Job Interviews in Public Areas

[V]

I've had a few interviews in restaurants / coffee shops, and I've conducted a few there as well. Usually if the candidate is qualified and I want to see them in a more neutral setting. I don't find myself distracted at all when I'm being interviewed in public. I get pretty focused on the interview and don't really notice anything else.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Actually come to think of it, my last two jobs have had at least one interview take place in a pub over a pint.

What do you do and are there any openings?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Locke

What do you do and are there any openings?

male prostitute

[GP_Matt]

The pub is a great setting if you already know that the candidate is qualified but want to know how well they would get along with the team. My current job started with a restaurant meeting to get a feel for the company and myself. When they made me an offer it was also in a different restaurant and there was a long night at the pub in the middle with 3 or 4 key guys. This was for a professional job.
The key takeaway from this is that HR guys like to make you think the job will be full of fancy food and pub nights. (it is a lie)

[GreatWhiteEbola]

I was once interviewed at YYC, on a Sunday. I think it was a test of my ability to make and keep an appointment. The interviewer had a limited amount of time on a lay-over in Calgary. I lived in and the position was for Red Deer. The things I once did for a job...

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Locke

What do you do and are there any openings?

I design and build websites, and no there are no openings, pay no attention to the non-existent dress code and employer supplied beer. The internet is full.

[Hack&Lube]

I was interviewed in the BP building food court once.

It was comfortable, relaxing, and I felt more confident and secure as it was a common area and spacious, open, and well decorated as opposed to a claustrophobic private office or cold board-room.

I think it contributed to my ease of speaking and confidence levels and helped me get that job.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That makes sense. Although I've seen some downtown. Usually outside a starbucks.

And Locke is right. The original idea is to change things up a bit and make purple my sad NHL lockout posting colour.

I'm hoping the lockout ends soon

You guys are too uptight! The board needs a girl's touch!

/ducks

I've always assumed people interviewing outside a Starbucks or at a food court are interviewing for a job at Starbucks or a food court.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I've always assumed people interviewing outside a Starbucks or at a food court are interviewing for a job at Starbucks or a food court.

I thought so too but sometimes I see them dressed very professionally so it can't be for Starbucks I wouldn't think.

[Mr.Coffee]

I interviewed at a coffee shop. It's kind of weird but better than going to their office where you know people there and it's more obvious what's going on if those people see you. I am constantly meeting people for coffees and lunches as part of the gig so it makes it less suspicious (tons of professionals do this). On the downside it's weird because you try to get through the meeting with basically nobody hearing what you're saying and sometimes that's awkward.

In retrospect it was fine and really not a big deal.

[Textcritic]

In my field it is most common to conduct interviews during the annual meeting for the Society of Biblical Literature, which takes place in the third week of November each year. I have had interviews in hotel lobbies and coffee shops, and can echo the same sentiment from a few others that this more informal setting most certainly increases my comfort level. My last interview was conducted by six faculty members in the Intercontinental San Francisco Hotel lobby, and was much less intimidating than the on-campus interview that followed, in which I sat across a board room table from the entire department. I personally don't find the public setting at all distracting. On the contrary, it probably helps to "filter" some of the interview awkwardness.

[gargamel]

All law firms conduct a portion of the interview in public. Usually it's in a decent restaurant, but it can be in a less formal setting as well. At my old firm, they'd do interviews with partners all morning, then tell the candidate that a few associates would take take them out for lunch. You'd be shocked at how many candidates didn't realize that this was still part of the interview, and would open up about how they didn't like some of the partners or admit that they had no plans to stay in the area long-term. Those candidates did not get hired.

My only bad experience from the interviewee perspective was when I had I fly to Orange County, CA for an interview. I only packed my suit and beach clothes, but they left a message for me while I was on the plane that they wanted to take me out to eat that night at a business casual place. I quickly stopped by a store to buy khakis, and even though they only had the old man style, I didn't have time to look anywhere else. I was a little self-conscious about them, but I kept telling myself that they didn't look that bad. As I was walking to the restaurant in this little trendy oceanfront area, some obnoxious, privileged OC teens walks by and one of them said, "nice pleats, f****t." It definitely threw me off my game.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by gargamel

All law firms conduct a portion of the interview in public. Usually it's in a decent restaurant, but it can be in a less formal setting as well. At my old firm, they'd do interviews with partners all morning, then tell the candidate that a few associates would take take them out for lunch. You'd be shocked at how many candidates didn't realize that this was still part of the interview, and would open up about how they didn't like some of the partners or admit that they had no plans to stay in the area long-term. Those candidates did not get hired.

My only bad experience from the interviewee perspective was when I had I fly to Orange County, CA for an interview. I only packed my suit and beach clothes, but they left a message for me while I was on the plane that they wanted to take me out to eat that night at a business casual place. I quickly stopped by a store to buy khakis, and even though they only had the old man style, I didn't have time to look anywhere else. I was a little self-conscious about them, but I kept telling myself that they didn't look that bad. As I was walking to the restaurant in this little trendy oceanfront area, some obnoxious, privileged OC teens walks by and one of them said, "nice pleats, f****t." It definitely threw me off my game.

Are the authorities still looking for the bodies?

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by Locke

Are the authorities still looking for the bodies?

I was trying to stay focused on the interview, so I just kept walking, but I did look for them afterwards. For their sake and mine, it's probably for the best that I didn't find them.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by gargamel

I was trying to stay focused on the interview, so I just kept walking, but I did look for them afterwards. For their sake and mine, it's probably for the best that I didn't find them.

- "Sir, I say sir, you have blood on your khakis..."

"Yeah, the guy at the store said they were stain resistant so that ought to wash right out. Its the blood of over-entitled OC teenagers."

- "Hired."

[troutman]

My worst interview was with Crown Counsel in Vancouver. Three or Four Crown lawyers sat at a a table across from me, and asked me questions from a fixed script. They asked what I would do in certain hypothetical situations. How the hell should I know? - I never worked in an office before. This style of interview only proves who can BS the best. Maybe that's what they were looking for.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by troutman

My worst interview was with Crown Counsel in Vancouver. Three or Four Crown lawyers sat at a a table across from me, and asked me questions from a fixed script. They asked what I would do in certain hypothetical situations. How the hell should I know? - I never worked in an office before. This style of interview only proves who can BS the best. Maybe that's what they were looking for.

This was a job for a lawyer right? That should go without saying....

[ernie]

Can I make a suggestion on the purple....bold it or something because it really is harder to read. Well for me anyways.

[FurnaceFace]

I had an initial interview with a recruiter at the Marda Loop Starbucks. The bucks was packed so we ended up walking over to Safeway and had the interview/meeting at this little bar area with three seats a few feet away from the express lane. It was pretty funny. We were actually more alone there than the real Starbucks. I had worked with the recruiter years ago so it was a bit of a "warm interview" which helped.

I've also recently met with another former coworker about working with him. That was over a drink at a bar.

[Kybosh]

I'm not sure anything is more grueling or depressing than interviewing for an R&D job at a big pharma company. It's like an intellectual pissing match on overdrive.