Informal interviews, as the name implies, are generally casual and relaxed, and may be conducted in an informal setting other than the office. It could be an invitation to have coffee with a potential future employer/colleague, it may be a chat on the phone, or even an email exchange. Be ready to respond appropriately to each of these scenarios, and remember that all of your interactions provide the employer with an overall impression of your performance and possible fit within their organization.

Why would an employer prefer an informal interview? They might be interested in seeing you in a natural setting to get a better sense of who you are, and how you might respond in different situations. Some employers prefer this over a stressful, artificial interviewing environment. However, if they like you and are impressed by your qualifications, a more formal interview could be the next step in the hiring process.

An informal interview may be one of many in a sequential interview process. The goal might be to provide you with a tour of the organization, introduce you to employees, introduce you to the CEO, engage you in a company activity and/or conduct a general discussion on your goals and directions.