Virtual interviews

[Motorina]

I am job hunting. I'm not just looking for any job. I'm looking for the right job. One where I'll be happy, progress my career, in an area I'm happy to live.

I've turned down one job already.

I'm applying country-wide. The interviews I'm getting are mostly remote.

Which is great, if they were just interviewing me. But I'm also interviewing them, to see if I want the job they're offering. Part of that is checking out the area, and the environment in which I'd be working. Brand new shiney equipment or old and creaky? It makes a difference. Back 15 years ago I turned down a job because the room I'd be in for 8 hours a day was tiny, in a basement, with no natural light, and I knew it would drive me slowly bonkers.

I can't check any of that on a zoom call.

Am I being unreasonable to think that, whilst zoom interviews are very convenient, they're a lousy deal for the candidate.

What I want to say is, "I'll provisionally accept subject to satisfactory references, DBS etc (you) and a satisfactory site visit (me)." Does that seem reasonable?

(Yes, I'm killing time before my 10am zoom interview.)

I do get you and I don't think you are being unreasonable, but I'm not sure I'd phrase it exactly as accepting the job conditional on 'a satisfactory site visit', it sounds a bit like you are the Health and Safety inspector or something! I would have thought most companies would be quite happy for you to come and informally see the office, have a walk around, chat to your potential new colleagues etc. providing you are happy to pay your own travel expenses etc., and some may even be happy to do the interview in person if you ask (often these days the assumption is the candidate will prefer virtual esp if they are not from the local area) - so I would phone up if you can rather than email, perhaps even before the interview and ask if it's possible to come and see their office/site at a time convenient to them and see what they say - if they say no I guess that says a lot about them. Although I'm not sure as a hiring manager I'd be too thrilled about a candidate saying they might turn down a job I'm offering them on the basis it turns out they don't like the area they'd be living in - surely that's something you decide before you apply and it's not exactly something we can change? But fair enough that you don't know what the environment is like, equipment etc without seeing it. And if you are worried about offending you can always make up another excuse to turn down the job?

Hope the 10am went well.

I agree that requesting to see the office environment prior to handing in your notice at your current place of work is a reasonable request.

The area you live in, however, is a personal/lifestyle choice and I would keep it out of any job negotiations.

I’m not sure a lot of places would accept the site visit. Just because they wouldn’t want to keep second place hanging around whilst you decided.

I think online interviews are great. I used to have to take a days annual leave and waste time getting there hours early just incase I couldn’t find it and stressing over my apperance. Now it’s just pull on a smart top and check the internet connection ten times. And when you’re finished you can turn your computer off and go have some wine rather than having to mess about getting home again !

Oh and I can stick notes and prompts of screen so I don’t have to panic if my mind goes blank

Thanks, everyone. I agree ‘satisfactory site visit’ isn’t the right phrasing.

I really like the suggestion of going up in advance of the interview, and will suggest that next time.

This morning went, well, I have literally no idea. Now waiting for a train across the country to tomorrow’s in person interview. It’s late, of course.

Totally understand where you're coming from but definitely don't phrase it like that. Just ask if you can spend an hour in the offices to get a feel for the culture there and to meet your potential new colleagues.

The last job that I had, I had an in-person interview but the interview room was completely separate from the main office. Accepted the job, first day starting there, absolutely hated the working environment. Very stuffy old-style open plan office, which I wasn't expecting at all.

Since that disaster, I've been a lot more wary. At my current place, all potential new starters come in on one of the weeks before they are due to start just so they can get a feel for the office, see where they'll be sitting, and say a quick hello to everyone. I wish all companies did that.

Hi @Username3008 I love that idea of a new starter visit and hello.

On the flip side of my initial moan, I've just done an over 24 hour trip for what turned out to be a 25 minute interview with 3 questions. Well, I say just done... I'm typing this on the 5 hour train journey home. I'll be lucky to be in bed before midnight. So I'm now grumpy for just the opposite reason.

The difference is that this one is for a paperwork based role, and the others have been clinical NHS roles where environment and equipment make a huge difference.

This job hunting lark is hard!

As a recruiting manager I'd be more than happy with that request.