Did I get this job offer too easily?

That wouldn't bother me - every job interview is different, but all of the companies I've worked for have done the informal interview over the "no-one expects the Spanish inquisition!". Now your more experienced, the interviewer is going on skills gained in your current work place rather than tests and interviews.

Is it a real offer or a fishing expedition based on your skills to hook you and your cv onto a recruiter client list?

It's a genuine offer direct with a company that's fairly well known in the industry.

There have been a couple of phishing expeditions but this isn't one of them.

I guess it partly depends on how much of a shortage of qualified/experienced people there are in your industry. Potentially they've just short-listed you with a few other candidates and might ask for a further interview once they've trimmed that list based on salary expectations?

Different companies, different approaches.
Go to the interview and ask them questions.

Edit: to add, we are being very direct and speedy when a good candidate appears at the moment. Recruitment is very challenging currently, and we're moving faster than our competitors where we can.

The easiest job interview I ever had turned into the worst "fit" for a role I ever worked in.
As long as you've done your due diligence, and negotiate what you want, then it'll be fine.

If the role is based on ability and skill rather than something requiring skills that can't be easily identified - and you are already working in a known company in the skill set, I wouldn't be too concerned.

They have basically invited you to an interview, despite the provisional offer comment. If they find something in the interview they don't like, they could just low ball the offer, making it a non entity for you.

No harm in going, especially as you've put your name out already. Remember to interview them as well though, they have to sell you the role and what it means to work for them etc.

If your in an industry where its known to have specific skills, then its likely a formality, especially if you are known for your work, or someone at this company offering knows you.

Id proffer you are a known entity to have an informal chat and a job offer. I wouldnt worry too much.

I have an informal offer and an invitation to negotiate.

As you said, it's not an actual offer.

I normally do a 2 stage interview, one informal chat phase and one coding exersize (software engineer). Imo giving people a swift and decisive interview process is as important as the learnings from further stages.

At present in our industry, if you have the skills/experience you'd probably get a job off the back of a text message. Took almost a year to find someone with few skills and relevant experience, with all the training costs that brings.

I think as a summary of the above posts, I was in this position in September ‘21 after several informal meetings. I was industry top Sales person and - as I found out in last weeks trade show in a meeting with my biggest competitions CEO - the scourge of my competitors.

I was asked to come and launch a rival product into the sector, grow and manage it as a new line of business. I was encouraged by an ex boss, sailed through an interview chat. I was highly suspicious that this was just a way to remove me from the strength of my former position, was all over the contract, had backup plans etc.

13 months later I’ve successfully launched and am sitting on an in excess of £1.5m pipeline of business and have learned shitloads about running a line of business, marketing, pre sales, product management etc. Best thing I ever did. @lunge - of whom I owe a beer for an assist - of STW will confirm my LinkedIn proliferation as evidence 😀

My advice; use the usual career advice of asking yourself if this is a company, role and culture you really want to work for, don’t jump for money. Make it work for you, study the contract, thier motivation and see if there is a plan for you greater than 6 months/1 year to ensure they arent employing blindly and that you are comfortable with the immediate future. This can all be done in a friendly way before a formal offer and the employer should understand your desire to understand the wider plan that involves your role. Don’t leap at an offer “just becuase”. It’s flattering, but may not be right for you.

Good advice from Kryton.

Is it possible that this informal offer is a way to make sure your salary expectations are aligned? Maybe they want to be able to qualify in/out quickly so as not to waste each other’s time, once you get past that they can figure out if you are the right person and you can do your own due diligence.

I once got a job off the back of a 30 min phone 'interview'. We then had to manage the Director out as he managed his other workload in similar ways which meant the dept was in chaos. So, if it's indicative of a wider malais be careful - though I'm not sure how you'd know from outside. If it aligns with what you're after and there are no alarm bells - chop chop.

Depends on the type of work, if you have a well written CV they know what you do/have done. There is a massive shortage of skills in some areas which means multiple rounds and endless processes cost you people in the process. I'd love to speed up our recruitment process as I think we could streamline it massively.

There's a lot of opinion around that all interviews really show you is how good people are at interviews, which are probably not a part of your job anyway.

I figure a technical CV is hard to fake as you have to know what you're writing, so the informal interview is mostly about checking you will fit. My current boss has done a good number of interviews recently and reckons by now they know whether they want someone after 15 minutes and the following 15 to 30 is to check they are right. I had a similar experience recently; I followed my 45 minutes teams call up with a site tour the following week and various discussions on conditions with HR and have gone for the new job in the end.

26 years ago I went for an interview, well a cup of tea and then loading a truck for a show as it turned out. Over a quarter of a century later I still haven't had my 3 month review but as I now own 50% of the company I guess that's no longer an issue.

Perhaps they just know what they are looking for and have found it.