There are several good reasons you should never decline an interview, even if you’re happy in your current job. Here are five great reasons to never decline an interview, even if you’re pretty sure you’re not interested.
Make a Connection
When you are interviewing with someone, your goal should be to make a lasting, positive impression on them. Even if you don’t get a job offer, or accept a job offer, making a personal and professional connection with those involved in the interview process could very easily turn into something else down the road.
Make sure to put your best foot forward and don’t intentionally (or unintentionally) burn bridges just because you’re not sure about the job itself. For all you know, that interviewer could get a job at another company you would actually be interested in. You just never know what could happen in this life.
Get Practice
Even if this is a job you would never want, at the very least you can practice interviewing. The nerves will eventually subside and you’ll get a good idea of what kind of questions you will get asked, and how to answer them.
You’ll also know what kind of questions you want to ask, what a normal interview with a normal company (and person) is like, and get a better idea of what a good interview looks like on both your and the company’s side.
Interviewing for several small, uninteresting companies to prepare for an interview with a big, exciting company is better practice than Googling “common questions you’ll get asked on an interview for X job”.
You Might Find a Better Opportunity
Even if you’re very happy at your current job, there is no harm in seeing what might be out there for you. There might be more money, a bigger opportunity, or a better environment for you at another company, and you’ll never know unless you’re interviewing and looking around.
Find Context
Interviewing gives you a chance to see where you stand in your field, so you can understand your worth, and see where you might need to increase your knowledge and improve.
Additionally, If you realize you’re being underpaid at your current job, it’s a lot easier to go to your current company to ask for more if you explain you’ve received an offer for more at another company. Worst case scenario, they let you leave, which would mean they didn’t really value in the first place. Best case, you get a great new job with better pay elsewhere with a company that’s actually happy to have you.
Learn What You Really Want To Do
If you interview for a job outside of what you might normally do, you might be surprised at what you find. Shockingly, your skills are transferrable to other areas of work, and they won’t all suit you the same way. You may be satisfied in your current job, but everyone has an ideal job, and yours is probably still out there. Even if you don’t find your perfect job right away, it’s entirely possible you’ll find one that’s better for you, and will allow you to develop entirely new skills which could transfer into another, even better job.
The sky is the limit when it comes to occupations. You won’t find the best one right away, but you can build and grow until you do.
Hopefully you found this helpful when it comes to why you should always take the interview. Share with your working friends to encourage them as well!