Interview In A Cafe. What To Do?

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

A client wrote: “I am being invited for interviews in a cafe. What can this mean? Prior to this case, Elena (name changed) had no experience when the employer makes an appointment outside the office. This story is now over. And with the kind permission of the client, I can share her impressions.

I also asked my colleague Lyudmila Palko, a trainer with experience in HR and recruiting, what she knows about informal interviews in a cafe. I will also provide a view from the “other side of the negotiating table” below.

Here is what Elena writes:

“When looking for a job, for the first time I faced the fact that the interview was not scheduled at all in the office, but in a completely neutral territory. In a cafe for a cup of coffee.

Thoughts on this matter were completely different. Lack of similar experience, completely unfamiliar potential employer. I searched the entire Internet in search of an answer to the question: why in a cafe. I asked the opinion of more competent people in this matter. And when I was on my way to the interview, there were several options in my head:

• The desire of a potential employer to look at me in informal conditions: behavior, ability to behave, hold a cup, talk in such conditions;
• Not a very decent, to put it mildly, potential employer, a meeting with whom may end up with a not very pleasant adventure for me."

Lyudmila to the question: "When does the employer schedule interviews in a cafe?" - answered like this:

“The reasons may be different:

• In my practice, I invited people for an interview in a cafe when I was recruiting a team for a new facility, and the office was under renovation. I met people in the lobby, showed them the building under construction and we went to talk in a cafe.
• It so happens that interviews take place outside the office so as not to disturb existing employees. For example, they pick up a replacement for someone who is not doing their job. Or a recruiter from the head office calibrates the recruiting process and looks at candidates to understand the market, and only then transfer the hiring authority to regional employees.
• Sometimes an interview in a cafe is just a way for a recruiter to get away from the exhausting routine at least for a while and stay productive."

Elena, going to the meeting, felt excitement:

“I was terribly worried. Came 20 minutes before the appointed time. I saw the table where my potential employer was located, but did not come before the appointed time. I ordered coffee for myself at a separate table, and began to wait.

Ten minutes later they called me to clarify how soon I would be, and since I was already there, it was a plus in my direction. And a cup of coffee I ordered myself was also a plus, because in this way it was possible to avoid such a delicate situation: “What if you are offered coffee? Agree or refuse? And what about payment then? And it seems clear that the inviting party pays, but nevertheless, for me personally, this situation, even in thought, caused discomfort.

Such interviews involve freer and more informal communication, and you need to go to it with the awareness of this. I managed to relax not earlier than after thirty minutes of communication."

What does Lyudmila say about how an applicant looks in the eyes of a recruiter and whether the situation with coffee is really delicate:

“When inviting a candidate for an interview in a cafe, we are, of course, willing to pay for coffee. But at the same time, we are repulsed if the candidate is greedy: he looks for the most expensive desserts, demands something from the first minutes. It's nice when, in response to an offer to order something, the applicant asks whether it is really convenient and inexpensive for us to pay for this order, and chooses something simple (coffee, tea, water) so that there is something to do, keeping the conversation going. And lateness is very unpleasant for us. We value accuracy and punctuality."

Elena's story ended well. She passed the interview with confidence and skill. And later she found out why the meeting was scheduled on neutral territory:

“Now, having received a job, I can share my thoughts on why and how it happened.

At that time, the department was functioning. The team was recruited. The head of the department was there. My position was new, it was created for the changed goals of the company. The employer still doubted that this position was necessary, and feared that the appearance of a new person would alarm already existing employees. And a potential candidate could not live up to expectations and “not fit” into the format of the organization. The second motive is the usual way of “nurturing personnel”. In this organization, it is very rare that employees from outside are attracted to the position of a leader, they mainly develop their own. Naturally, the flashed new face could be remembered and raise questions from the team."

Let's summarize what has been said and highlight the key success factors. Everything that helped Elena to cope with the situation.

• Risk assessment: Elena studied the reputation of the company, checked the location of the cafe, and thought of a fallback in case of an emergency evacuation. Ludmila also advises to pay attention to security issues: what level of position you will be interviewed for and how long the interview is scheduled. Typically, cafés invite potential executives or key experts. Interviews are conducted during working hours. If they look at you as an ordinary position and at the same time invite you to a restaurant outside the city in the evening or say something like: “You won't find it yourself, we will drive up and pick you up by car” - think twice before agreeing.
• Attention to business etiquette: Everyone knows the phrase "You can never make a first impression twice." This is a true phrase. It is good practice to be at the meeting on time, to show delicacy and politeness. It helps a lot to establish friendly contact.
• Focus on the goal: Going to an interview in a cafe, you still do not go there to drink coffee. It will only be a plus if you gather yourself mentally, remember the main points for discussion with the future employer and bring with you several copies of the printed resume.