Speculative job application, what to expect?

[Purplesndteal]

Long story short... I sent my CV to a web design agency on Tuesday. I met them on Skype the very same day and now will see them on Monday to meet the team. They would create a role for me. I'm very excited but this is uncharted territory for me. Would it be a formal job interview? More of relaxed chat about expectations? I know nobody can really answer but maybe somebody has had a similar experience in the past.

Prepare as if it is a proper one, dress smart but not too smart, and don’t be disappointed if it is just a chat!

Thank you! This is probably the most sensible abdsry I've received so far. To be honest I'm on ML so if they tell me great, come back in October I wouldn't mind at all, or even if they offer me something PT.

I've seen people divide between being Debbie downers or just super optimistic ones who think I've got a job

Speaking from experience, it's more likely to be a relaxed chat about expectations, although obviously think through some answers to standard interview questions just in case. Even if it's chatty in style, it's still a "real interview". That's how a lot of small and medium private companies di things.

I'm just getting in there first before we have a load of corporate HR and public sector/charity people who never seem to understand that their overly formal, structured methods are not used at all organisations.

This isn't 100%, but in general the type of companies who accept speculative applications tend to be quite relaxed anyway.

So it won't feel like a Big Scary Interview, but just bear in mind that even if it feels like you're just having a chat, you still need to find a way of persuading them why they should take you on. Also bear in mind they're highly likely to ask you what sort of salary you're looking for, so if the job wasn't advertised then at least look through a few adverts and see what sort of salary they're advertising, then you can get a realistic figure.

Also, if they're going to create a new role for you, make sure you agree upon some sort of list of things you'll be doing. Even if they don't write a formal job description (which they probably won't), make sure it's clear they have at least a few specific things that need to be done.

The reason I say this is because so many companies take on new people where they just need "some extra help" or "someone proactive who'll make the job their own" etc without actually specifying what that involves, then it all goes downhill. So listen carefully to what they say and make sure there's an actual job to be created there, and that they're not just looking for someone to do "stuff and things".

Thank you! Tectonic all very helpful. Particularly that I shoulf ask for a job spec. It seems like they want me to do very specific things (DevOps project managing/data mining ) but since I have a tiny bit of business development experience I can do that too. He said something like "we need people that know how to do many things, but also know hot to do them well". Which rings a bell with the last thing you meny.

If it's a chat-style interview then you have the advantage that you might be able to steer the conversation a bit, almost like creating a list together.

Particularly that I shoulf ask for a job spec

If they would be creating a role for you, go in there armed with all the things you would want on that job spec. It sounds like it is still quite fluid, so influence it with what you want (and DON'T want!)

I mean, if you went in there with a fully written spec, it might be they fall over themselves to snatch it because you have saved them a job!

This is the time to really reach for what you want, adding in a few disposables you're happy to "negotiate" away. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Thank you both! Do you think it's safe to think I have this job? I've got nothing to lose, so I'm pretty chilled in that way. But let's say I'm excited regardless.

I wouldn't say it was 100%, but it's time consuming enough to draft specs and set up interview for advertised positions, so I absolutely wouldn't interview anyone speculatively unless I was seriously interested in them.

One question you'll need to find out is whether they have the budget for this role in place yet? In fact it might even work in your favour if they needed a bit of time to get that signed off, as you said in pp about being on ML now anyway -so you can offer flexibility there (maybe new tax year or whatever)

Good luck!

I don't know if you safely have the job or not, but one thing I will say is that if you sent your CV on spec and there was nothing advertised, then the chances are they haven't booked any interviews with anyone else.

Hahaha, good point! There used to be a job post a couple of weeks ago (he mentioned that would have been my perfect fit but they've hired someone already). Then he added "that being said, that doesn mean we don't need two of you".

I feel like as long as I don't make a fool of myself, it should be a lot more relaxed and breezy than any other job interviews I've been to.