Top 20 Weirdest Spots for a Job Interview

When you head to an interview, the one thing you shouldn’t have to worry about is where it’s taking place. Maybe you’re stressing over the answers you practiced or how your potential employers will react to your portfolio, but, you should at least be confident that the interview will happen in a normal setting.

Truth is, that isn’t always the case.

OfficeTeam’s recent survey reveals some of the most interesting places that job seekers have had an interview, and some of them are very strange.  Can you guess the top 20? Read on, and learn how you can ace the interview in even the craziest place.

OfficeTeam’s Top 20 Weirdest Spots for a Job Interview

1. In the bathroom
2. In an elevator
3. At the gym
4. In the front lobby
5. In a shopping center parking lot
6. On a park bench in front of the office building
7. At a fast food restaurant
8. Inside the airport coffee shop
9. At a bar
10. In the mall food court
11. At a donut shop
12. On a beach
13. At a park
14. On a golf course
15. In a garden
16. At a baseball stadium
17. In a field
18. On an airplane traveling from Los Angeles to Detroit
19. At an airport
20. On a subway train

How to Ace the Interview No Matter What

 You should always prepare before an interview, but OfficeTeam has some good tips for special cases where you know the meeting won’t take place in an office:

Review transportation and parking information for the location. Before the interview, look up the person you’re meeting with on LinkedIn so it’s it easier to spot him or her in a crowd.

First impressions are everything. Even when an interview is held at a coffee shop or park, you should maintain a professional appearance. OfficeTeam recommends you opt for office-appropriate attire, unless the hiring manager indicates otherwise.

Do your best to stay focused. In a public location, there are a lot of distractions that can interrupt your train of thought or detract from your performance, but try to keep your attention on the interviewer the whole time.

Interview etiquette is especially important if the meeting is taking place over a meal. Avoid ordering anything messy, so you can focus on the questions and not on the food. OfficeTeam recommends skipping the alcoholic beverages, too. Remember, employers usually pick up the bill, so be mindful of your choices and don’t order anything too extravagant.

 Take care to end on a strong note. If your interview is taking place in a bizarre location, time and resources might be limited. But, your last impression should be as strong as your first—so follow up by sending a thank-you message, along with anything you didn’t get to cover, as soon as you can get home. Here’s how to close a job interview.

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