It’s recruiting season in the Career Connections Center, and we see hundreds of students interviewing for internships, co-ops, and full-time positions throughout the semester. Maybe you’re one of those students interviewing and the interview didn’t go as well as you expected. It happens to the best of us. Here are three steps to *cue Aaliyah* dust yourself off, and try again.

1. Check Yourself.
This is probably one of the hardest parts. Nobody really loves to receive constructive feedback, no matter how helpful it is. Challenge yourself to reach back out to that recruiter and ask, “Could you provide me with feedback on what I could improve on moving forward?” Or if you’re just not comfortable with that, ask someone close to you who has no problem giving you tough love about what they think could be improved upon. Do you need to uncross your arms to appear more approachable or stop babbling in circles when answering questions? Then do it!

2. Correct.
You’ve done the hard part and checked yourself for what changes you need to make. Now is the time to take action and make those changes. Practice at the Career Connections Center, in the mirror, or with a family member/friend to make sure your progress is engrained in you and you are ready to tackle the next interview. Make sure all of your interview responses speak directly to what the interviewer hopes to achieve by bringing you in.

3. Conquer.
You got this. Really, you do. Remember – you wouldn’t have been asked to interview with the organization if they didn’t see potential in you in the first place. You’ve done a deep reflection into what could have been better, and you’ve worked to correct it. Time to go conquer!

Have you ever had a bad interview? Share below and tell us how you improved yourself for the next time.