Why Go To The Job Interview?

I’m sure many of you have found yourselves in the situation of being asked in for an interview for a role you’re not sure about. Whether you applied for a role in the heat of the moment (after a bad day of work) or you’ve been actively looking for some time, it’s quite common to “not be so sure” about a role and subsequent interview. But should you still go? Of course, and here’s why:

Get the full story

It’s hard to sum up a company and role solely based on the company website and google searches. Yes, you might get a good understanding of the general nature of the business and role but what type of culture do they have? What will your manager be like? Who will you be sitting next to? Where will you be sitting? Often these things can only be experienced when you have your interview. You might hit it off with your potential manager or the role turns out to be more exciting and in depth than what you originally thought. The team may be dynamic and energizing and just what you’ve been looking for.

Network

You are right, the job may not be the one for you, but instead they might offer you a different role. Maybe something more in line with your experience, or that next career step you’ve been waiting for… because they see something special in you and want to get you working with them! Often, we see a candidate go for one role and then get pulled into the mix for another. The positive connections you make with the interviewer and team leaders also expands your network which can open opportunities for you further down the road.

Practice

Let’s face it, interviews can be nerve racking but just like most things in life the more you practice a skill the better and more confident you get, so with that in mind – interview, interview, interview. You will learn to anticipate the types of questions you may be asked and know how to improve your answers. Ultimately you will gain experience talking about your work history and qualifications. If standard testing also gets done, you’ll become a wizz in these tests by the end also.

Evaluate your options

Finally, if you are successful in the interview and are offered the job, it gives you options – either with another job offer or your current role. You’ll be able to evaluation the benefits of each position and will be able to picture yourself in your future role and company better. You’ll know information about what systems companies are using, what new benefits are being offered elsewhere and how companies may be doing business a little different… all very valuable information to assist you with your professional journey.

Published by Holly Clark