Interview taking place in a hotel - not where the actual role will be located!

[Winky2024]

I’m currently in the recruitment process for a PA role. Fourth interview the week after next in this seemingly never-ending saga.

Scheduled to meet the MD in a hotel lobby which I am fine with.

It isn’t unreasonable to ask to see the actual office before I commit if offered the role is it?

Whilst he has picked a very upmarket hotel, I’m a bit grrrrrrr about not seeing the office! This will then necessitate yet another “meeting” before I can potentially accept which will be the fifth one.

Gone are the days of a 15 minute chat in a boardroom!!

Any thoughts please? Thank you all.

What would be your office deal breakers?

I've taken lots of jobs without seeing the actual office (including just doing online interviews), so I wouldn't mention it until you're actually offered the job as I think it's a slightly unusual request.

I think it’s quite an unusual request. All our recruitment process is done online these days so most people have never seen the office before starting. So long as you know where it is / what the commute is, why would you need to see it?

@BrendaTheBlendeer Thank you for replying! It’s a good insight from another person.

I guess I’m just wary of ice cold air conditioning, it being a bit manky, not having the right “feel”. Hard to define.

I have been a homeworker for 15 years though so slightly out of the loop on what is reasonable.

Thanks again 😊

My guess is the existing PA doesn't yet know they're being replaced and that's why you're interviewing off-site. That or private meeting space onsite is short...

Is it a family office? Could be for privacy reasons.

Seems a reasonable question to ask would be the address of the office location and a tour (travel expenses covered) before you accept any offer they make.

That's why we interview off site. Last time I asked our MD if he was going to court he looked so smart. It all became clear a few weeks later!

Are you sure the job is real? Drawn out process (for an PA role) and off site meeting sounds a bit dodgy.

Unless you would turn down the job if you didn't like the office, it doesn't actually make sense to ask to see it. If it's reassurance you're after, perhaps you could suggest that you visit for an hour before you start, to meet new colleages.

The existing PA is retiring but staying on to handover.

I agree that I think it’s possibly a space/privacy issue in that they may share on office. It’s a small set up.

I’ve only ever had off-site interviews (including in a hotel funnily enough!), when the current post holder was unaware they would be leaving soon.

In my experience, it’s only unscrupulous and underhanded businesses who operate that way (and mine was indiscriminately awful to all employees), so I’d steer clear.

Thanks for all the views. I truly appreciate them all.

I don’t particularly mind the meeting in a hotel. I know where the offices are (just around the corner). I also know there are meeting rooms provided as part of the lease within the building so a hotel lobby does feel an odd choice.

My investigations into the business all check out so far and it’s through a reputable recruitment agency.

@Starseeking I hear you! Something just feels off now so I shall be keeping my powder dry and my senses alerted!

I’d be wary because it could be the office is scruffy, plus they are too tight to pay for meeting space. I work for a small start up where meeting rooms are part of the lease but we still have to pay for them per hour.

I agree with you, it's really important to see the actual office environment. Its especially a big deal to you due to wfh for so long.

I’ve not seen the office in multiple jobs. Initial rounds on teams. Then interview in a meeting room. I remember the old days when likely candidates would be paraded through the office “to meet the team” then we’d have a chat about who would be a good fit. I didn’t think they did that sort of thing anymore.

Be careful, you don’t want to be Tom Cruise in The Firm 😹

I think this sounds very strange. What does glassdoor say about their recruitment process have you googled the MD and does anything stand out? Multiple hoops to just get a job doesn’t sound great to be honest.

Think yourself lucky, dh’s first interview was in a Wimpy! 😃

I would go detective and have a look on
Companies House
Google Maps
Glass Door

Agree with this. It does sound strange

Communicate with your recruiter. It’s up to them to let their client know that you’d like a quick tour of the office should you be offered the role. It’s absolutely understandable and reasonable. I’m a recruiter and this kind of thing is not uncommon.

If a potential employer can’t see why this would be useful for you, or won’t do it then I’d definitely question them as a company (or their offices)

Its not just about seeing what colour paint there is on the walls - it’s about picking up on the atmosphere, the culture etc otherwise it all feels a bit anonymous doesn’t it?

Good luck with the process (and I hope their offices are nice!

@beasmithwentworth thank you. That is really helpful advice. I appreciate it 😊

Yep, I agree OP. After 4 interviews and not actually seeing the very place you'll be working in is strange. Where you work is very important. You potentially spend 8 hours a day there. Like you said, it could be freezing cold, manky/unpleasant in some way. I'd want to see where I'd actually be parking my bum for hours on end.

@ginasevern you have absolutely nailed how I feel. Thank you for understanding 😊

I went for an interview many years ago and, as a last minute thought, asked if I could see where I would be working. The interviewer lead me down a maze of corridors into a tiny, windowless room that already had three people working in it. There were dirty coffee cups everywhere and piles upon piles of paper. You literally couldn’t see the floor in some areas. I turned the job down and told them exactly why. I don’t blame you at all for wanting to see the environment you’ll be spending a considerable amount of time in.