How can I make the best of an interview for a job I don't think I want?
August 1, 2015 9:14 AM Subscribe
I have an interview coming up for a job that I think might actually be a step backward, careerwise. What are some diplomatic ways I can ask if this job would have opportunities for advancement? Do you have any other suggestions for ways to use this interview as practice for future ones? Thanks!
Yeah, just ask it straightforward. Nobody will mind.
As far as ways to turn it in to practice, I find that I tend to stick to safe answers in an interview setting even when there are more interesting answers that risk potentially putting off an interviewer. If I were interviewing for a job I knew I didn't want, I'd take that as an opportunity to ask some bolder questions I normally wouldn't be willing to, gauge the response, and pocket the ones that go well for future interviews.
posted by Itaxpica at 9:40 AM on August 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
As far as ways to turn it in to practice, I find that I tend to stick to safe answers in an interview setting even when there are more interesting answers that risk potentially putting off an interviewer. If I were interviewing for a job I knew I didn't want, I'd take that as an opportunity to ask some bolder questions I normally wouldn't be willing to, gauge the response, and pocket the ones that go well for future interviews.
posted by Itaxpica at 9:40 AM on August 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
You can ask it straightforwardly and nobody will mind, but the way I asked this question last time was: "Thinking back to people who've been in this position in the past, what sort of other roles have they gone on to at the company?"
posted by littlegreen at 10:20 AM on August 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by littlegreen at 10:20 AM on August 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
"The skills I want to gain/experience I want to gain in my next role are X, Y and Z. Will this post provide those opportunities?"
posted by dvrmmr at 10:22 AM on August 1, 2015
posted by dvrmmr at 10:22 AM on August 1, 2015
You can ask point blank whether people in this role have been promoted in the past. If it's a new role, you can ask about what people in the department have been promoted recently, to get a sense of whether there's upward motion in general throughout. A corollary question is whether the management level above this role consists of people who have been promoted internally or hired externally. You can also research this on Linkedin.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:38 AM on August 1, 2015
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:38 AM on August 1, 2015
If opportunities for advancement (upward or lateral) are what you are really seeking, you could ask things like:
- What has been the typical career progression for someone in this role?
- Are there opportunities to work on projects that have an impact on the department or organization?
Some other considerations you may not have thought about, but might also be helpful:
- Be aware that advancement may not happen as quickly as you would like. Are you willing to stick it out in this position and potentially be bored while waiting for more challenging work to come your way?
- Will you be taking a pay cut by taking this position? If so, how much of a pay cut, and could your finances absorb it?
- Research this company as much as possible from public sources or through your network. If the company looks to be in good financial health in a stable or growing industry, there would be better opportunities than with a company in financial trouble.
posted by cynical pinnacle at 10:44 AM on August 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
- What has been the typical career progression for someone in this role?
- Are there opportunities to work on projects that have an impact on the department or organization?
Some other considerations you may not have thought about, but might also be helpful:
- Be aware that advancement may not happen as quickly as you would like. Are you willing to stick it out in this position and potentially be bored while waiting for more challenging work to come your way?
- Will you be taking a pay cut by taking this position? If so, how much of a pay cut, and could your finances absorb it?
- Research this company as much as possible from public sources or through your network. If the company looks to be in good financial health in a stable or growing industry, there would be better opportunities than with a company in financial trouble.
posted by cynical pinnacle at 10:44 AM on August 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
I just nailed an interview, and one of my questions was something like "What's the career path look like for someone in this position?"
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 11:27 AM on August 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 11:27 AM on August 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
Just talk about your career goals and ask if the position will offer any career advancement in the direction of those goals.
I think interviewing for a job you don't want is still good practice either way. Job interviewing is like anything else -- the more you do it, the better you become at it.
posted by AppleTurnover at 12:35 PM on August 1, 2015
I think interviewing for a job you don't want is still good practice either way. Job interviewing is like anything else -- the more you do it, the better you become at it.
posted by AppleTurnover at 12:35 PM on August 1, 2015
If I were interviewing for a job I knew I didn't want, I'd take that as an opportunity to ask some bolder questions I normally wouldn't be willing to
Ha, my good friend recently just let it all hang out (albeit at an invited interview for an internal job, so they did know and trust her and her work). Her approach was, "sell this job that I really don't want to me". She interrogated them on every point of possible concern, and frankly expressed her own wild ideas about how things should go, as well as her need for flex time. They loved it and offered her way too much to refuse. Obviously, YMMV, but why not see how far you can go?
