Interview at Coffee Beans By: Jun Loayza
Under: InterviewThis morning I was sitting at the coffee bean waiting to meet up my friend when I overheard an interesting conversation at the table right next to me. A male – looked like the manager of a department store – was interviewing a young female (we’ll call them Frank and Tanya) for a retail position.
The interview was very conversational; the interview didn’t have any technical questions nor was Frank menacing or pushy. Such an easy and simple interview, and yet, Tanya absolutely blew it! I could already tell, not 5 minutes into the interview, that she was not going to get the job. She had the looks, the style, maybe the experience, but the way she presented herself and the structure and content of her answers were so bad that there is no way she got the job.
So, if you’re a good looking person, don’t assume that your looks are going to get you the job. Personality, sentence structure, and answer strategy are crucial in making yourself stick positively in the mind of the interviewer. Here are some quick tips for a very casual interview conducted at your local coffee shop:
1. Gauge the “casualness”
a. What type of position are you interviewing for? If it’s a sales position, you want to show that you are lively, can freely and comfortably talk to anyone, and that you have the style needed to represent their brand.
b. Gauging the “casualness” means that you have to determine how relaxed you can be during the interview. Since it’s a coffee interview, you do not need to be business-tie-and-suit formal, and you need to show that you can hang out and fit into their culture
2. Talk as if Frank’s your best friend
a. Have you noticed that you speak in statements when you talk to your best friends? When you meet someone knew, its always question, answer then question, answer. Speak to your interviewer as if they were your best friend. It’s a casual interview, so you need to befriend her and demonstrate how you can carry your personality into the work place and contribute to the team.
3. Take control of the conversation
a. During most interviews, the formality and pressure can lead you to be more closed and talk less about yourself. Your personality tends to not shine when you’re in very formal situation. The beauty of the casual interview is that the formality is thrown out the window and you can let your full-blown personality shine right into the interview.
b. Be sarcastic, lively, and fun. Take control at appropriate times during the interview and ask the interviewer some questions about himself. Develop and establish the personal relationship that is crucial in achieving the job. Its not formal, be yourself and control the tempo, pace, and direction of the interview.
Be happy when you get a casual interview. It’s a fun way to meet new people and expand your network.
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