Your job interview is a 'two-way street'

The single most important thing to know about interviewing is that two interviews should be happening simultaneously:

The company interviews you for a job.

You interview the company to determine if you want to work there.

The company does not have all the power and is not the sole decision maker. Many people turn down jobs because they don’t offer the right environment or cultural fit. You’re going to spend a huge amount of time at work, so it must be with a company you respect and with colleagues you admire. If not, you’ll be looking for a new job tomorrow.

Some of you may be desperate. Perhaps you’ve been looking for a long time, are in a tough financial situation or have other demands. If that’s your situation, take the job and do what you need to do. It’s OK.

Conversely, though, if you’re in a situation where you can wait to find the right job with the right company, acknowledge that you have as much power as the company does. Go into the interview with confidence and know that half of the decision is yours.

Some of my favorite interview tips include:

• Bring questions. Inquire about the company, the position, the culture and more. Respond to interviewers’ questions with poise, clarity and substance, but demonstrate your interest by coming prepared.

• Ask about performance requirements. What do they expect, and what could you do to exceed those expectations? What a great message of performance that communicates.

• Engage your interviewers. Ask what they like best about their jobs. This can give you valuable information.

• Ask for the job. If the interview has gone well and you want the job, ask for it. It’s so simple, yet rarely done.

• If the interviewer is not ready to make an offer, ask what’s preventing it. Once you know the objections, you can immediately respond to and eliminate them.

Wendy Enelow is co-author of “Expert Résumés for Military-to-Civilian Transitions” and “Executive Résumé Toolkit.”