An interview is your opportunity to find out if the company is a match for you too

You are also interviewing the company - it's a 2 way thing

If you’re just coming to the job market now, you may not have been aware of this. If you haven’t been approached, it doesn’t mean that your skills aren’t in demand, but you aren’t making yourself obviously open to positions, or actively building a noticeable profile.  

It might sound odd but prepare yourself first for the counter offer and how you will react

Whatever your motivations for moving jobs, be prepared for your business to try and keep you. The counter offer has been going on for some time as companies are acting to stem talent losses from the great resignation. Again, if this doesn’t happen, don’t be offended, your business may have accepted that resignations have to happen and that if you have been moved to leave to pursue your career elsewhere, depending on your frustrations or motivations to leave, they won’t necessarily disappear by deciding to stay with the business. We think this is more sensible. Data tells us that even if people accept a counter offer, they leave the business within the next 6 months. Why? Because the frustrations and issues that they had with that business haven’t gone anywhere.

Have a discussion with your recruiter, unless you are applying direct, in which case, be clear on the reasons why you are looking to leave your current employer. You will most likely be asked this at interview anyway as businesses like to know what your motivation is for moving on.

There are many new startups which have launched over the last few years who are looking for exceptional candidates to start in their roles. That said, working in a startup business is different to a traditional businesses.

How should I approach my interviews?

Keep a track of the roles that you have applied for, although any good recruiter will take you through the job details and the company that they are supporting with the recruitment process. However a direct approach is different.

Companies like to hear that you are interviewing elsewhere as well but don’t over do it. If they suspect that you are interviewing with lots of businesses you could send out the wrong message. They might consider you aren’t particularly committed in their role or business. That said, if you are asked whether you are interviewing elsewhere and you reply ‘no’, this can be viewed as a negative as they wonder whether other businesses have picked up on something that they haven’t. You can always get around this by saying, I’ve just started my search and you were quick to respond, unless they took months to ask you in for an interview of course.

Key takeaway, be selective with your interviews.

Rachel Doyle - 4 mins