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Last updated on Jan 7, 2025
  1. All
  2. HR Management
  3. Interviewing

You're faced with a candidate seeking a more casual interview. How can you adapt to meet their expectations?

When a candidate prefers a casual interview, it’s key to balance informality with professionalism. To navigate this preference:

  • Adjust the setting: Consider a less formal space or a coffee shop to put the candidate at ease.

  • Tone down the attire: Dressing slightly more casually can help mirror the candidate's comfort level.

  • Keep it conversational: Use open-ended questions to foster dialogue rather than interrogation.

How do you create a comfortable interview atmosphere while staying professional?

Interviewing Interviewing

Interviewing

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Last updated on Jan 7, 2025
  1. All
  2. HR Management
  3. Interviewing

You're faced with a candidate seeking a more casual interview. How can you adapt to meet their expectations?

When a candidate prefers a casual interview, it’s key to balance informality with professionalism. To navigate this preference:

  • Adjust the setting: Consider a less formal space or a coffee shop to put the candidate at ease.

  • Tone down the attire: Dressing slightly more casually can help mirror the candidate's comfort level.

  • Keep it conversational: Use open-ended questions to foster dialogue rather than interrogation.

How do you create a comfortable interview atmosphere while staying professional?

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Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
56 answers
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Monika O Khera

    HR Leader | Strategic Partner for People, Culture & Growth | Focussing on Productivity & High-Performing Teams | Expertise in Talent Acquisition & Dev., Leadership Coaching, & Incl. Workplaces | Mentoring Future Leaders

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    It is important to strike the right balance between relaxed conversation and professionalism. Here’s how to adapt: 1. Start with a Warm Welcome Ask casual questions like, “How’s your day going?” to ease them into the conversation. 2.Keep It Conversational by asking open-ended questions that allow the candidate to share their story naturally. 3. Instead of typical formalities, ask about their ideal work environment or how they recharge outside of work. 4. Share Your Experience and make it two-sided by sharing your own journey or experiences with the company fostering a more personal and authentic connection. 5. Be Open and Transparent Encourage questions from the candidate and be transparent about the role and expectations.

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    Bhavna Phulwani

    🏅LinkedIn Top Voice |HR Admin & Operations| | Top HR Voice l Top Employee Relations Voice l | Top Global Talent Acquisition Voice l Top Interviewing Voice Kindly connect on 9624411081/[email protected]

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    To adapt to a candidate seeking a more casual interview, keep the tone conversational, relaxed, and friendly. Focus on building rapport, ask open-ended questions, and encourage a comfortable environment to help the candidate feel at ease.

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    Paula Addinall - Recruitment Specialist for the Motor Industry

    Assisting the South African Retail Motor and Automotive Industries with their specialised Recruitment needs and building trust with a combination of good work ethics and service excellence.

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    99% of my interviews are casual and relaxed. I find that candidates are far more comfortable in this setting and are happy to share more about themselves, other than their skills. If you carefully weave ‘standard interview questions’ into casual conversation, you still get all the information you need…. And more 😊

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    6
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    Janhavi Jadhav

    Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist @ Mouser Electronics | MBA, HR

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    If a candidate prefers a more casual interview, you can adjust by creating a relaxed and conversational atmosphere while still assessing their qualifications by using light conversation, by maintaining friendly tone. We can also use open ended questions and analyze or obeserve their personality or we can judge whether they are culturely fit to your organization or not.

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    Nisha Mathew

    Talent Engagement Specialist | Recruitment Insights | HRGeneralist | HumanResources | TalentAcquisition | DiversityChampion | HR Enthusiast

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    If a candidate prefers a more casual interview, adapt while maintaining professionalism. Start by setting a friendly, conversational tone—engage in small talk, use open body language, and create a relaxed atmosphere. Shift from rigid questioning to a discussion-style approach, allowing the candidate to share their experiences naturally. However, ensure key topics are covered by subtly guiding the conversation back to relevant points. Encourage authenticity while maintaining focus on assessing their fit for the role. A flexible yet structured approach helps create a comfortable experience while still gathering the insights needed for an informed hiring decision.

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    3
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    F. Jay Hall

    Sr. Consultant specializing in executive search, talent acquisition, sourcing, recruiting, resumes, career counseling, interview prep & job search coaching, health, education, nonprofit, public sector, aerospace, tech

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    Offering a more casual interview can help create a comfortable atmosphere that puts the candidate at ease. Don’t be afraid to be creative! You could adjust by choosing a less formal setting, like a coffee chat or a virtual meeting, and adopt a conversational tone while asking questions. Be open to flexible formats, such as informal Q&A instead of rigid scripts, while still keeping the process structured to evaluate their skills fairly. It’s all about balancing their preferences with your need to assess their fit effectively. A relaxed setting can foster honest dialogue and provide better insight into the candidate’s personality and potential.

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    Soujanya Nammi

    Team Lead

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    Creating a comfortable and casual interview atmosphere while staying professional, starting with a friendly greeting and casual small talk to ease the candidate. maintain relaxed setting, and ask open-ended questions to foster a conversation. Listening actively and carefully maintaining positive body language, and allow the dialogue to flow naturally. This creates a balanced environment where the candidate feels at ease, but professionalism is still maintained.

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    Michael Castro

    Talent Acquisition | HR | Public Sector | ex- NIKE, Starbucks, Agency

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    Have a conversation, not an interrogation. Interviews should be a two way dialogue. The worst experience I've had as a interviewee was when the interviewer said I couldn't ask questions until the end. And when I did because you know... that's a natural flow in dialogue for conversation I was told to hold my question for the end. #Redflag

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    Vaishnavi Verma

    Human Resources Executive At Auramah Valley

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    I would adapt by creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I’d start with a warm greeting and keep the conversation light, using open-ended questions to make the candidate comfortable. Instead of strict, formal questions, I’d focus on their experiences, skills, and personalities in a natural way. I’d also allow them to share stories and ask questions freely. Keeping the tone conversational helps build rapport and brings out their true personality. A casual interview can still be professional, and my goal would be to ensure the candidate feels at ease while we assess if they’re the right fit for the role.

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    DHAVAL DHEBAR

    Head of Human Resources | HR Operations|Talent Acquisition Specialist|POSH ExpertILegal Compliance ExpertILegal Drafting ExpertIHealthcare|Medical College|Construction Industry| Manufacturing

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    Explain him about importance of professional etiquettes with some relaxation in approach. Be informal in certain aspects of questioning during interview with focus on his outcome as knowledge and skills required.

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