External Interviews: Managing Your Career Opportunities

The Importance of External Interviews

• 💡 External interviews are a crucial part of career management and should not be overlooked.
• 🎯 Many individuals fail to follow up on external interview opportunities due to a misapprehension about their value or a flawed analysis.
• 🚀 The fundamental mindset should be career opportunity management, not just interview management.

Why You Should Always Say "Go"

• ✅ The primary recommendation is to always accept an external interview opportunity.
• 🧠 Comparing your current job to an unknown new job is inherently flawed, as you're comparing something known to something unknown.
• 💰 Focusing solely on immediate salary is a poor criterion for decision-making, as future earning potential and overall compensation are more complex.
• 🌟 Unsought external interviews often represent significant career decisions and should be viewed as a positive signal of interest.

Navigating Career Changes and Risks

• 🗺️ Don't overly worry about changes in specialty or industry; careers often benefit from horizontal movement.
• 🤫 Keep external interviews quiet to avoid potential repercussions at your current company.
• ⚠️ The primary risks are your current company finding out or the opportunity cost of not going and missing out on potential growth.
• 🤝 External interviews create new relationships that can become valuable parts of your professional network.

Broadening Your Career Horizons

• 🚀 Successful executives are often well-rounded, having experienced different parts of a company or industry.
• 📈 Consider the "30-year question": the likelihood that a career in a particular industry will remain robust for decades.
• 💡 Don't rule out opportunities in other industries or specialties solely based on initial assumptions; gather more information through interviews.
• 🎯 Companies often evaluate candidates more broadly than just for a specific role, potentially uncovering other opportunities.

Practical Interview Management

• 🗣️ If an external interview opportunity arises, ask the company to cover upfront costs like airline tickets and hotels; they typically expect this.
• 💰 If a company is unwilling to cover upfront costs, it may be a red flag.
• ⏳ If scheduling is an issue, try to push back on the timing, but generally, prioritize attending the interview.
• 🚫 Saying "no" twice to a specific company for an interview opportunity can significantly reduce future chances of being asked again.