Out of the Blue

[glow8490]

A week ago Friday I got an email out of the blue from an executive assistant I worked with many years ago and I haven't seen her for about 11 years. We've corresponded only once or twice since. Her email was inquiring if I might be interested in coming to work for her company. She was up for a promotion and wanted to find someone good that she could work with to come and work for her old boss who is the CFO. What a nice compliment - after 11 years. And what timing!  See my post "Nowhere to Hide". Of course, I sent over my resume.

I heard from both her and her boss yesterday. She got the new job and the CFO was very interested in my resume, so I'm meeting him for coffee on Tuesday morning before work. This seems like a very informal interview process for me. Have any of you interviewed in this way?

Any and all advice welcome.  I've already decided even though the company dress code is quite business casual, I will be in a skirted suit that day. Do you agree?

Glow

[misslynn]

That's an incredible compliment, congratulations!  I agree on the skirt suit for the interview, even if it is just a coffee meeting.

Good luck!

[peaches2160]

Wow.  Sounds like a great opportunity.  He obviously trusts his admins judgement and her recommendation.  Best of luck with the interview.  Let us know how it turns out.  I agree, either a nice suit or skirted suit would be appropriate.

[gee4]

Glow,

Good luck and def wear the suit!

[laurafmcdermott]

Absolutely wear the suit.  This may just be his way of making sure that you are what your friend and resume represented prior to committing to a formal interview.  And, depending on the company, it may be the only interview you have to do!  Some companies are very informal when it comes to interviewing someone who has been referred by an existing employee.

Best of luck!

[Katie G]

I know my own boss prefers to initally interview people "over coffee" or someplace other than his office.  Of course, we're fortunate to have a nice little coffee shop in our building which ideal for that sort of thing.

His thinking is that a situation like that is more relaxed, and therefore (as his theory goes) more "honest" and "intuitive".  He claims to get a more accurate reading of a person's personality and "people skills" (which are important in our department) than sitting behind a desk firing questions off a resume.  

There's a time and place the more formal interview, of course, but he prefers to have that later after he has an intitial "read" on the person.  

So far, it seems to work for him.

[Atlanta Z3]

I've done the coffee house interview before.  The only nerve racking part for me is recognizing the person I'm supposed to meet!  The suite is a good idea, just have all your "docs" in a row and be ready for the usual round of questions.
Good luck.

[raindance]

Glow,

This is lovely news, and I wish you success.

This may be an informal interview with the more formal process to follow later on.  I would always wear a suit to an interview, no matter how relaxed the business in practice.  Always make a good impression.

I have been to these sorts of interviews and they are helpful because they allow you to get a feel for the company and the person you may be working with in due course.  But make no mistake about the nature of the meeting, and treat it as a formal interview (in an informal way, if you get my meaning).  

Best wishes,

Raindance

[jodith]

Absolutely, dress for the interview.  I interviewed for one job at a company with very casual dress, but I wore a suit for the interview.  Later, after I had the job, I saw in my personnel file my boss's comment on my interview "appropriately dressed for interview".  So even if the company is casual dress, you are still usually expected to dress professionally for the interview.

[glow8490]

I have an interview this afternoon!! Coffee with the CFO 2 weeks ago went well and then he was out of the office until this week. Today I see the VP of HR and then the CFO again for an official interview. Surprisingly, I'm not a nervous wreck. The job seems like one I would really, really like. The positives outweigh the negatives which are:  longer drive to/from work and higher taxes (There's a 1% city tax.) Both of those would hit me in the pocketbook. Salary never came up yet either. Will let you know how it goes.

Glow

[jodith]

Good luck, Glow!  I'll keep all of my fingers and toes crossed for you.

[glow8490]

I think the interview went really well, but time will tell.  Funny story - I arrived 30 minutes early since I wasn't sure how long it would take me to drive to the offices. I ended up sitting in the lobby for quite awhile with an old, crabby receptionist who I decided was also hard of hearing. Shortly after "old, crabby receptionist" left her station for a break, my old colleague who had recommended me for the job (and I hadn't seen in 11 years) came out to see me and take me back to meet some of her coworkers. After chatting with them for awhile, "old, crabby receptionist" came up behind me to let me know in a quiet voice that my skirt was caught up in my panty hose!! Thank goodness for "old, crabby receptionist". She saved me before my interviews started.  She's now my new best friend!

Glow

[spitfire78]

Good for you!  and Good for her as well!  

There are a lot of people who would not have said anything.  Thankfully, she handled it well and with tact.

I remember a segment I saw years ago (I think it was on Oprah) where they "planted" toilet paper hanging out of the back of clothes of people leaving the rest room in a restaurant.  Probably 90% of the on-lookers never said a word to the person with the toilet paper hanging out of their pants.