Have you ever felt frustrated after a heated conversation? It happens to even the most accomplished people in their field.

Job applicants often feel stuck after an interview. It frustrates you and drowns you every time you think back to the things you have said. You feel like banging your head against the wall just thinking about the stupid things you’ve said. You don’t have to look silly, but it doesn’t matter what.

You have lost the opportunity of your life. The best thing you can do is not ruin the second chance by looking so sour. Although you might not be offered another chance with the same company, at least you kept your professional demeanor as you said goodbye.

These are the steps you can take to get over an embarrassing interview memory:

1. Separate the good from the ugly

While you may be sure that you blew yourself up, that doesn’t necessarily mean every word or gesture you made was terrible. It is not necessary to list every horrible thing that happened in order to assess what happened. You should make two columns. One for all the mistakes you made and one for all the great things you did. This will help you to know what you need to do next time and what you should avoid. Now, think back to what you did and imagine yourself speaking the way that you should.

2. Also, evaluate the interviewer

You’re probably not the only person feeling uncomfortable during the conversation. Is the hiring manager professional? There aren’t any awkward pauses or intimidating questions after you answer? You might have met a newbie HR, or your employers are human. You don’t have to take all the blame. You can still find faults with the other side.

3. You will be asked questions.

You will remember all details of the conversation. Now it is your turn to recall the questions and list them. This will ensure that you are prepared for any future questions. After a nightmare, the best thing is to be able to fix it the next time.

4. Thank you for your understanding, and send a thank-you note.

Did we say mention aside? This is the trick to the magic trick. Make a short apology for something that went wrong during an interview. But don’t get too detailed or make excuses. Just say it, and then make sure to put it in a positive light. Let them know you appreciate their time and highlight your strengths in the letter. Last but not least, let them know that you are grateful for another chance.

5. Keep in touch

Who cares about your past mistakes? You will not be able to rebuild your reputation if you tell the truth about what happened. If you communicate with your company via e-mail or LinkedIn, they may see that you aren’t as bad and will be more interested in you as a professional. An interview that goes wrong is not fatal. It just means you got off to a false start.

Melinda Edwards is a career consultant. She has been invited to many events and forums on human resource management. She is also a time management expert and effectively fulfills both her career as a mother and career woman.