Coffee chat with hiring manager prior to interview
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.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.
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.
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. 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.
Hackney said:
That's why I'd say it's safer to let the recruiter choose the venue.
agreedbest 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.
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.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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