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Survey Reveals Strangest Places Job Seekers Have Met With Employers

TORONTO, June 16, 2015 /CNW/ - Sometimes interviews happen in unlikely locations, a new OfficeTeam survey shows. Managers were asked to recount the most unusual places they have heard of a job interview taking place. Here are some of their responses:

• "In the bathroom"
• "In an elevator"
• "At the gym"
• "In the front lobby"
• "In a shopping centre parking lot"
• "In the office kitchen"
• "At the library"
• "On a park bench in front of the office building"

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 600 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees in the United States and Canada.

Some interviewers opted for a food or drink pairing:

• "At a fast food restaurant"
• "Inside the airport coffee shop"
• "At a bar"
• "In the mall food court"
• "At a donut shop"
• "In the cafeteria"

These meetings took place in the great outdoors: 

• "On a beach"
• "At a park"
• "On a golf course"
• "In a garden"
• "At a baseball stadium"
• "In a field"

Others happened on the move:

• "On an airplane traveling from Los Angeles to Detroit"
• "In a car"
• "On a bus"
• "At an airport"
• "On a subway train"

View a slideshow highlighting the survey results.

"Hiring managers may hold interviews outside of the office due to scheduling or so they can get to know candidates in a more casual environment," said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Even if a meeting takes place in a nontraditional setting, job seekers should prepare as they would for a regular interview and maintain their professionalism throughout the discussion."

Hosking added, "Although workers should be flexible about interview locations, they shouldn't ignore their instincts if a meeting venue seems out of line. It could be a red flag that the opportunity isn't a good fit."

OfficeTeam offers candidates five tips for nailing an off-site job interview:

1. Do your prep work. Review directions to and parking information for the location. Look up the person you're meeting with on LinkedIn so you can prepare questions in advance and to make it easier to spot him or her in a crowd.
2. Dress the part. Just because a job interview is held at a coffee shop or park doesn't mean you should wear jeans and a T-shirt. Unless the hiring manager indicates otherwise, opt for office-appropriate attire.
3. Stay focused. It's easy to get distracted by other sights and sounds if the meeting is in a public location. Keep your attention on the interviewer the whole time.
4. Show table manners. If you're talking over a meal, avoid ordering anything messy or complicated to eat so you can concentrate on the discussion. It's also best to skip the alcoholic beverages. Since employers often pick up the bill, don't choose the most expensive item on the menu.
5. End on a strong note. In certain situations, time and access to materials, such as your resume, may be limited. Leave a lasting impression by sending a thank-you message within 24 hours to follow up on your conversation and provide any additional information you didn't get to cover.

About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam, a Robert Half company, is the nation's leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 300 locations worldwide. More information, including online job search services and the OfficeTeam Take Note blog, can be found at officeteam.ca. Follow @RobertHalf_CAN on Twitter for additional workplace advice and hiring trends.

SOURCE OfficeTeam