Jeff, Upshot is that you will always be prepared in the future and that can only be a good thing. Seen a few experienced pilots blow their prospects due to not being prepared for interviews and check flights. Whilst the employment environment is now good for pilots, operators will not make exceptions for pilots who aren’t prepared to put the hard yards in, particularly up north, as it’s a tough environment.
It doesn’t get any easier climbing the ladder!!! I had a massive blowout a few years ago on a checkride that changed my career, was ugly and very painful at the time however I’ve bounced back 10 fold since that experience.