Every job interview is an opportunity

We know how frustrating a job hunt can be. When searching for a new career the majority of us apply for as many roles as possible within a field they are interested in. However when it comes to facing the daunting prospect of actually going to an interview, a role can suddenly seem less appealing. Whether you feel you are under or overqualified for a role, it can be tempting to back out of an interview and wait for something better to come along.

Here are 5 reasons why no job interview is a waste of time:

• Building your confidence – if at first you fail try, try, again. It may sound clichéd but practice really does make perfect. The more interviews you attend, the more you master the art of answering interview questions and the more you can improve on your technique.
• Feedback – The upside to those interviews that don’t go so well is that by asking for constructive feedback, you can gain an understanding of what went wrong and what you could do better next time.
• A superior understanding of the role – Often you can come out of an interview with a whole new perspective on the opportunity at hand. You gain a deeper understanding of the role, and having visited the offices have had a chance to feel out an organisation. Sometimes a job specification can undersell a role and you will be pleasantly surprised having attended the interview.
• Gaining an understanding of what you really want- By visiting different companies you will begin to form an opinion on what working environment you think you are suited to. Whether big or small, corporate or independent, interviews can also open your eyes to new and exciting places to work.
• A forum to ask questions – at the end of the day the most important thing is that you are happy in your new role. When meeting a potential employer you not only find out what is expected of you, but there is an opening to inquire about what you will get out of a role. Good questions to ask are about potential chances for personal development, and what the most and least enjoyable aspects of the position are.

We hope we have persuaded you that even if an interview doesn’t go as well as you hoped, or you leave knowing the role isn’t for you, every interview should be embraced as a fantastic learning opportunity!