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:45 PM on August 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ha, my good friend recently just let it all hang out (albeit at an invited interview for an internal job, so they did know and trust her and her work). Her approach was, "sell this job that I really don't want to me". She interrogated them on every point of possible concern, and frankly expressed her own wild ideas about how things should go, as well as her need for flex time. They loved it and offered her way too much to refuse. Obviously, YMMV, but why not see how far you can go?
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:45 PM on August 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
As the interviewer, I consider it a two-way thing. I'm interviewing to get an employee that will help me; they're interviewing me to get a job that will help them. I've had interviews that completely went the second way and I totally felt on the defensive, having to sell my employer to a great candidate. I don't mind that a bit.
At some point, they're going to ask you a standard "where do you see yourself in five years"-type question, and that's when you... just be honest. "As you can see, this opening is a bit of a step back for me. To accept this job, I'd need that to be a worthwhile investment of my time. What is the next step from this position, typically, and how long would that take?"
However: There is a difference between a) someone who is enthusiastic and ambitious and wants to work their way up by excelling at everything they do even if it's "beneath" them, and b) someone who is just taking the job as a placeholder, will be apathetic and do the bare minimum while spending the rest of every day on finding another job. That's a real risk and your interview is probably quickly going to turn into the interviewer trying to get an answer to this question. People like a) have been the greatest hires I've ever made. Some hiring managers will pass, just because they can't risk getting a b).
posted by ctmf at 12:58 PM on August 1, 2015
At some point, they're going to ask you a standard "where do you see yourself in five years"-type question, and that's when you... just be honest. "As you can see, this opening is a bit of a step back for me. To accept this job, I'd need that to be a worthwhile investment of my time. What is the next step from this position, typically, and how long would that take?"
However: There is a difference between a) someone who is enthusiastic and ambitious and wants to work their way up by excelling at everything they do even if it's "beneath" them, and b) someone who is just taking the job as a placeholder, will be apathetic and do the bare minimum while spending the rest of every day on finding another job. That's a real risk and your interview is probably quickly going to turn into the interviewer trying to get an answer to this question. People like a) have been the greatest hires I've ever made. Some hiring managers will pass, just because they can't risk getting a b).
posted by ctmf at 12:58 PM on August 1, 2015
Well. Why are you going on this job interview? Are you running toward or away from something? I recently interviewed for a job that didn't seem like the best fit for me but I was very interested in the company and their work. The job opening was the only kind of job there that would let me get a toe in so I sent in a kickass letter and resume. I did two interviews with them and it became clear that I was more senior than they were looking for and that my skillset would be more valuble to them as they tried to move into new markets. I addressed this in my second interview by saying that I knew they were hoping to expand in this way and that while it didn't seem like a good fit today, in a future context, it might be great. I saw this as a way to get to know the company better and have them get to know me. And, heck, there was/is the possibility that they would create the position that I needed.
Now, at the time I had a reliable, well-paying job (with no room for advancement) so I could afford to be more open about my goals. But strive to be more open and unafraid during your interviews. Be genuinely inquisitive. Give their questions a moment of considered thought before you answer. Assume there will be a second interview. Feel confident in yourself. Above all, remember, it's the quality of the people that make a job great. You want to work with good people. Good people can make an awkward fit feel just fine if you need that job. But keep that in the front of your mind.
posted by amanda at 8:02 AM on August 2, 2015
Now, at the time I had a reliable, well-paying job (with no room for advancement) so I could afford to be more open about my goals. But strive to be more open and unafraid during your interviews. Be genuinely inquisitive. Give their questions a moment of considered thought before you answer. Assume there will be a second interview. Feel confident in yourself. Above all, remember, it's the quality of the people that make a job great. You want to work with good people. Good people can make an awkward fit feel just fine if you need that job. But keep that in the front of your mind.
posted by amanda at 8:02 AM on August 2, 2015
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posted by DarlingBri at 9:30 AM on August 1, 2015 [2 favorites]