Fat Tuesday-- Walking Interviews

[Deleted]

Have you heard of this? Basically when you go for an interview the hiring manager takes you for a brisk walk while discussing the position.

WDYT?

I think this could be a serious gender issue since most women wear heels for interviews and I wouldn't want to do a 2 mile loops in heels.

It is a healthcare company.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2012 13:15:42 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

the point being to weed out the unhealthy people that get winded during the interview?

I would suspect so... and it would probably fall under "not a cultural fit"

[basilosaurus]

I've toured a plant for an interview, but that was so I could see the stuff, not to judge my fitness. Or so I thought.

Is this perhaps another one of those attempts at making an interview more casual?

[redheadbaker]

May 15, 2012 13:15:42 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

the point being to weed out the unhealthy people that get winded during the interview?

That's BS -- I would get winded during a walking interview. I'm not unhealthy; I don't have 100% lung function which is none of the employer's business as long as it wouldn't affect my ability to do the job.

[brookles]

That sounds awful and not like a place I'd want to work. How distracting! I wouldn't do well at all.

[emilyj]

I live in Alabama. The day I interviewed for my job, we were having a freak heat wave in February. It was about 88 degrees outside, and 80 something % humidity. I was in a full, formal business suit and heels.

If I had been taken on a walk, I would have cut someone. It would have nothing to do with my fitness level, and everything to do with the fact that I would have been walking around in the Alabama heat/sunshine in full formal (black) business attire and heels.

That's kind of shitty.

[munkii]

There was an article on NPR last week which mentioned something similar: walking during meetings. (www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/07/152157560/is-it-possible-to-walk-and-work-at-the-same-time)

I wonder if the walking interviews are for the same company.

[emyinpink]

I'd like it . Even when I wear heels I always bring flats (usually because I'm walking to/from the bus), so I'd just throw those on. I love walking meetings.

[emyinpink]

that being said, our weather doesn't get above 80 and if it's pleasant outside we take any excuse to enjoy the sunshine.

[heliocentric]

I know sometimes people are more relaxed when they aren't face to face, so that might be a benefit.
That's about the only upside I see, though. I hope the candidates are warned about this advance so they can dress appropriately.

[rootbeerfloat]

May 15, 2012 13:27:18 GMT -5 munkii said:

There was an article on NPR last week which mentioned something similar: walking during meetings. (www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/07/152157560/is-it-possible-to-walk-and-work-at-the-same-time)

I imagine they're an extension of walking meetings, which are promoted as a way to incoporate physical activity into the work day. It doesn't surprise me that a healthcare company would do this. In general, it's a good idea, but not so much for an interview, where someone wouldn't know ahead of time to wear appropriate attire/shoes.

[msmerymac]

Eh, walking meetings are one thing. But I usually wear business casual to work, and if I want to go to the gym down the street and walk on the treadmill and read a book over lunch, I change my shoes and pants. Let alone a full business suit. I'd at least bring a pair of shoes in my bag to change into, but I wouldn't be excited to have to get my suit jacket cleaned.

[One Girl In All The World]

May 15, 2012 13:17:21 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

May 15, 2012 13:15:42 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

the point being to weed out the unhealthy people that get winded during the interview?

That's BS -- I would get winded during a walking interview. I'm not unhealthy; I don't have 100% lung function which is none of the employer's business as long as it wouldn't affect my ability to do the job.

Ditto this.

[bqbride]

It is already 100 degrees and will likely remain that way until late September, at least. I would not be pleased.

[aurora]

Hmm--I don't like the idea of it being motivated by assessing potential future employees' fitness levels, but on the other hand I would love to work for a company that had a commitment to health and I would be excited to see that commitment exemplified during the interview process. However, I also think it would have to be specified before the interview so the interviewee could plan appropriately for clothing and shoes, and that it would be hard to be fair to people with disabilities (permanent or temporary).

