Why You Should Never Turn Down an Interview

Whether you are fresh out of college or a seasoned professional, you should always embrace the opportunity to interview for a job. It doesn’t matter if the timing is bad or if you started a new job yesterday—accepting an invitation to interview is always a wise move.

Here are five reasons why you should never turn down an interview:

It’s good practice. There’s a reason so many people are scared to fly on airplanes: We have no way to practice and most of us do it infrequently. The more we do something, the better we get at it, and interviewing is no exception. Sure you can hold mock interviews with family and friends, but nothing will prepare you like real-world experience. Since the opportunity to interview doesn’t arise frequently, embrace it when you get the chance.

Think about the future. Even if the position you are interviewing for is not a perfect fit, another opening, one that you might be unaware of, could be floating out there. Meeting face to face with a potential employer will put you on the radar, increasing your chances of being considered for a position in the future. Even if you turn down the job—with grace and professionalism, of course—the connection you create can be helpful down the road.

Read more of my post at U.S. News and World Report.