Conduct interviews outside the office

Offices in small companies are often very busy places, the footsteps seem to be non-stop. Therefore, companies often lack a quiet space to conduct job interviews. Arranging interviews outside of the office can be a great solution. Out-of-office interviews are often a good way to find a candidate to work at a location other than corporate headquarters, recruit students, or can be used to gauge a candidate's social skills.

Find the best candidates by arranging external interviews with these 5 interviewing tips:

1. Focus on interview preparation and interview tactics

Conduct the interview in a public place that is comfortable for you and the candidate. Hotel rooms or private spaces are places to avoid.

Choose places where you can focus on candidates. A quiet restaurant or a popular hotel lobby can be used for interviews. If you have a fuller budget, you can rent a small conference room.

Are you hiring for a position related to customer service? Conduct an interview similar to the position's workplace. A dinner interview will let you know if the candidate is eating sloppy or if the candidate can still speak in social situations like these.

Just because the interview is taking place outside, don't assume you have to be as organized as in the office. Take the time to prepare for the interview as thoroughly as possible in the office. Check your CV and make a list of relevant candidates, and prepare behavioral questions for each candidate. If someone is distracting you, pre-prepared questions will play an important role. Arrive early and check the equipment for the interview. This way, if the candidate goes to the restaurant receptionist or the concierge desk manager, the candidate will receive directions to the interview location.

2. Leave plenty of time between interviews with different candidates

You don't want candidates standing in front of the lobby when you conduct the interview outside. Candidates may know each other, so overlapping timings can lead to a lack of confidentiality that the candidate will not appreciate. Arrange your interviews properly.

When conducting the interview, spend at least 25 minutes with each candidate, no matter what. Because it's important for candidates to see you as the company's ambassador.

If within the first 5 minutes you notice that the candidate is not a good fit for the company, talk about other companies and opportunities the company is hiring. Remember that every candidate could one day become a customer of your company – or someone who will share their interview experience online.

Conduct interviews outside the office

3. Be polite in social situations

When you conduct an interview, you are representing the company, so be careful with your demeanor and be polite and respectful to anyone you meet. Your behavior will reflect how you manage. For example, if you're grumpy at a waiter, the candidate may assume you'll be grumpy with the people you work with and with them.

Do not choose alcoholic beverages. No one will judge an interview well if the interviewer is drunk. Don't eat complicated foods. No swearing.

4. Let the candidate know you are the only employer

Many candidates participating in job fairs said that they often interact and meet with employees who do not have the right to recruit. Let the candidate know that you make the hiring decision whether the interview takes place inside or outside the company. That will help engage the candidate and have their full focus.

You can do this implicitly by interpreting the information as a question. I plan to make a placement decision within a month. If you are hired, how long will it take you to get to work?

5. Get rid of the feeling of being in the company

If you decide to go to a college career fair, one of the worst things you can do is sit behind your desk or booth and not join your students. Employers need to get out of that desk and reach out to students. A student was standing there looking in their direction, wanting to strike up a conversation but not knowing what to say. Leave your position and say: “Hello, allow me to introduce our company. Give yourself an edge with recruiting with your offers, quick introduction and explanation of your company, company culture, benefits only the company offers, staff development opportunities at your company. If you're working for a nonprofit, explain the company's mission and purpose (if the job doesn't pay)

Following these 5 job interview tips above as you conduct an interview with requirements that are different from the usual arrangements will make for great exchanges. By creating a great interview experience with candidates, you can also make yourself enjoy the novelty of out-of-office interview formats.