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Have you ever taken an interview you had no intention of taking the job?

38,242 5,374 January 20, 2021 at 09:14 AM
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So, have you ever applied for a job and interviewed when you had absolutely no intention of ever accepting any offer (unless they gave you some crazy offer I guess)?

I am considering doing this - tons of opportunity for my..... set of skills.... in places where I would never consider moving (CA and MN, mostly), but I'd like to apply just for the hell of it to sharpen the interview process and get an idea if I were to get an offer (it seems salary isn't an oft-included number in job postings for some reason).

Yet, I hate wasting peoples' time.
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Dr. J Pro
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Dannon35
01-20-2021 at 09:57 AM.
01-20-2021 at 09:57 AM.
IMO, it seems like you would just be wasting peoples' time. If you truly hate to do that, don't apply. There are better ways of sharpening your interview skills without wasting others' time, such as a mock interview with someone who is a hiring manager.
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YanksIn2009
01-20-2021 at 10:51 AM.
01-20-2021 at 10:51 AM.
Quote from Dr. J :
So, have you ever applied for a job and interviewed when you had absolutely no intention of ever accepting any offer (unless they gave you some crazy offer I guess)?

I am considering doing this - tons of opportunity for my..... set of skills.... in places where I would never consider moving (CA and MN, mostly), but I'd like to apply just for the hell of it to sharpen the interview process and get an idea if I were to get an offer (it seems salary isn't an oft-included number in job postings for some reason).

Yet, I hate wasting peoples' time.
Not really though it depends on your circumstances. Not a fan of the idea unless you are serious enough to actually move if a great offer is had. Generally it forces you to be deceptive and disingenuous during the interview if pressed on the subject of relocation and personally, I just assume not have to outright lie in an interview. I have no issue wrt wasting the company's time as they do the same to you when interviewing 20+ people for one opening while you were in the bottom 1/3 of that list with virtually no chance, but I just assume not have to waste my time and have to lie potentially while doing it. Now if you are willing to move if they make you an offer at the higher end of your range, but otherwise are going to pass, then sure, why not.

That said, I always found the interview process to be horrid and painful for all involved, so I would not be looking to do extra ones either lol.
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Opusnbill7
01-20-2021 at 06:40 PM.
01-20-2021 at 06:40 PM.
Quote from YanksIn2009 :
Not really though it depends on your circumstances. Not a fan of the idea unless you are serious enough to actually move if a great offer is had. Generally it forces you to be deceptive and disingenuous during the interview if pressed on the subject of relocation and personally, I just assume not have to outright lie in an interview. I have no issue wrt wasting the company's time as they do the same to you when interviewing 20+ people for one opening while you were in the bottom 1/3 of that list with virtually no chance, but I just assume not have to waste my time and have to lie potentially while doing it. Now if you are willing to move if they make you an offer at the higher end of your range, but otherwise are going to pass, then sure, why not.

That said, I always found the interview process to be horrid and painful for all involved, so I would not be looking to do extra ones either lol.
It's mostly horrid because of HR people. They really are the spawn of Satan.

And if you work in HR, please be offended. You should be and re-examine your poor life choices.
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Last edited by Opusnbill7 January 20, 2021 at 06:43 PM.
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YanksIn2009
01-20-2021 at 10:25 PM.
01-20-2021 at 10:25 PM.
Quote from Opusnbill7 :
It's mostly horrid because of HR people. They really are the spawn of Satan.

And if you work in HR, please be offended. You should be and re-examine your poor life choices.

Catbert, evil HR Director lol.

That said, there are plenty of IT VPs and Directors that would fit quite well in HR. Dumb as bricks and phony as 3 dollar bills.
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netweaver
01-21-2021 at 03:01 PM.
01-21-2021 at 03:01 PM.
When I was much younger, I was pressured into taking a couple interviews by recruiters. I went in knowing that I probably wouldn't be interested and I was correct. I learned to better handle my job opportunities (as well as the recruiters) as I got more experienced. I do IT contract work, so now it's more likely that I'd take an interview for something that I'm not a 100% fit for skill-wise, to see if I can land the gig.
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komondor
01-21-2021 at 06:05 PM.
01-21-2021 at 06:05 PM.
yes good practice and you never know
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CompusaHardDrive
01-23-2021 at 04:58 PM.
01-23-2021 at 04:58 PM.
Use it to practice getting out of your shell. Push the limits of your personality.
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Spaceman6969
02-24-2021 at 08:25 PM.
02-24-2021 at 08:25 PM.
Quote from CompusaHardDrive :
Use it to practice getting out of your shell. Push the limits of your personality.

