Paid Interviews — Power Shift: How Employers Are Attracting Interviewees

As seen on Dice Insights on 10/3/2018 by Leslie Stevens-Huffman.

With tech unemployment hitting notable lows, employers are realizing that the balance of power has shifted toward tech candidates, requiring a new approach to interviewing and hiring.

“Given the difficulty of getting candidates to interview, employers are having to take a long-term view of the recruiting process,” explained Dr. John Sullivan, well-known recruiting guru from Silicon Valley and Professor of Management at San Francisco State. “Some are even offering incentives just to get an opportunity to speak to talented technology professionals.”

While perks and marketing practices vary from company to company, here’s a look at some of the strategies and incentives that employers are using to get candidates to agree to an interview or accept an offer.

Wine and Dine

Companies are throwing more and more money at candidates just to meet, Sullivan noted. Professionals who have a job aren’t willing to leave work early to interview for a long-shot opportunity; and as a result, leading tech companies are hosting gourmet dinners at exclusive restaurants or festive social spots (such as San Francisco’s Foreign Cinema), complete with champagne, to engage with tech workers in an informal setting.

With an event like that, there’s no pressure, no strings attached. Essentially, it’s a “get to know us” that takes place after-hours; the emphasis is on talking shop with real employees, not recruiters.

In a similar vein, representatives from smaller companies with more modest budgets are offering to buy employed candidates coffee or after-work drinks so they can meet casually on the QT.

Paid Interviews

If a company or startup asks a candidate to create real work product, either in their office or as a part of a homework assignment, they are legally obligated (in most cases) to pay for the time and effort.

But companies may also pay for the time it takes for you to interview or complete pre-hire tests. Simply mention that your time is valuable, and the prospective employer may offer to shell out some cash.

Need a lift? Some companies will pay for a Lyft or Uber ride to get you to (and from) an interview. Others are offering gift cards and product samples to prequalified candidates for attending a face-to-face.

“Don’t be afraid to ask, because an employer will do almost anything to get a highly qualified candidate to interview,” Sullivan noted.

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