Don’t Waste Precious Job Search Time On Bad Interviews

Interview, Job Search, Networking, Resume and LinkedIn

You know why everyone loves a vacation? Because it’s the only time it’s okay to waste time.

If you’re on the hunt for a new position, you never want to waste time. Time is the great equalizer. We all have the same amount every day available for use. And every minute we use for one task can’t be used for another.

As a sales person, I learned early on that one place where time can easily be wasted is on a sale that has no chance of being won. It’s called “chasing rainbows.” You spend your hours doing demonstrations, writing proposals, buying lunches and wasting time on a sale that will never make it to the bank.

The same can be said for job hunting. Wasting your precious time on interviews that will probably not lead to job offers is not how you want to spend your time.

The ability to tell the difference between a possible win and an impossible one isn’t an exact science. But there are methods you can use to prevent spinning your wheels on an interview for a job you probably aren’t going to get.

 

Is the Job a Good Fit for You?

The first thing to do is determine if the position is a good fit for you. This is an obvious first step, but one many job seekers fail to properly account for.

You can be so desperate to find a job that you don’t consider all the implications of accepting a position.  But this is your career, not a summer internship.

The easiest way to determine the fit is to make a list of your “must haves,” “nice to haves” and “no ways.”

These are the job attributes you must absolutely have no matter what (i.e. salary amount, opportunity for advancement, etc.); the things you hope to have (gas reimbursement, 2.5 weeks paid vacation, etc.); and the things that make for a company you will never work for (retail industry, for-profit vs nonprofit, etc.).

Make this list, determine if the position you’ll be interviewing for has all your “must haves” and none of your “no ways,” and direct your time and attention appropriately.

The key here is to create a minimum threshold that allows you to weed out the strong opportunities from the weak. Not only will this improve your chances of finding a fulfilling position; it allows you to quickly determine if the position is worth your time for interviewing.

It’s no secret that the better you match your hopes and dreams with a job, the better your performance, accomplishments, pay and promotions will be.

Remember, you’re interviewing them just as much as they’re interviewing you.

 

Are You a Good Fit for the Job?

Once you’ve established that the company and job will be a good fit for you, it’s time to do a little reflection and ask yourself if you’ll be a good fit for it as well.

My hope is that any position you interview for will be at a company you plan to be with for a while. It only makes sense to dive in deeper if you know you’ll be the absolute best candidate. (By the way, it’s okay if you’re not. Wouldn’t you rather recognize that before wasting your time on a series of interviews?)

Do your qualifications match up with this job? Do you feel you can provide real value to the position separate from your main job description? Does your ambition match up with the position, where you’ll be better than anyone else that has come before you?

Will you fit in with the company culture?

These questions will help drive you in the right direction — away from positions you won’t be happy in that won’t fully utilize your skills and ambition, and instead into a vastly rewarding career that you fit like a glove.

 

Don’t Just Go Through the Motions

Finding the perfect job isn’t a numbers game. This is absolutely one of those times when quality trumps quantity.

Use your “must haves” list as a guide before accepting interviews. Granted, you may need to have an initial interview to find out some of these answers, but don’t go chasing rainbows.

Even if you’re just starting your job search and need to freshen up your interviewing skills, go for the lowest “probably” jobs, not the low-probability ones. There’s a difference.

The lowest “probably” job is a minimum threshold of what you’re willing to accept. The low-probability jobs are the ones you shouldn’t be wasting time on.

Remember this, and you’ll find your perfect position in no time.

Have you been wasting your time interviewing for the wrong positions? How can you hone your focus?

 

Johnny Bravo of The Sales Pro Blog is in the business of helping professionals sell their brands and take their careers to the next level. Businesses and professionals in every industry come to him for best practices in sales, networking and professional brand development. His LinkedIn optimization guide, Top 9 Tips For Using LinkedIn Like A Sales Pro, helps you be heard, be found and be recognized online. Be sure to follow him on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn and Google+.

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