Page 157 - James Caan - Get the Job you Really Want
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You have arrived with new information, you have moved on in
your knowledge from the first interview. Fantastic. Of course
the company could say it is not possible for you to meet anyone.
But even if they did, I think they would admire you for asking the
question. I would. It shows tremendous confidence to be able to
ask that question.
If the interview process is proceeding well, you may then be
invited to come along to a social event. ‘Let’s pop down to the
pub,’ the interviewer says. It happens a lot. And what do most
people do? They drop their guard. They think they’ve got the job.
It’s understandable. But you haven’t got the job, because you
haven’t got an o≠er letter.
If you do go out with the team, even though you are not
sitting in an o≤ce, you are still being interviewed. It is simply an
interview that is being held in a di≠erent location. Because the
meeting is taking place in a social environment, people think
it’s easier, but it’s not. The pitch to the candidate is always the
same: ‘Why don’t you pop over on Thursday? We’re going out for
a bite with some of the guys from the o≤ce. Do join us – it will
give you a chance to meet the team.’ That’s exactly how I would
pitch it, very casually.
When you turn up on the evening, you will be sitting there
with five people listening to everything you say, watching you
very, very intently, though you might be oblivious to their level
of interest. If I have asked some of my sta≠ to go along, what do
you think I will have said to them in advance? Am I going to say,
‘Oh, we’re going to have a bite to eat with John. It will be a good
laugh. You should come along.’ Or do you think I’m going to say,
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