"Meet and greet" vs. "Interview" (job, companies, interest)

[cotocatmom]

Has anyone encountered this before? I've been contacted for two interviews with two separate and fairly reputable companies. Both times, I was asked to come for a "meet and greet". The word interview was not used at all and "meet and greet" was in quotations in our email correspondence. Obviously I'm preparing and treating them like interviews, but I haven't heard of this before (both are upcoming). Where I worked previously, we "interviewed" people, and everything was very professional and by the book. Is this a way of screening people out, or could their work environment really be that casual that they're genuinely just meeting and greeting people to assess a good fit? As someone who used to conduct interviews myself, I found it a tad unprofessional sounding, and wondered why it was in quotes (lol). Just found it interesting and was wondering if meet and greets were a new "thing".

[eastcoastguyz]

Originally Posted by cotocatmom

Has anyone encountered this before? I've been contacted for two interviews with two separate and fairly reputable companies. Both times, I was asked to come for a "meet and greet". The word interview was not used at all and "meet and greet" was in quotations in our email correspondence. Obviously I'm preparing and treating them like interviews, but I haven't heard of this before (both are upcoming). Where I worked previously, we "interviewed" people, and everything was very professional and by the book. Is this a way of screening people out, or could their work environment really be that casual that they're genuinely just meeting and greeting people to assess a good fit? As someone who used to conduct interviews myself, I found it a tad unprofessional sounding, and wondered why it was in quotes (lol). Just found it interesting and was wondering if meet and greets were a new "thing".

It's an interview. They are trying to be clever and folksy, but make no mistake, it's an interview.

Who said this to you? Was it from HR? Was it from the hiring manager? Or was it from the assistant who sets up the schedules?

I agree, it doesn't sound professional, but some companies are trying to make you think they are somehow different, but in reality work is work.

Is this company in California?

[Serious Conversation]

A meet and greet would infer more of a brief handshake with a lot of people, very casual, while the interview would be more formal, but who knows, they may just be playing with the semantics.

[harlowvart]

I have never heard of this. You'll have to report back to say what it actually was!

[MPowering1]

Consultancies and other companies that have client-facing positions do this often. It's the social part of the interview. You should be careful not to drink any alcohol, be outgoing but not the alpha, don't get too personal in your questions or answers, etc.

There's another thread around here that asked about this, so you might want to do a search, or google it and I'm sure you'll find good information that way. They want to know that you can present yourself well in social settings.

[MPowering1]

Another thought on this - if this isn't for a job involving client interaction then they're trying to get feedback from their team on all the applicants.

[cotocatmom]

Originally Posted by eastcoastguyz

Is this company in California?

Both are in California. I figured that might have something to do with it ha

[maisiyero1]

I have a second interview with a school district in a week for grounds workman/General maintenance, but i have never been to a meet and greet interview. Please help me out. Anyone?