How to overcome a mistake during a search

We have all been there at some point in our careers.  Considering a move, talking to another employer or two, and you fear you stumble by making a mistake or misstep in the process.  I would make the case that a mistake is bound to happen at some point.  It is not necessarily about prevention, but rather how you react when it inevitably happens.

I thought this picture was perfect for my blog topic today as it is an everyday item tripping someone up.  The proverbial slip on a banana peel is something you have likely never seen happen in person, but everyone can relate to the story that is being told.  I also think this time of year about slipping on that patch of ice you don't see coming after a winter storm in the Midwest.  After the slip you always find yourself looking around to see who saw that slip.

When a mistake is made during a search you may do the same thing.  Maybe you were a little late to the first interview.  Or you forgot to add an accomplishment to the most recent copy of your resume before the meeting.  Maybe even brought the wrong copy of your resume to the employer.  You can really sit and wonder if you blew it or you can work through the mistake when it happens.

I am all about moving on.  You must not pretend like the mistake never happened, but you have to keep going forward.  Acknowledge that it occurred and then try to overcome any lost momentum.  My son's youth basketball team had a game yesterday and on an out-of-bounds play accidentally scored on the other team's basket.  Two points for them and a lot of confusion for our team.  As the coach I decided to let them play through it and talk about it at the next timeout.  I brought the play up, asked if anyone was still thinking about it, and of course the answer was no.  They had already moved on and we ended up winning a close game.  By that time the mistake was a distant memory.

Now what if the mistake is a big one and can't just be overlooked as easily?  First thing I would suggest is to own it.  Do not act as though it did not happen.  Recently I had a candidate show up over two hours late to a meeting.  Granted traffic was the main cause and out of the candidate's control, but that is a big problem.  The client still met the candidate, had concerns afterward, we all talked about it, and everyone acknowledged it was not a deal killer.  The candidate really took ownership of the issue and apologized for not allowing enough cushion up front.  It is still likely something in the back of my client's mind, but that idea of accountability really seemed to resonate.  Joan Collins once said show me someone who has never made a mistake and I'll show you someone who never achieved much.

Lastly, what about the mistake that you don't even know happened?  This is the hardest one to overcome and requires a little more work.  This is when you can sense some tension during an interview or when receiving some feedback.  You sense some hesitation and wonder if you went wrong somewhere.  I would recommend digging into it a little more.  Without being overwhelming ask the direct and honest question - is something wrong?  I can't tell you how many times candidates and clients alike have admitted to something when I pushed politely for an answer.  Sometimes it is told to me in confidence, but without being able to process bad news occasionally we would all be left wondering.

How about you?  Have you overcome a mistake during a search that turned out well?  Or perhaps even one that did not turn out well but sharing with others could be a learning experience.