, put the writing away, and let go!

After a few hours, or a day, when you have had a chance to relax and digest the information, go back and revisit what you wrote.

What can you learn from this experience? What will you do differently next time?

Rate your performance

On a scale ranging from one to ten (ten being high) how do you rate yourself?

• My overall feeling of satisfaction with this interview.

• Did I arrive on time?

• How was my introduction — was my greeting / handshake / posture up to the mark?

• Was I confident and professional at all times?

• How did I speak — did I speak calmly and clearly? Was I overly aggressive?

• How was my non-verbal communication (body language)?

• Did I handle the difficult questions with ease, or did I fumble?

• Did I build a good rapport with the interviewer?

• Did I talk about my strengths?

• Did I talk about my weakness in a positive manner?

Score card

How did you do? Are you satisfied with your rating? If you’ve rated yourself in the five to 10 range for most of the questions, you’re probably doing all right.

Look carefully at the questions with lower ratings — what were the problems? You may want to consider practising with someone so that you can obtain a more objective feedback on your answers and style.

No matter how your ratings added up, remember that some of what goes on in an interview, and behind the scenes, is not in your control. So don’t be depressed if you don’t get that job despite doing well in the interview. Also, keep in mind that giving interviews is a matter of practiced skill.

If you didn’t do as well as you would have liked this time, work on your problem areas. Try scripting and practising difficult questions or issues.

Better luck next time

By looking objectively at your performance, and learning from your successes and mistakes, you are likely to be more prepared the next time. As a result, you will become more confident and accomplished at giving interviews. You will also become more objective in choosing whether the job is right for you — not just whether you are right for the job.