Did you have any trouble finding your way to this interview?
For in-person interviews, this question normally comes at the beginning. It often serves to reveal how prepared you were to arrive early or on time. It also could reveal whether you have a reliable source of transportation and can be relied upon to show up for work on time, with consistency. Since it is illegal to ask an interviewee if they have a car, this question may seek to reveal the same information, without asking it directly.
Feel free to open things up with a friendly, conversational tone for this introductory question. But be mindful to maintain your professionalism. You want your interviewer to be more open and receptive to you as a candidate, but you don't want to get too friendly or informal.
Vanguard's recruiters offer a few tips for your interview, such as "print directions to our office. You never know when technology may let you down." They also advise you to bring your resume, a notepad, and a few pens for taking notes, and to bring any notes you already have with you. But try not to rely too heavily on them and reading from them as you would a script. They also suggest you keep your conversational topics professional and neutral, and not making jokes. Your sense of humor may not be the same as the interviewer, and the last thing you want to do is portray yourself as a poor fit for their culture and teams. Also, they advise you to make sure to eat before any in-person interviews, as the process may take a few hours.
"No trouble at all. I actually drove this way last week at this time of day. I wanted to get a feel for what the commute looked like and to know how to get here without any hiccups. Turned out to be a much smoother ride than I thought. I then got lunch at that sandwich shop around the corner. Very good food and service there, I thought."
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