Interview in a cafe

Melzers

Hey guys!

I have an interview next week for a position I'm quite keen on for a number of different reasons. It's at a startup but they've been established a few years now and have offices in central Dublin.

I've gotten notified that the interview will be in a chain cafe down the road from the office. This is a first for me.. has anyone else done something like this before? Any advice on how to handle a situation with lots of distractions etc around you would be greatly appreciated.

jimmycrackcorm

Melzers wrote:

I've gotten notified that the interview will be in a chain cafe down the road from the office. This is a first for me.. has anyone else done something like this before? Any advice on how to handle a situation with lots of distractions etc around you would be greatly appreciated.

It shouldn't make any difference. If anything it will be more comfortable. I've had to conduct a few like this because all meeting rooms getting booked out.

Prospectors

Melzers wrote: »

Hey guys!

I have an interview next week for a position I'm quite keen on for a number of different reasons. It's at a startup but they've been established a few years now and have offices in central Dublin.

I've gotten notified that the interview will be in a chain cafe down the road from the office. This is a first for me.. has anyone else done something like this before? Any advice on how to handle a situation with lots of distractions etc around you would be greatly appreciated.

I did a second stage interview in the bar of a nearby hotel. It helped make the interview very relaxed, especially with minor interruptions as the waiter tops up the coffees etc. Promotes a more natural and free-flowing discussion, I think.

CelticRambler

I do a lot of short term contract work; if a "site visit" is suggested rather than just phone (or e-mail) contact, it'd usually be in the form of an invitation to lunch. I've made similar arrangements for other sounding-things-out business meetings - wouldn't think anything odd about it.

Crunchymomma

When I was involved with hiring staff, I often held interviews/small meetings in local cafes if the meeting room was already booked out

seamus

I've done a final interview/contract negotiation in a cafe over lunch.

It's a bit odd when you're expecting a sterile and formal meeting room and nothing but a ticking clock for background noise, but it does actually help you relax. You should expect though that it's going to be a shorter and less formal interview than you're used to.

In small startups it's not unusual that the only meeting spaces available have been taken over for desk space or running a project.

doolox

I would see such an arrangement as a positive about the company. They will not have space for management led makey uppey meetings about meetings which tend to plague large multinational companies much to the detriment of getting real work done for junior staff forced to attend these often wasteful activities.

Without a plethora of wasted space for meeting rooms etc a company will have stand up meetings on the factory floor or office, if this is not too noisy or within earshot of customers etc and these meetings will be more incisive.

Many companies now insist on standing up meetings and booking meetings in 45 minute chunks, to allow for employees to move from meeting to meeting and avoid lateness. Lateness of attendance regardless of rank is now seen as a disciplinary issue as other peoples time is wasted and not respected as a valuable company asset as it should be.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

Melzers

Thank you everyone for the responses! I've only ever worked for medium to larger organisations so this is new to me! From what I gather there are only about 10 in this company..

Wish me luck ☺

amtc

Done it loads. Mainly cause I would've know people in same industry in same office. Quite common these days

Batgurl

Done it a couple of times too. No red flags but one piece of advice.

Make sure that you get to see the office and meet the team before joining if an offer is made.

You can learn a lot about company culture just by spending 10 minutes in the place.

Don’t underestimate your own judgement and gut instincts on the feel of a place.