15 examples of informal interview questions to bring out the best in candidates

15 examples of informal interview questions

What is an informal interview
What types of informal interview questions are there?
How to prepare for an informal interview
What do employers look for?

Do you know how to get the best from a candidate in an informal interview setting? Blurring the lines between a professional interview and a relaxed conversation can yield fantastic insights into a person’s natural attributes and intrinsic abilities, but only when done well.

Our recruitment experts reveal more about the benefits of informal discussions, how to prepare, and give 15 example questions for an informal interview.

An informal interview (sometimes called an 'unstructured' interview) is characterised by its casual format. Informal interviews are relaxed meetings which usually take place in a neutral setting, like a coffee shop, café, or even over Zoom or Teams with a shared cup of tea.

They can be as short as 20 to 30 minutes and are often done during the pre-screening phase, as a post-recruitment follow-up, or when the company isn’t actively hiring.

Informal interviews are great for revealing a candidates' natural characteristics — a CV can’t show personality or cultural fit. This is especially important now that AI and applicant tracking systems (ATS) are sifting CVs out of the pile before you’ve seen them. It’s vital to bring human connection back into the hiring process wherever possible.

Informal interviews are also a great option when you’re running short on time. You can schedule quick informal chats during a lunch break or over coffee before work.

You might also opt for an informal interview when multiple roles are up for discussion, to follow up on information shared in a previous formal interview, or in situations where a casual setting is needed to determine cultural fit.

Get more hiring tips here

Although informal interviews are casual and favour natural conversation, it’s still common for an interviewer to have a list of questions that they’ll use to guide the conversation and explore the candidate’s suitability for the role. Here are some question types that you might like to try in an informal interview setting:

Icebreakers

1. What’s your favourite thing to do in your spare time?

2. What was your favourite school subject/what did you want to be when you grew up?

3. If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go and why?

4. Who’s your biggest inspiration in life, and why?

5. What are three things on your bucket list?

Professional

1. What attracted you to this role?

2. What’s the proudest moment in your professional life?

3. Describe your ideal work environment/what type of company culture do you thrive in?

4. How did you get into this line of work?

5. Where would you like your career to be in five years?

Skills/experience

1. What's the most useful skill you've learned through your role?

2. What skill would you like to learn most, and why?

3. What's your favourite way to stay updated with industry news and trends?

4. What's the most valuable thing you've learned in your career so far?

5. What are your strengths?

Read more: 5 interview task examples

1. Pick an appropriate venue

The best venues for informal interviews will be close to your office, quiet enough to facilitate a conversation without shouting, and comfortable/spacious enough to be relaxing. The main aim of an informal interview is to have a casual discussion, so try to choose a venue that makes this possible.

2. Write a comprehensive invite

The next step in successfully conducting informal interviews is to ensure that your interviewees know what to expect, especially given the more casual setting. Essential details include the venue, the dress code (smart casual!), and the reason for the invite. It’s also a good idea to include your full name and job title so the candidate can look you up as part of their preparation.

3. Know what you’re looking for

Because informal interviews are more unstructured than formal ones, having a firm idea of what you're looking for in an ideal candidate is beneficial. You can identify traits like good communication, flexibility, passion, and cultural fit with a list of loose questions, paired with observations in the moment.

1. Communication style

Informal interviews give you a unique insight into a person's communication style. Without the professional office setting and set interview framework to restrict their responses, your candidate will more likely reveal their personality during an informal chat.

Be on the lookout for articulate, thorough, and thoughtful answers. Can the candidate communicate ideas clearly? Are they quick thinkers? You'll gain a good insight into their fit by assessing both the content of the answer and its delivery.

2. Cultural fit

Cultural fit is vital to a long, productive, and happy tenure. You can tell a lot about a candidate's personality by their answers to icebreaker questions and the informal interview setting overall. Remember, this interview type is designed to reveal a candidate's personality, so pay close attention.

3. Reciprocation

Informal interviews allow candidates to contribute to the process through their own questions. Look for candidates who take the opportunity to ask you questions throughout the discussion — the quality of their questions will clearly indicate how well the candidate has been listening, which key facts they've picked up on, and what they feel they'd like more information on.

4. Active listening

Active listening is a valuable skill to have in the workplace (especially given the rise in remote work and video conferencing). If your candidate takes the opportunity to ask you a question, pay attention to how they receive your answer.

Are they maintaining eye contact, sitting with an open posture, or nodding? Are they repeating critical pieces of information back to you afterwards? These are all signs of active listening.

For more tips and advice on hiring, visit the Robert Half insights page.

15 examples of strong competency-based questions and answers

The top 10 interview questions you should be asking

Cultural Theorist Kayne Kawasaki on CV discrimination and how to avoid it