Final Interview 'informal' chat

lp86

Hi all

I've been interviewing for a job for an IT company and have completed two interviews. I have been invited back for a final interview which they have called an 'informal chat' with a director who is coming up from London to meet me. They tell me that he likes to meet and approve candidates before they take them on. Of course, I'm still going to treat this as a formal interview as far a character, dress-code and professionalism goes but I'm wondering what you think of this situation?

The agency who put me forward for this job told me that the company hinted at me being the one they want and as far as I know no other candidates have made it this far but I cannot be entirely certain of that.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What should I expect and what should I be trying to demonstrate here?

Thanks

InsideInsurance

Fairly common and you are absolutely correct to treat it as formal.

My experience of them (business strategy/ change rather than IT) is that they tend to be more discussions than the "give an example when" type things and evidently the Director is more testing thinking process/ personality/ capability rather than your indepth knowledge of processes or frameworks. In the last one I had he said about a product he'd heard about whilst on holiday and what did I think about it and the conversation went on to what challenges I saw if it were to be launched here, what would I do before launching it etc etc.

scheming_gypsy

lp86 wrote: »

an 'informal chat'

I'm still going to treat this as a formal interview as far a character, dress-code and professionalism goes but I'm wondering what you think of this situation?

There's your two big problems there...

First one is the words informal and chat; then your 'formal' approach to it, not because it's the wrong way to go about it but because you want to impress but they want to see how you'll fit in with the company... From there it's a nightmare trying to get the right mix. If you go in all formal but he wants an informal chat, he might go away thinking that you're not going to fit in because you came across as a stuck up stiff on an informal chat.
If you go in too friendly then you might over do it and balls it all up.

You just have to dress smartly and go with the flow. No idea how long you've been working in IT but a lot of it these days is all about team work and how you'll fit in. If everybody else goes to the pub on a Friday lunch for a mixed grill and 6 pints while discussing what to do to the barmaid, playing pool and talking football; but you're a vegan who only drinks nut milk, plays backgammon, hates football and would only date a librarian because they're more conservative than a vile barmaid... etc; then you won't fit in and it'll be on to the next one.
The contract I'm on now was an informal interview where it started with the usual work history and he was saying about deciding and letting the agency know by the end of the day. Then it went into talking about anything and everything and then him offering me the contract on the spot.

You've had your interview and 'got the job' on ability; now it's down to showing the director that you'll fit in with the company.

Mind_the_Gap

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

No idea how long you've been working in IT but a lot of it these days is all about team work and how you'll fit in. If everybody else goes to the pub on a Friday lunch for a mixed grill and 6 pints while discussing what to do to the barmaid, playing pool and talking football; but you're a vegan who only drinks nut milk, plays backgammon, hates football and would only date a librarian because they're more conservative than a vile barmaid... etc; then you won't fit in and it'll be on to the next one.

You are assuming that successful applicants for IT jobs are male and blokey. How depressing. Do no women work in It these days, or what?!

scheming_gypsy

I wasn't assuming anything, i just didn't think I'd have to explain every possible scenario in an example. Unfortunately it seems that you do need to spell everything out

InsideInsurance

Mind_the_Gap wrote: »

You are assuming that successful applicants for IT jobs are male and blokey. How depressing. Do no women work in It these days, or what?!

Your assuming that no women goes to the pub on a Friday lunch for a mixed grill and 6 pints while discussing what to do to the barmaid, playing pool and talking football

Evidently never met the last resource manager I worked with :beer:

lp86

Update

The interview was very much like the first interview. Getting to know me stuff and going over the CV.

I got a call today and was offered the job!