It's important to first determine if there would possibly be any other positions in that company that you might want to apply for now or in the future.  If not, then it is appropriate to politely tell the interviewer that you are not interested any more - here are some tactful ways to do that.

·        "Before I answer any other questions, I wanted to thank you for sharing more information about the position and company.  Based on this information, I believe there may be other candidates that are a better fit for this position so I am going to remove myself from the hiring process at this time.  Thank you for your consideration of me as a candidate." 

Or

·        "Thank you for sharing more information about the position and responsibilities.  I apologize for any inconvenience to your schedule, but I believe that my current career goals are not a fit for this position at this time so I am gong to remove myself from the interview process. I appreciate your time and your consideration of me as a candidate."

For job seekers that don't want to verbally address this, the other option (and the one to use if there is potential to apply for other positions in the future) is to write an email immediately after the interview informing the person that you have decided to opt out.  Something like this:

"I appreciate your time today.  After our meeting and having a greater understanding of the requirements for this position, I have decided to remove myself from the process.  At this time, I believe there will be other candidates that are a better fit for your needs."

The key is to remain professional and honest to save time for the employer and you during the hiring process.

1)  Identify what you do and don't like about your current job. 

This step lets you figure out the responsibilities and activities that you want to look for in your next role, and which ones you may want to steer away from.  If your past experience is personnel management heavy and you want to be more project management focused in your next job then search specifically for positions with that.  Going through this exercise will also increase the chances that you will find an opportunity that you will enjoy and want to stay in. 

2)  Find a job board site (or sites) that feature jobs in the industry you want to transition to and at the level of expertise you have to offer a company. 

Job boards offer a wide range of postings, but doing research on where the companies you want to target post their jobs will maximize your time when you are online.  Consider posting a generic version of your resume on a larger site (Indeed, Zip Recruiter) so companies can find you when they post jobs aligned with your experience.  Take time on LinkedIn to update all of your information and follow companies you may want to transition to - you will be notified when they post jobs on the site, so this is a time saver. 

3)  Update all your documentation that you will use throughout the process; resume, cover letter/intro email, work product examples, and follow up communication. 

Updating your resume is obvious, but you can prepare for all of the hiring steps before they happen to lessen last minute stress when you get an interview.  Have a few different templates ready for introducing yourself via email to people in your network or for posting on company sites if they ask for a cover letter - keep these brief and to the point focused on the skills the company needs and your specific experience.  Organize documentation that shows your abilities and results achieved in your past jobs including performance reviews, communication from your manager and co-workers noting your accomplishments, and non-proprietary work examples to show as visual aids during interviews.  Create follow up communication that can be tailored based on your discussions with hiring personnel - be sure to highlight specifics on why you are a match for the position and thank them for their time and consideration of you as a candidate.

 

For some people the topic of networking is overwhelming while others actively network on a daily basis.  According to data from LinkedIn, 43% of people currently have a strong network which means 57% of us need to be focusing more energy on this to further our career.  Your network can be crucial to your career no matter what phase you are in.  Here are some things to consider as you evaluate the current state of your network and determine an action plan moving forward:

·        Is your network solid enough to support you in finding a new job?  It’s interesting to note that workers are 2x more likely to get a new job from weak connections than from direct ones.  This means it’s not only “who you know”, but “who do they know?”  As you look at your current network, are you being strategic about adding new people who have friends that may be able to guide you to a future career opportunity.

·        Where are you tracking your network and it’s growth?  If you aren’t on LinkedIn, now’s the time to consider joining.  You can make Connections, see your Connections network, and follow companies that you may want to work for in the future.  Building your network should also include other websites tailored to your profession and organizations that you can affiliate with to meet and communicate with people in your industry.

·        How are you supporting the people in your network?  When someone reaches out to you and asks for an introduction, are you responding right away that you are happy to help?  As people find you online and ask to connect, do you add them and send a personal hello message?  If you find an article, webinar, resource that would help others do you share that on your social media and/or via email?  These are just a few ideas on how you can collaborate and support the people in your network on a regular basis.