Face to face interviews

[Lindy2]

I'm job hunting right now, along with many others.

I've been asked to go to my first interview but I have been really surprised that it is face to face. It will be me and an interview panel of 3.

They've given the office address but there is no information or mention of any Covid precautions like distancing or masks.

I'm pleased to get an interview but I really thought it would be by Zoom or phone. This is in a tier 2 area and lockdown 2 has obviously asked for people to work from home where possible. Surely a first interview can be done from home.

I have to say I'm rather nervous and I don't want to spend an hour inside in close contact with 3 people I don't know. I would like the job though. I'm not sure if I'm over reacting though. I have tended to be very careful with where I go and the level of risk I take.

I had a face to face interview in September I was fine with it but if you are not, just say as they will understand.

People can go to work, so I suppose it falls under that - if you got the job you'd be going in?
My daughter has been asked to go take an entry exam in a potential new school this week- I was surprised as there will be dozens there from different schools and first part of the day they have a meet and greet with some staff.

Would the role be working from home or would you have to go in?

@Remmy123

I had a face to face interview in September I was fine with it but if you are not, just say as they will understand.

They may 'understand' but they if they have chosen to do interviews face to face, they're unlikely to make special arrangements just for her, especially if the job itself requires being physically present in the workplace.

I say no to any f2f options.

I am hoping the actual role is mostly homebased. I know they have been working from home and a friend who works for an equivalent organisation has been homebased since March. It's an admin/support role. That's why I've been surprised to be asked to go to their offices, especially for a first round of interviews.

I guess I'll have to go along and see the set up. If it's a very big, well ventilated room and everyone is spread out then hopefully the risk would be low. I intend to wear my mask even if they don't. If it's 3 people sitting facing me only just 2m or less apart then I think I will say I'm not comfortable and leave. It would obviously blow my chances of getting the job but it wouldn't be the right organisation for me if safety isn't a priority.

It's just a bit worrying when I'm nervous enough already and really an unnecessary risk when Zoom would be a perfectly good option. I've been self employed for 10 years so interviews are not something I've done for a long time!

With so many people looking for jobs at the moment and the market being so competitive I really don’t think the company will make allowances for people that don’t feel comfortable with face to face interviews. Covid isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and people have to start getting used to the sort of normal interactions we wouldn’t have batted an eyelid at in the past. I’m sure as all companies have they have taken precautions to make the workplace as safe as possible so there isn’t really anything to worry about.

I've got a f2f interview tomorrow, was moderately surprised, but it is what it is.

I’m sure it will be spaced apart... to be honest if I were hiring someone I’d want to meet them in person too - covid or no covid!