[LoveTrains]

I have actually been taken on campus tours during interviews, but it was not normally at a brisk pace and was more sort of informational - like look at our beautiful campus, you know you want to work here.

[druidp]

May 15, 2012 13:39:07 GMT -5 @emyinpink said:

I'd like it . Even when I wear heels I always bring flats (usually because I'm walking to/from the bus), so I'd just throw those on. I love walking meetings.

No kidding. I'd just close my eyes and think of The West Wing. If my job was in any way like an Aaron Sorkin teleplay, I'd be in HEAVEN and name my daughter Nevaeh.

[StrawberryBlondie]

May 15, 2012 21:11:37 GMT -5 mr+ms said:

I'd like it. I never ever wear anything but flats, little or no makeup and I've never worn a suit. Doesn't matter much anyway - it says walking interview, not jogging or running. People get sweaty just walking around?

Last summer we had weeks at a time with actual air temp around 100 and a heat index of somewhere in the 110s. I got drenched with sweat just by standing outside.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2012 21:11:37 GMT -5 mr+ms said:

I'd like it. I never ever wear anything but flats, little or no makeup and I've never worn a suit. Doesn't matter much anyway - it says walking interview, not jogging or running. People get sweaty just walking around?

I am a sweaty beast. I get sweaty from everything, especially if I'm nervous (such as at an interview). Even my flats are only comfy for a little bit of walking. Any serious amount and I'd want to wear shoes that don't go with a suit. Oh, and it was 0 degrees at one of my most recent interviews. No thanks!

[marie427]

I'm fine with this as long as they don't hold it against me when I show up in shorts and a sports bra.

I walk a lot, and would not mind this on a 50-degree day. But in the summer heat I hate being outside, so fuck that noise.

[IIOY]

I wouldn't mind a walking meeting with people I already knew, but for an interview, I would prefer to look my inquisitors in the eye.

[arborgold]

Meh - as long as candidates are warned in advance (and it's not one of those bazillion degree days), I don't know that I see a problem with it, especially if it's done in the spirit of "we're showing you that we to be a healthy company here, so we do a lot of walking" instead of "let's weed out all the fatties."

Then again, I AM comfortable walking a few miles in heels, so maybe that colors my opinion a bit...

[charminglife]

May 15, 2012 21:11:37 GMT -5 mr+ms said:

I'd like it. I never ever wear anything but flats, little or no makeup and I've never worn a suit. Doesn't matter much anyway - it says walking interview, not jogging or running. People get sweaty just walking around?

You've never worn a suit for an interview? Or heels? That's shocking to me!

I've walked around during an interview, but mostly to go from person to person that I'm interviewing with and making small talk with the HR person. Not answering questions about my fit for the position.

[lyssbobiss, Command, B613]

I had an instructor in nursing school who told us the interview for her first job was like that. The hiring official wanted to see if she could keep up the pace of working in a busy floor of a hospital.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2012 13:45:09 GMT -5 rootbeerfloat said:

May 15, 2012 13:27:18 GMT -5 munkii said:

There was an article on NPR last week which mentioned something similar: walking during meetings. (www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/07/152157560/is-it-possible-to-walk-and-work-at-the-same-time)

I imagine they're an extension of walking meetings, which are promoted as a way to incoporate physical activity into the work day. It doesn't surprise me that a healthcare company would do this. In general, it's a good idea, but not so much for an interview, where someone wouldn't know ahead of time to wear appropriate attire/shoes.

Yeah I think that a walking meeting is cool. But an interview? Not practical for what most women would wear to the interview.

[Deleted]

One of my interviewers (out of nine!!) at my epic liberal arts college interview was a P.E. teacher (think Sue Sylvester LOL). We walked three laps around the quad (at least a mile) during our 30 minute interview. Luckily I was wearing my Cole Haans with Nike Air technology.

I got the job, so I guess it went ok.

[pb]

I wouldn't mind a walking interview, once it's not sweltering. I walk everywhere anyway. I wear flats most days, but I think the company should disclose upfront if walking will be required.