Career By Design

It may seem strange to some, but I've always found that there are benefits to going to job interviews (or simply having a high-level discussion with someone who has an opening) even if you aren't necessarily looking for a new job. Some of the reasons for this belief are as follows:

• It can provide a networking opportunity to meet other people and companies that are working in sectors in which you are interested.
• It is possible to gain information about a company or benefits that you did not know existed before, or did not realize were offered in your industry.
• It can be interesting to learn what other companies believe they need from staff in terms of experience and how they choose to approach training and onboarding new hires.
• You can learn if the skills you currently have are desirable in other places than just your current place of work.
• You can learn more about whether you are currently being compensated fairly (salary, flexibility, PTO, 401k, insurance, etc.).
• It can help you keep your own interview skills sharp and remind you how to ask useful questions and provide a good account of yourself in discussing all of the above. It can also help you gage how well you feel "you were interviewed" by the other party as well.

A final note I would add: Always interview gracefully and honestly and have respect for the interviewer's time. I am currently of the opinion that an initial conversation that lasts an hour or less is fine to have with a company even if you aren't overly interested in a new opportunity. If you reach the point where you have had 2 or 3 interviews, I personally feel that it is good ethics to actually have a vision in place of what it would take for you to take that opportunity and by this point to have communicated that to the interviewer. You are never required to take a position, but trying to give a potential employer an idea for what it would take for you to accept the job helps all parties learn about each other's needs and can help keep good relations on both sides. After all, you may cross paths again in the future. 

What do you think about "casual interviewing?"

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Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
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Hello Christopher,

I have always thought of interviewing as the time to seek a job. Due to the time I have sent so far attending universities and career fairs, I have considered the last several years time to either work at a job, look for a job, or work as a full-time student.

To that end, now that I am looking for full-time jobs, every interview I land is one chance to land a job. Maybe down the line, I will have room for "casual interviewing". Until then, however, I track of all this criteria before the next interview.

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Alexander Granato A.M.ASCE
Student
Bexley OH
granato.3@...
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