Gotta catch 'em all...

... or why I go to job interviews when I'm not looking for a new position.

Last year, I've started to reply to all requiters on LinkedIn. I even updated my profile with up-to-date information, I'm working on my CV, and interviews are a sport to me now.

In my professional life, I've been to three interviews. Two times I got hired, there was no real process and interviewers didn't know what they were doing. So we all got lucky: me because the interview was easy, they - because I turned out OK ¹. Last time, that was when I was considering changing companies, there was real (quite exhausting) process. I did not get an offer that time, but I got important feedback.

Feedback. After almost 10 years at one company, it's hard to judge whether I am good at what I do, or I'm good at being at that company. Each interview shows me a new blind spot - be it databases (in general) or agile methodologies. I'm taking care to note my weak spots and work on them: brush up some technical skill or try to give shape to my thoughts about some aspect of manager's work.

Process. I've now been on the hiring manager side of things, and it's hard. We don't get to hire often, but I try to improve our process each time. Interviewing helps me with that.

Training. While I'm not looking for a new job now, there will come a time when I will. When the time comes to interview for that interesting position, I want to be ready, confident. Interviews are scary. Doing them when stakes are low helps.

Networking. Ask any LinkedIn lunatic and they will tell you, that networking is the best way to get jobs. I don't have time (nor desire, honestly) to go to meetups or conferences. But I at least talk to the recruiters and hiring managers, tell them to stay in touch.

Side notes

First time, I felt bad about going to an interview knowing that I won't be accepting the offer at the end - I was wasting their time. But I got over it. In a way it helps the company too: they see what's out there and can calibrate their requirements/expectations.

I also take care not to advertise that I'm going to interviews to people I work with. I don't want my managers to worry (right now).