This is something which is usually on everyone’s mind. “Why do I want to go on this interview? Why do I want this job? Why do I want this new opportunity?” Yes, the typical response is probably money, greater growth, or the opportunity for leadership service.
I AM a unique snowflake…That’s all well and good, but it really can be boiled down into four main reasons why an interview is important to you. Keep these four reasons in mind and you’ll be able to effectively focus your job searching efforts, your resume and cover letter creation efforts, and your communication efforts during the interview. Let’s jump through those four things right now.
1) More Career Advancement
There are companies and positions that really are held back by glass ceilings. You get to a certain level where you may be able to get the next level up in name alone, but there’s no money, no more responsibility, and basically you’re stuck in the same hole with greater requirements. But nothing else has changed: the same amount of work and same amount of compensation.
There are other companies where there just really is a good-old-boy-system in place, where unless you started with that company 15 years ago and know everyone above you and sideways and all around you, there’s no luck for you. You will be able to do what you do and do it well. As long as you don’t step out of your bounds, then no one’s going to bug you. But as soon as you step out of that box, something happens.
Maybe that sounds just about right for you? I’ve had that in the past and it’s not fun. One of the reasons that an interview is important to you is so that you can legitimately seek greater room for growth. Now you wouldn’t want to mention any of those negative things that exist, but you can say the contract ended or the responsibilities of the position aren’t aligned with where you see yourself in three to five years.
For example, if you’re seeking a position with more leadership, or customer facing responsibilities, make that known. It’s for career advancement and you have your future in mind. If you put in your two or three years at that company or more, it’s legitimate.
2) New Industry Opportunities
There are certain industries, like aerospace, that have very old hardware, very old methods, and tons of procedures to navigate through in order to get anything done. It is perfectly fine and understood that a more agile, adaptable, and current industry is much more rewarding for people that are not approaching retirement, or set in their advancement ways.
You can usually tactfully and professionally say you are looking for a company that’s dealing closer with the cutting edge. You like to learn, you like to dip your hands into the newest of the new, you like to sell this information to people, and you like to use it to do what you do best. It’s great. It is showing that you want to add value and you’re interested in growth. These are things that companies really dig.
3) Time To Prove Yourself
This is where you’re on the interview for this company and you’re saying, “hey my resume might not have been perfect, my cover letter may not have been perfect, and maybe you can’t quite see the tie. But since I got this interview, you called me, right? You wanted to see me anyway. I’m going to prove to you, take out all the stops and just straight up show you I am the right person for this.”
These are things you’re telling yourself in your head, of course. You’ll show them to the interviewer, but using more professional and tactful ways. This is your chance to show the things that you can’t quite communicate in text or on a phone call. You want to prove you are the most valuable and relevant person for this position.
4) Time To See What It’s About: Really
Sometimes a job description just isn’t that detailed, or doesn’t give you a good feel for what’s going on. So I’ve done real interviews as well as mock interviews (well, I knew they were mock interviews), to basically just see what the position is really about and to get a greater feel for the company.
For example, I’ve asked certain CEOs whether or not they could see growth in their business, because it seemed like they only had one main focus or product. It doesn’t make sense to me for an employee to make a gigantic leap in their careers and future in to a company that really only has one main offering, service, or product.
Now, you have to be very tactful in that line of questioning because it can be an interesting conversation that ensues if not handled well. But, this is an interview for both you and the other person. You have to figure out if that position is going to be right for you. If it’s not, they don’t want you to waste your time, because it will show in your output no matter how ethically you do your work.
They are interested in you doing what you do best and what you want to do. So use it as an opportunity to ask the questions you need to ask and to figure out, ‘hey, is this a good match for me?’
Keep “What’s In It For You” In Mind
You really can succeed by knowing what an interviewer has in store for you and how an interview is important for your future. Make sure you are doing your interviews for more career advancement, for new industry opportunities, proving just how great of a candidate you are, and to dive into a bit more details on what actually is being offered. Do this and you’ll be on the right path to success for this new position.
It’s an interview for both you and the company, always keep that in mind. It really will be a win-win situation if both parties are satisfied in as many ways possible. Keeps these tips in mind and good luck on your next interview.
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