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Prospective employer wants to meet for lunch after completing the interview process…

Furiousone

Furiousone

Member
Oct 29, 2017
554
Greetings all. Looking for thoughts on this situation as I have not encountered this before. I'll try to summarize the circumstances as briefly and concisely as possible.

3/3: recruiter reaches out on a position they recently posted, says that I fit their profile. I review the posting and agree that I would be a good fit.

3/4: I submit my application through their portal.

3/11: "Teams" interview with VP of HR, which I feel went well.

3/14: "Teams" interview with SVP of Operations(my prospective boss). I feel this went well. Told to expect another interview in a few weeks time.

4/1: On-site, in person interview with SVP of Ops, CFO and CEO. Brief on-site lunch with SVP of Ops. Tour of facility. I feel this went well. At the end of this I was told to expect a relatively quick response on next steps.

4/4: sent thank you note to the VP of HR, asking her to pass along my thanks to the rest of the group.

4/11: after not hearing back, I asked the VP of HR if there was anything she could share. She responded and said I should hear back from the SVP of Ops by end of week(4/15).

4/18: I hear back from the SVP of Ops, he would like to meet for lunch tomorrow, which I accepted.

What should I expect here? If they aren't going to make me an offer, why waste more of my time? But an offer could also be made over the phone? This just seems odd to me, and outside of normal protocol. Thoughts?
 
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Bear Patrol

Bear Patrol

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,048
I've had this happen before so it's not completely out of protocol and it's usually a good sign.

Like Skittles posted above, they're more than likely just trying to make sure that you can handle normal, non-work interactions to some standard of normalcy.

It's bullshit but part of the process at some bigger firms.
 
DPT120

DPT120

Member
Oct 27, 2017
12,569
I've never encountered anything like it either but this may be the company's way of doing a personality/behavioral interview? Instead of sending you a survey/asking you scenarios, they may be trying to get a feel for you in person.
 
DBT85

DBT85

Resident Thread Mechanic
Member
Oct 26, 2017
16,391
They'd not bother if it was a no. So it's a yes but that could be a good yes and everything you want or a yes but you need to accept less money or whatever.

I guess over lunch they can also gauge you in a different setting.
 
HammerOfThor

HammerOfThor

Member
Oct 26, 2017
3,861
My previous company used to invite candidates out for lunch. Like the above poster said, want to make sure folks are complete weirdos IRL/are easy to casually talk to.
 
mikeamizzle

mikeamizzle

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,058
This is strange to me especially after you've already interviewed on site but good luck on the job for sure. Don't hold your knife with your fist etc lol
 
FinFunnels

FinFunnels

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
5,610
Seattle
They wouldn't invite you to lunch if they're not interested in hiring you.

I'd go into this expecting it to be another interview of sorts.
 

ErrorJustin

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,472
Most likely deciding between you and one other final candidate. Hence the longer-than-expected delay between "you'll hear from us shortly!" and then them going dark.
 
Wrexis

Wrexis

Member
Nov 4, 2017
21,323
To echo what others have said, it's just to suss you out as a person and not just technical abilities. Been there.

Don't yell at waiters, order something regular and show decent table manners.
 
mogget

mogget

Member
Nov 7, 2017
49
Sounds normal to me. I've been on both sides of the recruiting meals. They wouldn't take you to lunch if they didn't like you; it's more "personality/fit" now than anything else. You're playing defense at this point - which is a good thing!
 
skeptem

skeptem

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,758
I've had this happen for director level positions in the past. They just want a non formal chat and to offer you the position.
 
OP
OP
Furiousone

Furiousone

Member
Oct 29, 2017
554
I should mention- the 4/1 interview 3 hours and in-person (met with HR, SVP, CFO and CEO,) so I feel they know that I'm not a wackadoo at this point, lol.
 
Joshua

Joshua

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,775
Furiousone said:
4/18: I hear back from the SVP of Ops, he would like to meet for lunch tomorrow, which I accepted
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One thing I could envision here is that after getting to know you and your skillset they have another opportunity in mind and they want to run it by you in a friendly setting.

Whatever the case may be, make sure to negotiate a good package and get your bag.
 
