Coffee chat with hiring manager prior to interview

Coffee chat with hiring manager prior to interview

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Volition

Original Poster:

227 posts

142 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
Hey all! A job has come up unexpectedly that I am very interested in, with a company that I would love to work for. I sent my CV to the recruitment agency for this role just over a week ago. I have been told that the hiring manager at the company wants to organise a few chats over coffee before conducting any formal interviews.

I'm hoping to hear from the recruitment agency this week. Fingers crossed they get me a chat with the hiring manager. The recruiter thinks I'm a very good fit based on my CV and can't see me not getting to the next stage.

My thoughts are that the potential coffee chat is probably even more important than the formal interview and I like the idea of being able to chat without the pressures of a formal procedure.

Has anyone been hired this way and if so what were your experiences? Any tips? I plan to be as fully prepared as possible.

Asterix

24,438 posts

234 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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With most of my positions for the last 20 years, the real 'interview' has either been over a period of time or down the pub/coffee room. The actual interviews have been a formality.

Hughesie

12,590 posts

288 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
This is how I recruit.

I always have an informal coffee first and then follow up if they are suitable. I'm in Recruitment by the way.

Just be relaxed and yourself, most people hire on personality and fit with the competency based bit being a way to back it up.

Volition

Original Poster:

227 posts

142 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
What about dress code? If I get to suggest a place, is a pub a bad idea (discussing over a glass of wine or two)? Better to let the hiring manager make a suggestion?

Hackney

6,989 posts

214 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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Dress code: treat it like an interview.
Location: Ask him / her to choose as they're more likely to know somewhere local. If you choose go for a coffee shop, not a pub. Definitely not a pub. If you know the area well suggest somewhere quiet if possible (ie not busy, but also no loud music). If you don't know the area go for a chain as you can be pretty sure what you're getting. And if possible go for an off-peak time, you're more likely to get a table away from other people.

surveyor

18,116 posts

190 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
Hackney said:
Dress code: treat it like an interview.
Location: Ask him / her to choose as they're more likely to know somewhere local. If you choose go for a coffee shop, not a pub. Definitely not a pub. If you know the area well suggest somewhere quiet if possible (ie not busy, but also no loud music). If you don't know the area go for a chain as you can be pretty sure what you're getting. And if possible go for an off-peak time, you're more likely to get a table away from other people.
Depends on the industry and individuals.

I've had a few 'chats' in a pub. I think if I was to suggest a coffee shop I'd have failed there and then.


Tannedbaldhead

2,952 posts

138 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
Hackney said:
Dress code: treat it like an interview.
Location: Ask him / her to choose as they're more likely to know somewhere local. If you choose go for a coffee shop, not a pub. Definitely not a pub. If you know the area well suggest somewhere quiet if possible (ie not busy, but also no loud music). If you don't know the area go for a chain as you can be pretty sure what you're getting. And if possible go for an off-peak time, you're more likely to get a table away from other people.
That's what I told a mate when he was going on his first computer date.

Hackney

6,989 posts

214 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
surveyor said:
Depends on the industry and individuals.

I've had a few 'chats' in a pub. I think if I was to suggest a coffee shop I'd have failed there and then.
That's why I'd say it's safer to let the recruiter choose the venue.

markiii

3,821 posts

200 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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Hackney said:
That's why I'd say it's safer to let the recruiter choose the venue.
agreed

best way to start a recruitment process if you can is the informal chat with the hiring manager. If you get passed that point they already know they want you,

they will then likely coach you on what you need to do to get passed the formal interview stage with HR because its as much a hurdle for them as you at this point.



GlenMH

5,268 posts

249 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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olly22n said:
Or split the difference and go to a nice hotel.
That certainly is one way to get the job... wink

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

158 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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surveyor said:
Hackney said:
Dress code: treat it like an interview.
Location: Ask him / her to choose as they're more likely to know somewhere local. If you choose go for a coffee shop, not a pub. Definitely not a pub. If you know the area well suggest somewhere quiet if possible (ie not busy, but also no loud music). If you don't know the area go for a chain as you can be pretty sure what you're getting. And if possible go for an off-peak time, you're more likely to get a table away from other people.
Depends on the industry and individuals.

I've had a few 'chats' in a pub. I think if I was to suggest a coffee shop I'd have failed there and then.
Another surveyor agreeing with this statement!

In my current role, over a few months of phone calls, lunches and meetings at no point did I really feel like I was being interviewed.

LukePaterson

10 posts

122 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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I agree with the above, I always have a coffee with anyone before I decide to hire them or come in for an interview.

Coffee shop is defo the best idea.

Ray Luxury-Yacht

8,914 posts

222 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Three of the most responsible, and highly-paid (circa 75) managerial positions I have had in the last 10 years, were as a result of 'informal' pub / coffee chats.

The first one was in a local pub, up the road from the firm. To be honest, the recruiting Director (confirmed by observations during my employment!) was a bit of a drinker! I was in the pub with him for about 90 minutes at lunchtime, during which he drank half a dozen pints of Guinness!

The second one was in a nearby Hotel's lounge bar. Again, was about a 90 minute forum. This time the Director didn't drink so much (!) but we had a great chat, in a totally informal manner, with eventually a few laughs and jokes along the way.

The third one was again in a hotel bar / restaurant.


A good way to meet, introduce yourself, and present yourself I think.

However!

Make no mistake - this isn't an opportunity to turn up, be totally casual, flippant, and piss about. The setting might be informal - but I am pretty sure that the discussion and presentation should still be of the utmost importance.

Hence, despite the venues - I still turned up suited and booted, and treated the whole scenario with the same professionalism as any other interview. I drank soft drinks, and remained on my guard, and even when the conversation turned light - didn't make a tit of myself, or start to make any inappropriate jokes or comments...

I think they gave me the opportunity to illustrate my entire personality though - from formal 'industry' questions, through to lighter banter about things like football, current affairs, and other bits of sport etc. For instance, one of the interviewers loved F1 racing, as I do, so we were able to chat about that.

So - a more relaxed setting and venue - but don't fall into the trap of behaving any differently from a normal interview! Just enjoy it for what it is, but give it the same focus and attention is my advice.