An Interview, An Opportunity

As a career coach and recruiter who has worked across multiple industries over the last 15 years - from entertainment to advertising to tech - I have encountered many clients, applicants, and prospective candidates who may have hesitated to interview for a position because of the job title or their "perception" of what the position may entail and whether or not the position is what they feel is right for themselves at that particular time. I’ve always taken it upon myself to have in-depth conversations with high-potential prospects who hesitate to interview, particularly when I see an opportunity that they may be overlooking based on a lack of information or their lack of education in regard to the many benefits an interviewee can absorb as the direct result of participating in the interview process.

Many people equate an interview with a job offer.  If a job offer is your only interview goal, you may find yourself disappointed more often than not.  On the other hand, deciding not to interview for a role because you assume you will get an offer and aren't ready to make a career move, is an equally naive stance to take because no employer is going to force you to sign the dotted line at hello.  A first-round interview, or what many employers refer to as a screening, should always be exploratory. Of course, an offer is an ultimate outcome that people often hope for when interviewing, but a job offer should never be your sole motive for interviewing.  Your decision to take an interview with a prospective company of interest should 100% be rooted in the opportunity it affords you, as a candidate, to meet someone new in your professional realm of interest, to expand your network, and to discover some company insider pros and cons.  Most importantly, an interview should always be viewed as an advantageous exercise to gain more perspective around your interviewing strengths and how you can continue to improve your skills and engagement as an interviewee.  An interview should be a strategic move today for unseen opportunities tomorrow.

I've seen so many qualified candidates walk away, prematurely, from the invaluable chance to meet with people who could potentially expand their knowledge about a certain discipline or industry.  On many occasions, as a recruiter, I've had conversations with hiring managers about a talented candidate who may be an even better fit for a role that we anticipate will open in the future.  Sometimes that future position is an even better title and career match for the candidate solely based on the impression that the candidate makes in the interview.   If you choose not to engage and interview, you will never know the potential of what could be.  The reality is employers remember great talent, and recruiters will always keep a strong candidate's resume in our go-to file for the timing that makes sense for the talent and the organization.  We also LOVE sharing and receiving a great referral.  But if we’ve never met you, how on earth will we know to refer you? Once you get on a leader's radar, your potential for being referred for opportunities within that company or elsewhere is exemplified because colleagues share quality talent with colleagues.

The Candid Truth: An opportunity to interview is an open door that you should always consider walking through. Why not see what's on the other side? Sometimes you may even learn that a company you thought you were interested in is ultimately not the company for you. I can't guarantee that an interview will always result in an offer. However, I can guarantee you that every time you interview, it will be an opportunity to put forth your best self, to shine as a professional, and to get exposure to stakeholders and decision-makers. So, with that in mind, never allow a job title or a job description to sway you from meeting someone great who could positively enhance your trajectory for the better. The major key to the interview game is to make the connection. When the connection is made, trust me, you will be remembered. Becoming a memorable talent in a competitive market is definitely a sure-fire way to leave your mark. Position yourself to be memorable. Take the interview!