The interview that froze

Six months ago, I applied for a job at a design company in Singapore. A week later, I got an email inviting me to a video interview. I was excited about the opportunity, but also nervous. I had done many interviews in person, but never one through a screen.

I prepared carefully. I read about the company, practised answers to common questions and chose a quiet corner of my flat with a plain white wall behind me. I even tested my camera and microphone with a friend the night before. I thought I was ready for anything.

Five minutes into the interview, however, my internet connection dropped. The screen froze in the middle of my answer, and by the time I got back online, the interviewer looked confused. I felt terribly embarrassed. I took a deep breath, made a quick apology and asked if I could start my answer again. She smiled and said it happened all the time.

The rest of the interview went more smoothly, although there were a few awkward moments. Because of the small delay on the line, we sometimes started talking at the same time. Also, it was hard to read her face and gestures on such a small screen. I tried to speak slowly, keep my answers short and look at the camera, not at my own picture.

Two days later, the company called and offered me the job. My new manager later told me something interesting. The broken connection had actually helped me, because it showed them how I handle problems under pressure. So if something goes wrong in your next interview, don't worry too much. How you deal with a mistake can say more about you than a perfect answer.