While you may feel like you’re constantly under scrutiny during the hiring process, there is one very important thing you need to remember: the company is trying to sell itself as much as you are. It is an exchange of trust, if I can say that. If a company extends you a job offer, they are saying that they like what they saw in you. By you accepting, you are saying the same of them. If you walked into a company office and saw it half under construction wouldn’t you think twice about working there? There are plenty of other companies with completed work space you could apply to.
While you pick out a suit, shave, fix your hair, and put on your nice shoes to show off to the company, they are picking out a clean interviewing room, a well-dressed HR representative, and an impressive view of the office and the outside (even if you may not be getting a window office). That’s because they are cleaning themselves up for you, too. While you are working up your confidence, they are vacuuming their carpets. Don’t forget that even though you may feel like you’re laying it all out on the line, you have the right to judge the company just as much as they have the right to judge you.
So, when you are walking around that office to the interview room, take note of your surroundings. See how the people you will be working with behave. Maybe take a walk to the water cooler and ask some questions of people you bump into.
I understand that you may be nervous during this time and would prefer to keep your head focused on the interview and not accidentally letting it slip that you quit your last job because you had a problem with authority. That’s okay, no sweat. But, if you do have the time, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to take a look around. After all, you’re committing to the position, the building, and the people once you accept the job offer. There’s a chance you may not like what you see.
Just like you want to look your best for an interview, a company wants to put itself in the best possible light as well. Granted, this may not apply to giant corporate companies, but there are more small businesses than there are conglomerates and each can hold surprises in store for you if you don’t do your research, so go out there and do the work.
Do you ever pay attention to what the employer is selling you or are you too focused on acing the interview? Bend our ear by leaving a comment below.
IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by Diana Parkhouse
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