Think of Interviews as Business Transactions!

I’ve been a Recruiter for the past 3 years and I’ve interviewed candidates for many different roles during this time. I’ve spoken with highly skilled candidates who are comfortable and well prepared for their interviews. I’ve also spoken with highly skilled candidates who are not as comfortable with the interview process thus struggle to showcase themselves as the professionals they truly are.

Let’s face it, we all want to be accepted, and we want our Recruiters or potential Hiring Managers to recognize our potential. This desire can add stress to the process which will impact our ability to perform during our interview. So, let’s start by remembering that interviews are an opportunity for both the interviewer and the interviewee to get to know each other and together identify if the current opportunity is the right fit. You see while we are busy focusing on being liked by our potential employers, we might miss on catching essential information which could help us make an intelligent decision about the opportunity before us. OK, wait, “I need a job what more is there to know?” Everything!

Come on, are you ok with just any job? You know you’re not!  How much money do you need? Are you looking just to get by or to live comfortably? Are you open to learning new skills? Are you able to work a flexible work schedule or are you limited to a certain time frame? You need to know what you’re getting into and clear on what your strengths and weaknesses are. So, ask questions to make sure that this job meets your requirements.

We need to look at an interview as a business transaction. We are looking for an opportunity that offers us a salary and certain benefits which allow us to enjoy the life we envision. Those benefits can be different for each of us. Some need health benefits while others need continuous learning opportunities. Because each of us has different needs, we must be clear about what those needs are and be prepared to learn about what the company offers. Remember this is a business transaction and both parties must win.

Arrive at your interview prepared to showcase yourself as the professional you are and to learn about the things that matter to you in your career and personal life. This state of mind will allow you to have a meaningful conversation without the stress of needing to be liked as you will have a clear understanding that both parties must be prepared to deliver in order to make this opportunity the right fit.