The Purpose Of A Job Interview Is To Secure An Offer

“The purpose of a job interview is to secure an offer”

This might seem an obvious statement, but many interviewers go in without securing an offer as their top priority. In fact, many recruiters will tell you that’s the primary problem a lot of job searchers have. Let me explain.

Avoid “Turning Off” During An Interview

Many candidates go into the interview with the attitude that the company has as much to prove as they do. While this is true, I believe it’s the wrong attitude and likely to negatively affect your job prospects. Always do your best whether or not you think the job is actually right for you or not. Here’s why.

For example, if an interviewer says something about the job requiring significant travel or unusual hours, many job searchers will decide then and there the job isn’t for them and “turn off,” so to speak. Unwilling to travel, a mental switch is thrown where the job candidate writes off the job as “undesirable” and stops trying. Whether you realize it or not, your lack of enthusiasm is clearly evident to the interviewer, severely diminishing your chances of getting an offer.

Why should you care if you don’t get an offer for a job you don’t think is perfect for you? The answer is that nothing is set in stone. Most objections you may have from benefits to travel requirements to hours worked can be negotiated into a successful compromise, turning it into a job that could potentially be a perfect fit for you. If you write it off mid-way through the interview, however, you’ll never know the position’s true potential. Always do your best, even if you aren’t sure you are the best fit. You never know.