Not every interview is a great interview. In fact, some interviews are downright duds. Whether you did not click with the interviewer or you discovered the position itself was not to your liking, a bad interview can put a damper on your job search. However, there is a bright side to having a not-so-great interview: that experience can teach you valuable lessons about your career preferences.
Lesson 1: Preferred Job Culture
If you did not get along with the suit-wearing professionals at the corporation, or you found the startup company’s culture a little too lax, an interview is one of the fastest ways to determine what type of corporate culture you prefer. Try to analyze what you did and did not like about the company, and you may find some interesting insights about the company’s culture.
Lesson 2: Preferred Job Roles
If an interview did not go well because the job itself sounded unappealing to you, then it may be time to look into your preferences for your day-to-day responsibilities. While some parts of a position may be unavoidable, others might be easily avoided by refining your job search. For example, if you have found out that sitting at a cubicle alone is not your ideal, look for positions in your area that involve more human interaction.
Lesson 3: Boost Your Interview Skills
Regardless of how well the interview itself went, each interview is a chance to hone your interview skills. Look at the failed interview as a practice session. Take the opportunity to analyze what did not go well and how you could approach that situation if it happens again. Brush up on interview questions you fumbled. No matter the outcome of the interview, it will always boost your interview skills for the next interview.
Treat every interview as an opportunity to discover what works for you and what does not, and you will find yourself seeking more relevant career opportunities. Learning your own career preferences is immensely valuable for the job hunt.