Some hiring managers think that the interview is supposed to be stressful, so that you can better gauge how the candidate may perform under stress at work. I have to two answers to that:
- There shouldn’t be that much stress at work, and
- You will not get a true read on the candidate’s natural behavior at work.
The goal of the interviewing process is to create a composite of how the candidate will perform in the job as described. But, the interview is not a natural setting. The interviewee is trying to be who she thinks you want her to be, and the interviewer is “judging.” This “interrogation” is not a comfortable situation for any interaction, whether it is a teenager coming home late, or a candidate interviewing for a job.
To have a better chance of seeing how someone will really behave if hired, I recommend a face-to-face meeting before the formal interview. This is especially important for a job that tends to draw introverts, or people with lower social skills. (I highly recommend a Job Benchmark to identify these traits.)
There are many good reasons to have a pre-interview meeting:
- More casual – less stilted
- Less stressful for the candidate
- Prescreen for any anomalies – strange behavior or appearance
- More realistic view of behavior – not under the spotlight
- Isolate strange behavior early – don’t bring it into the office
- Better in-office interview – fewer unknowns means more comfort
- Saves time and resources – don’t schedule if not a fit
- The candidate will be more comfortable at the interview
The ideal environment is a coffee shop for several reasons:
- Short amount of time – much less than with a meal
- Neutral ground – no one has home field advantage
- In public – likely won’t make a scene, safer for strangers to meet
- Comfort of knowing what to expect – likely been to one before
- Low cost – any budget can afford it
- Daily routine – may already be going there in the AM
- Fits the candidate’s schedule – won’t have to take time off from current job
Remember, this is not a formal interview. It is a casual conversation to get to know the candidate. Don’t bring a prepared list of questions or give a test. Keep it light and topical.
How can I keep the conversation casual?
Start with: How are you? Can I get you a coffee? (Another drink if not coffee?) Need a small bite to eat? I am getting ______. Did you run into any traffic on your way here? The construction/road conditions are… When do you need to leave? What do you think of this weather?
Continue with: Just let the conversation go – don’t steer it. See where the candidate takes it.
End with:Just wanted to get to know you a little bit. We have a process to make sure we hire only very good people. You’ll hear from _____ about the next step. We have some very good candidates, so it may not be immediate. (If good candidate: Are there any times or days we should avoid? Please be patient if you can. I believe you will find the result to be worth the effort. We will go as fast as we can. Please call me if you have any concerns.)
Disclaimer: While it may be casual, don’t cross the line by talking about personal, non-job related topics that may make the candidate less desirable in your mind (for example: relationships, children, extra-curriculars, military activity, criminal record, age, religion, etc.). This can be easy to fall into since it is a casual conversation. If the candidate brings up one of the “out of bounds” topics, make a mental note of it and move on. Don’t keep digging.
Positions where I don’t recommend this meeting:
I don’t think it is as good of an idea to have a pre-interview meeting for a position such as an outside sales person or senior execute who needs to make a great first impression and adapt to any in-person situation. It will be common for those people to be in unknown situations, and it is more than fair to see how they would react to the unknowns.