Declining a job interview

by Lacie

I went for an interview today with a company that I don't think I really want to work for. They indicated that they'd like to have me back for a second interview so I agreed because I didn't want to offend them. I'm not sure how to decline a job interview especially as I already agreed to go.

Lacie

Response from Carl: Good question Lacie. First off, unless you're 100% sure you don't want the job or want to work for the company the best thing you could do is to attend the interview, for a few reasons:

1. Something might change that upon interviewing with the company for a second time, causes you to look at the company differently ie. more positively. You won't know unless you attend.

2. Something might change with regards to the job itself. I've seen cases where a person interviews for a job but ends up getting hired for a different position. Again, this can't happen if you don't attend the second interview.

3. Even if you aren't interested in the job, it could be good practice to attend the interview anyways. You're probably not going to feel pressure interviewing for a job you don't think you really want so it's good practice for the next time you interview.

Certainly you don't want to waste the hiring manager's time but as mentioned in points 1 and 2, it could end up working out in your favor if you do attend the interview and something unexpected happens that causes you to actually want the job afterall.

Carl