Fake or real job/interview on CL?

[shungo]

I applied for a couple of jobs on craiglist and some "company" called me and ask me to go to White Spot, Starbucks, Tim Hortons or whatever for an interview. NOT AT AN OFFICE! do you guys think the job or interview is real? or is it just a bunch of losers wasting people's time?

[MindBomber]

It depends on the type of job, but Tim Hortons interviews are actually pretty common.

I've done thousands of dollars worth of business deals at coffee shops.

[CRS]

Easiest way to find out is ask for a number you can get to them at.

Then verify the number is with the company.

[Greenstoner]

those are normal, they are recuiters....

they will interview first in the coffee shop or whatever and they will help you find a job in real company if you qualified with them on first interview

[6793026]

that's BS.

first of all, tell us your age and what job you were looking for would be nice. Then it would also be great to let us know what jobs was posted.

I've had company interviews for secret shoppers and that I would think it's OK if it was done at a coffee shop, but if this sounds way way way too shady.
I would pass.

[Soundy]

Look at it this way, what have you got to lose other than a half-hour of your time? Make sure they buy you coffee and some Timbits.

[shungo]

that's true Soundy.

ya i will probably go give it a try. I am fresh grad of UBC with a BA now looking for a job.

thanks for the comments guys

[GLOW]

had a job interview when i was younger at a coffee shop, turned out to be a pyramid scheme.

if you're looking for jobs on CL, unless they post the actual company name and a proper phone # or company email address in the posting, i skip it and assume they're phishing for personal info.

[shungo]

alright ill be careful thanks!

hope ill get a job soon.

[MindBomber]

I'm not a recruiter and I interview in coffee shops, reason why?

A stream of people candidates coming and going from our office is a head ache and it interrupts other people working, but I'm interviewing skilled laborers, so thats a bit different than a professional job.

[nipples]

Could be worse...could be backroom/backdoor interview
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[Teh Doucher]

Originally Posted by nipples

Could be worse...could be backroom/backdoor interview
Posted via RS Mobile

surprise buttsecks?

[TheNewGirl]

I interview at the Timmies near my office too. Because I like the coffee there more than the MGB swill they make at my office and because while I have my own office, people are streaming in and out of it constantly for this and that, and I get phone calls constantly. Leaving the office eliminates all but emergency interuptions.

[Matlock]

I got my current job off CL and they just interviewed me on the phone then hired me, but I'm in construction. Even so, I found it weird that they didn't even see me yet for a company that offers higher end products.

[tiger_handheld]

I applied for a posting like that at one point and it was sour. It was for a framing job ( i think it was making picture frames or something ). The guy told me to meet him at Starbucks near Chapters on Robson. So I go to chapters, and I wait for a good half hour. Buddy does not show up. I tried to call him a few times and his number was busy. As I was going home, i called again, and got a hold of him. He claimed he forgot the appointment and he did not want to disclose his business location or name. Told him to screw off and continued my way home.

[tomiesto]

never really thought about people phishing for info... I feel violated now

[RayBot]

Welcome to the world of pyramid schemes. They definitely won't tell you the name of the company, because it will give u a chance to google it....like when you google the terms "Stella and Dot," or "Primerica," the word 'SCAM' automatically appears.

All in all, you'll get buttered up by knowing all their benefits and its a way to make money on your own.....under the conditions that you sell their useless products and recruit people to work under you.

[catalin]

Been with my employer for the last three + years. Found them on Craigslist, met the owner at Moxies and hit it off from there. I did however meet one guy at starbucks once that didn't work but you can certainly tell from a quick meeting. Give it try its only a few minutes of your time and most importantly you gain experience dealing with people.
Make sure you get your coffe and timbits like Soundy mentioned.
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[aznrsx1979]

If it's for a professional job, then i'd say it's a waste of time. All the interviews where I've been interviewed or done the interviewing have been in the office in a conference room or a small office and the receptionist would know not to put any calls through until the interview is done.

[Mr.HappySilp]

Most job posting on CL I find are usually recuriting company like Angus One. I would still go I mean you have nothing to lose. Just make sure when you are there don't eat while talking coz it is VERY RUDE.

[RayBot]

Originally Posted by aznrsx1979

If it's for a professional job, then i'd say it's a waste of time. All the interviews where I've been interviewed or done the interviewing have been in the office in a conference room or a small office and the receptionist would know not to put any calls through until the interview is done.

Not necessarily true. Bringing an interview to a neutral location like a starbucks will releive a lot of tension. Imagine yourself in a boardroom with more than one person interviewing you. Kinda intimidating. Prospects can open up a lil bit more in neutral locations.

[aznrsx1979]

Originally Posted by RayBot

Not necessarily true. Bringing an interview to a neutral location like a starbucks will releive a lot of tension. Imagine yourself in a boardroom with more than one person interviewing you. Kinda intimidating. Prospects can open up a lil bit more in neutral locations.

That may be true, but my experience and my conversations with other people in the industry I work in (architecture & engineering) they've always been done in a boardroom. Mostly because boardrooms are one way to showcase the work the firm does and leads to conversations about the work.

I've only heard it happen a few times where the hiring is done over lunch or coffee but that's when the company has specifically targeted an individual and wants to lure you away from another company.

[the_rickster]

there's a ton of reasons:
i. some managers meet at a common location because it's easier to make judgement when they are not distracted (good business owners/managers will ALWAYS be aware of what is going on around them at the workplace, thus distracting them from the task at hand).
ii. it may be a courtesy thing for you too; instead of making you travel to some unfamiliar location, pay for parking, etc they meet you at a coffee shop of your choice.
iii. it's a little more casual, which seems to be the trend now.
iv. the manager might not have informed his staff of his intentions to hire, and he feels that it may disrupt their focus to see a bunch of candidates roll through the office.
v. if the manager is trying to poach talent, (which obv. isnt the case here) an unofficial/off the record meeting in a common environment is a way to avoid tampering.


i was called for an interview once by a very reputable company and he insisted on meeting me at a starbucks. i thought it was kind of strange at first, so i asked when we got there and he told me it was because he didn't want me to take time out of my day to "travel all the way" to his location and that "even i need a break from the show sometimes". it said a lot about him as a person.


and of course, there's the other side of the coin:

i. the company doesnt have an office
ii. they have an office, but its a dump
iii. they dont want to disclose any info until they feel you are "sold" on the job.
iv. its a scam of some sort
v. they have a bad reputation

[RayBot]

Originally Posted by the_rickster

there's a ton of reasons:
i. some managers meet at a common location because it's easier to make judgement when they are not distracted (good business owners/managers will ALWAYS be aware of what is going on around them at the workplace, thus distracting them from the task at hand).
ii. it may be a courtesy thing for you too; instead of making you travel to some unfamiliar location, pay for parking, etc they meet you at a coffee shop of your choice.
iii. it's a little more casual, which seems to be the trend now.
iv. the manager might not have informed his staff of his intentions to hire, and he feels that it may disrupt their focus to see a bunch of candidates roll through the office.
v. if the manager is trying to poach talent, (which obv. isnt the case here) an unofficial/off the record meeting in a common environment is a way to avoid tampering.


i was called for an interview once by a very reputable company and he insisted on meeting me at a starbucks. i thought it was kind of strange at first, so i asked when we got there and he told me it was because he didn't want me to take time out of my day to "travel all the way" to his location and that "even i need a break from the show sometimes". it said a lot about him as a person.

Do you mind if i ask what the end-game was to that interview?

[the_rickster]

do you mean result? about 5 days later he offered me the position i was interviewed for. we met 2-3 times after that and i ended up declining.