Biestmann

Biestmann

Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,414
preview.jpg


Later that day:

OP's Inbox:
Thank you for your interest in our company
 
Fatoy

Fatoy

Member
Mar 13, 2019
7,262
SVPs don't normally have time to have lunch with people they're not interested in hiring.
 
thediamondage

thediamondage

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,391
its a long con where the VP looks at you deep into your eyes when the bill comes, most people will eventually just pick up the tab and he gets a free lunch. The bastard!

but yeah its just a final shakedown, lot of people older (im older) like to do a final gut check in person and make sure this is a person they can get along with
 
sfedai0

sfedai0

Member
Oct 27, 2017
10,021
Is this a small or family owned company? Its exhausting these days going through 2-3 interviews but having to meet for lunch as well? Just hire me already and get it over with.
 
robotzombie

robotzombie

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,893
I actually wanted to see if you'd be capable of accepting the lunch offer without first making a resetera topic about it...unfortunately, here we are, so I regret to inform you we've gone in a different direction OP
 
gnexus

gnexus

Member
Mar 30, 2018
2,290
After a month of job-dating, I think it's time for them to open their wallet and show you their fat, juicy offer. Or something.

Don't worry about it and don't overthink it.
 
NookSports

NookSports

Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,219
Without knowing more about the position, just based on who you said you interviewed with; they might want to have a chat with you without the pressures of a formal interview. I've been on the hiring side, and it has been useful, especially at the very end of the process. They might either be ready to give you an offer, or they're deciding between you and someone else.

My advice is to not think too much about it. If you got to that point, you're obviously qualified and they like you
 
Flavius

Flavius

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,344
Orlando, FL
Skittles said:
They're trying to make sure you're not a weirdo in real life
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Just this...enjoy the lunch. I guess they could be weirdos too but in my experience, this has been indicative of leadership who prioritizes good communication. Could it be wielded in an exploitative manner? Of course! But at this level, I'm sure you know how to manage up.
 

Deleted member 61531

Banned
Nov 19, 2019
10,231
I've encountered situations where the opinions of the hiring decisions makers are mixed, so they'll have a senior person do a close review and act as tiebreaker.
 
Lump

Lump

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
16,169
FinFunnels said:
They wouldn't invite you to lunch if they're not interested in hiring you.

I'd go into this expecting it to be another interview of sorts.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Riot Games invited me to lunch after an interview in 2010 and I was such a weirdo that I didn't get the position

Lesson: Don't be a weirdo 😃
 

Deleted member 10691

Banned
Dec 19, 2021
574
If something goes wrong with your order or service assume it is part of the interview and be polite about any mistakes. It is a depressingly common test at lunch/dinner interviews.
 
cdigs

cdigs

Member
Apr 4, 2019
783
I don't think you have anything to worry about, OP. Sounds like they just want to see what you're like in that setting.

I think the bigger issue is that your interview process has been so drawn out, but I guess that's expected in some industries. I have been shocked at how long the interview processes have been in my search for mid-tier job in my industry thus far.
 

Deleted member 27921

User-requested account closure
Banned
Oct 30, 2017
1,735
They might be trying to sell you a timeshare. No such thing as a free lunch.

For real though, a hiring process that takes over a month seems ridiculous to me.
 
echoshifting

echoshifting

very salt heavy
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
14,941
The Negative Zone
I think it's probably an offer too, in a setting that could throw you off a little and make you reluctant to counter. Show up knowing exactly what you want
 
ToddBonzalez

ToddBonzalez

The Pyramids? That's nothing compared to RDR2
Banned
Oct 27, 2017
15,530
Probably just a culture fit type thing to make sure you're not weird as others have said. At my current job (which I started before the pandemic), the last stage of my interview was a 5hr onsite that included lunch at a restaurant with the hiring managers.
 
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TripleBee

TripleBee

Prophet of Truth
Member
Oct 30, 2017
5,744
Vancouver
It's gonna be one of those weird things where they know the waiter and they will purposely get your food wrong, to see if you can handle it.

Tldr; if you send back the burger because it has tomatoes on it you'll lose the job.
 
RiOrius

RiOrius

Member
Oct 27, 2017
6,086
Sounds like you're being recruited to their Black Ops division.

The pay's good, but I don't know if I could handle the stress. I'm not about that life. But the decision's up to you, OP. You think you got the goods for that kind of action? Just remember, if your cover gets blown, you'll be disavowed. Flying without a safety net, always on the razor's edge...
 
whytemyke

whytemyke

The Fallen
Oct 28, 2017
3,792
You should definitely show up in your favorite anime shirt and be prepared to defend to the death why that anime is better written than anything they have heard of. It is the way.

Seriously though, they're probably wanting to make you an offer. But if not, don't burn the bridge at this point.
 
L Thammy

L Thammy

Spacenoid
Member
Oct 25, 2017
50,134
Sorry to tell you this OP, but you'll have to defeat them in a Pokemon battle if you want in.
 
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