Job Interview Psychology

Posted by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen Jun 9, 2007

My friend thinks interviewing for a job you know you don't want makes you look bad and is a waste of everyone's time. I disagree -- strongly! Going on a job interview just to try and land the job is a mistake. Interviews should be about more than simply winning the job.

You go on interviews to:

• Determine if the job is the right fit for you - if your experience, skills, education, and personality meshes with the company.
• Find out about the hours, salary, expectations, future, and other staff.
• Learn about the stress level and related things like health benefits, incentives, personal days, paid time off, etc.
• Discover if there are other related, upcoming positions in the company that you may be more suitable for.
• Make contacts for the future - make a great first impression!
• Discuss whether the vision of the organization and your professional goals mesh.
• Get a feel for who you'd be working for.
• Get practice for job interviews that you really do want.
• Learn how to trust your gut.

Don't interview simply to sell yourself. Learn about the company through your discussion -- you should be interviewing them just as much as being interviewed.

Remember that high self-esteem translates to a bigger salary. My interview was for an editor/reporter position at our island newspaper. Even though I knew I didn't want to work full-time, we still had an amazing two hour interview - it was my best interview ever, in fact. I now have a shot at being a columnist for the paper as well as covering for other reporters at other papers when they're on vacation. Those jobs are much better for me and I may have created them out of an interview for a job I didn't want (and am underqualified for, as it turns out).

Plus, I had a great discussion with my interviewer, who is the publisher of a network of newspapers -- and we enjoyed a genuine connection. The worst case scenario is we had a good chat, but we never meet again. The best case scenario is I land a couple of jobs I do want and forward my career.

So take that interview even if you're not really into the job. It could lead to even better possibilities -- don't be afraid to ask for what you want! Go ahead....create the job of your dreams!