In a previous video, I talked about the most important aspect of the face-to-face interview. That was conveying to the people conducting the interview the potential value that you could bring to the organization and the problems that you could solve.
While that is the most important aspect of the face-to-face interview, there is also an overriding goal of the interview. That goal is to get an offer of employment.
Once you have received an offer, then you can decide what to do with it. Keep in mind that you do not have to make a decision regarding a possible offer until you receive the offer. Even if you’re interviewing with more than one organization, it’s in your best interests as a candidate to receive as many offers as you can.
The interview is NOT the time to start thinking about whether or not you would accept an offer if one was made to you. The interview is the time to illustrate the potential value that you could bring to the organization, because your ability to do that will dictate whether or not you receive an offer in the first place. Too many candidates get ahead of themselves during the interview, and it comes back to hurt them in the end.
When you receive an offer of employment, you’re moving from a position of strength, as opposed to a position of weakness. You have more options, and when you have more options, you’re able to make better decisions.
So during the interview, focus your efforts on convincing the hiring manager that YOU are the person most deserving of an offer.