Why In-Person Interviews Still Matter: A Quiet Advantage for Employers
Remote interviews are here to stay, and for good reason. They save time, remove geographical barriers, and streamline early-stage screening. But amid all the talk of flexibility and convenience, something essential often gets lost: the power of an in-person conversation.
At Tarrant Howl, I’ve seen first-hand how face-to-face interviews can be the difference between a good hire and a great one, especially in the architecture and design sectors, where communication, creativity, and collaboration are so key.
A Different Kind of Connection
You can learn a lot over Teams or Zoom, but some things still don’t come across as well through a screen. Eye contact, posture, natural humour. These subtle cues help you understand who a person really is. When you’re hiring someone who’ll be part of a tight-knit design team or representing your practice to clients, that nuance matters.
In-person interviews give employers a clearer picture of a candidate’s personality, energy, and how they might fit into your studio’s culture.
Seeing Reactions in Real Time
A tour of the studio, a chat with potential team members, a look at current projects, none of these have quite the same impact when done virtually. An in-person visit allows you to observe how a candidate responds to the environment they could soon be part of.
Do they engage with the space? Are they curious? Comfortable? It’s a great way to gauge genuine interest and to help candidates make a better-informed decision, too.
More Natural Conversations
There’s a rhythm to face-to-face conversation that often gets lost in remote interviews. There’s less lag, less formality, and more chance for spontaneous ideas and insights to come through.
In design roles especially, where quick thinking and collaborative discussion are part of the job, this can make a huge difference.
A Subtle Test of Commitment
This one’s underrated: when a candidate is willing to take the time to travel, meet you in person, and engage fully in the interview process, it tells you something. It’s a small signal of motivation, and sometimes that makes all the difference when deciding between two equally qualified people.
Striking the Right Balance
Remote interviews can work for first-stage filtering if face-to-face isn’t possible, but for final rounds, especially in permanent, client-facing or leadership roles, I encourage my clients to bring things back to the room.
Face-to-face time fosters stronger relationships, helps spot cultural fit, and ultimately leads to better hiring decisions.
If you’d like support in designing a hiring process that balances efficiency with impact, I’m always happy to chat.
Stewart Howl
020 7993 6980
