The Most Unique Job Interview
I was sitting in a hut that was around 12 feet in diameter with a palm-thatched triangular roof, mud walls, and a compacted dirt floor.
The soft murmurs of a tribal dialect were casually being shared from family member to family member in an evening of conversation. I understand only what my friend could translate to me.
The Fulani tribe is a complex, migratory and historic community of nomads that are known for their sub-Saharan sprawl facilitating their livestock herds. This particular family was intermixing Arabic with Fulfulde, and an occasional English word to grab the attention and grin of their visitor.
I had seen thousands of Fulani across the Nigerian landscape in my travels, but never had I been offered a seat (and bed) inside the hut of a simple, rural Islamic Imam and his family.
This new environment was intimidating and confusing. But when we sat in the dimly lit hut around evening I began to feel a sincere hospitality. Then slowly, one after one, different members of the family would slowly and quietly deliver bowls of freshly prepared food that had been the product of lit fires all throughout their camp.
I had been invited to dinner. First watching my hosts put their hands in the starchy mix that looked like mashed potatoes I followed suit and began to eat with them.
The conversation began to then meander into all varieties and corners of our lives and we learned of each other's backgrounds, cultures, challenges, and joys.
All of the world's major religions have some connection to food. Food helps facilitate relationships and food helps break down walls. Shared food is a way of creating like-mindedness and yet still allowing for our unique differences.
Food, or at minimum a casual gathering, is just what is needed towards the end stage of the hiring process to allow both the employer and the candidate to peer into deeper spaces within each before agreeing to move forward in a deeper employee relationship.
At this stage of the hiring process, it is time to invite your candidate out for a meal together, or if you are meeting virtually, each of you agrees to bring some snacks and a drink and you casually hang out and just have a conversation about each other's interests.
The easiest way to start is to ask, “so when you are not working, what are you most likely doing?” The follow-up question is even easier, “Oh cool! Tell me more about that.”
Again be a human... have appropriate dialogue where you get to know the candidate more and they get to know you more. You are not psychoanalyzing... you are having a conversation that is building relationship.
Also, ask about general things like what has stuck out to them about the hiring process, or what has grabbed their attention about the business.
Of course, you will offer to answer any job-related or company questions they or their partner may have.
We recommend having a significant partner (spouse, colleague, friend) with you and offering for them to bring a significant partner as well. This will allow both you and your candidate to have someone else come alongside and help you both make a wise decision.
So set your reservations, get excited about your favorite local spot, and enjoy a lunch or dinner together with the person who you are about to be connected to for a long time.
This can be a powerful, memorable time... if you make the time for it.