Agreed!
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Samwise Gamgee
02-25-2021 at 06:43 PM.
02-25-2021 at 06:43 PM.
As long as it doesn't waste your time/effort, I wouldn't feel guilty.

The reverse happens to prospects many a time (they'll ghost; lie to you; have you jump through hoops; interview you for a job already filled/doesn't exist; etc.)
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alMac
03-01-2021 at 10:52 AM.
03-01-2021 at 10:52 AM.
Why not - push the limits; take a different approach with your answers during the interview. Asks questions that you would not otherwise.

I often noticed that when answering a question with a proper relevant question, I get better connected with the interviewer.

Unless you think you are wasting your time and would cost later on, I then would not.
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bermuda_lover
03-05-2021 at 11:59 AM.
03-05-2021 at 11:59 AM.
Quote from Samwise Gamgee :
As long as it doesn't waste your time/effort, I wouldn't feel guilty.

The reverse happens to prospects many a time (they'll ghost; lie to you; have you jump through hoops; interview you for a job already filled/doesn't exist; etc.)
100% agree! Also they invited the candidate to the interview so they should be okay with spending time to interview even if a candidate ends up not accepting.
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Dr. J
05-08-2021 at 06:27 PM.
05-08-2021 at 06:27 PM.
Thanks everyone for chiming in.

An update - I've built my LI presence and along with that comes a slew of headhunters trying to fill positions. My job is rather like Liam Neeson in Taken - a very particular set of skills - that are very hard to find. I don't intend to puff myself up but frankly that's the case.

At any rate, I've had numerous interactions with headhunters and interviews - let me sharpen my resume, have frank discussions etc. and that's led to 2 very serious leads; one which basically has no chance of me accepting (unless they offer some crazy $$$, because it's in CA) and the other which is in a better location but probably won't offer me the $$ I need (as a family) due to location (lower COL = lower salary, probably).

So the question is, what's the best way to leverage this with my current employer to make the current situation more amenable to me? - and it's not really money-related, btw - so yes more $$ is better, but I am seeking other changes.
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euuser239329
05-09-2021 at 10:43 AM.
05-09-2021 at 10:43 AM.
This can be dangerous if not properly handled, or it could be very productive. I cannot speak from my experience personally but I have seen many websites offering pointed advice. Obviously each person's situation and therefore approach will vary.
Only other suggestion is more or less what you are doing. Interview outside, understand your market value, then have something in your back pocket before approaching current people for changes. But be prepared for a 'no', which can lead to even worse situations.
Or they could lie to you and say 'sure we'll give you flex time' (as an example), but then make up numerous situations to sidestep that promise. I had a boss who, when I told him I was having difficulty sleeping and could use some flex, told me sure, if you wake up at say 4AM and can't get back to sleep, just start working (covid times so WFH), then you can log off after lunch and take a nap etc etc.
Problem with this is that his manager liked to hold afternoon meetings, often all the way till 6PM. There is no way he would have had the guts to tell him that yeah, I told my guy he can take a nap. So instead of flexing I would be expanding my work day. So i didn't believe him at all and just ignored his suggestion.
I quit that job btw, for that and myriad other reasons.
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Spaceman6969
05-09-2021 at 03:53 PM.
05-09-2021 at 03:53 PM.
Quote from kacki :
This can be dangerous if not properly handled, or it could be very productive. I cannot speak from my experience personally but I have seen many websites offering pointed advice. Obviously each person's situation and therefore approach will vary.
Only other suggestion is more or less what you are doing. Interview outside, understand your market value, then have something in your back pocket before approaching current people for changes. But be prepared for a 'no', which can lead to even worse situations.
Or they could lie to you and say 'sure we'll give you flex time' (as an example), but then make up numerous situations to sidestep that promise. I had a boss who, when I told him I was having difficulty sleeping and could use some flex, told me sure, if you wake up at say 4AM and can't get back to sleep, just start working (covid times so WFH), then you can log off after lunch and take a nap etc etc.
Problem with this is that his manager liked to hold afternoon meetings, often all the way till 6PM. There is no way he would have had the guts to tell him that yeah, I told my guy he can take a nap. So instead of flexing I would be expanding my work day. So i didn't believe him at all and just ignored his suggestion.
I quit that job btw, for that and myriad other reasons.

I have to ask you as I'm genuinely curious:

What was the worst Job you ever had? How long did you stay there and what lessons did you learned about that job if any?
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