What would you be willing to do for an opportunity to advance your career? To enjoy a more challenging and rewarding work environment? More pay? Better benefits?

Sometimes, all it takes is an investment of time, specifically time to go on a face-to-face interview with another company.

Unfortunately, that investment appears too great for some candidates.

There are a number of reasons why finding the time to go on such an interview is crucial, besides the obvious one, which is that you need to do so in order to be considered for a great new employment opportunity. These reasons include the following:

1. Company officials want to know that a candidate is enthusiastic about their opening. Traveling for an on-site interview is one way to show that enthusiasm. (Or even meeting online for a virtual interview, now that such meetings have become more common during the past few years.)
2. Meeting face-to-face allows you to get a feel for company management, at the same time they get a feel for you. What’s on your resume (or on the company’s website) is just one part of what will be considered before a decision is made.
3. By interviewing on-site, you have the chance to see the actual company, see its culture, and meet its employees. This experience will also help you decide whether or not to accept an offer if it’s extended.
4. Just as the company wants to know if you’re enthusiastic about them, a face-to-face interview will let you know if they’re enthusiastic about you.

However, when all is said and done, whether or not you’re willing to go on a face-to-face interview provides the perfect “litmus test” for your career. Why is that?

Because if it was important enough for you to explore new opportunities and advance your career to the fullest extent possible, then you would take the time to go on a face-to-face interview.

Does that sound too simple? It really isn’t. It’s just a matter of what’s most important to you, and that importance is defined by your actions—what you do and what you don’t do.

If you really want to advance your career and make it the best it can be, then you’ll make time to participate in a face-to-face interview. However, if you don’t—and you’re comfortable with where you are, no matter how much work you have—then you won’t make the time.

So—how important is it to you? Where do your desires lie? How much of an investment are you willing to make for greater opportunity? Are you too busy? Or will nothing stand between you and more satisfying and rewarding employment?

Your answers to these questions will go a long way towards determining the trajectory of your career.