A candidate who waits twenty minutes in reception without a glass of water remembers it. So does a graduate who sits through a six-hour assessment centre on one coffee. In a competitive hiring market, the way you look after candidates is part of your employer brand.
This guide is for HR, talent acquisition and office teams in the UAE who run interview days, graduate assessment centres and panel interviews.
Three types of hiring day
Single interviews One candidate, 45 to 90 minutes. Water, coffee or tea, and something small such as dates or a biscuit is enough.
Interview days Several candidates back to back with the same panel. The panel needs steady coffee, water and a working lunch. Candidates need a comfortable waiting area with drinks.
Assessment centres A group of 10 to 30 candidates for a half or full day, with group exercises, tests and interviews. Treat it like a training day: planned breaks, lunch and clear dietary options.
What to offer
In reception and waiting areas
- Still and sparkling water
- Coffee, tea and a caffeine-free option
- Dates, nuts or a wrapped biscuit
The reception and visitor hospitality guide covers the set-up, and Arabic coffee and dates are a warm local welcome.
During an assessment centre
- Morning break: coffee, tea, water, fruit and a light pastry
- Lunch: one main, a vegetarian option and a salad
- Afternoon break: coffee, water, nuts and a low-sugar snack
See breakfast and corporate events for platters and meat alternatives for a plant-based main that works for most diets.
For the panel
- Water at the table, refilled between interviews
- Coffee on request
- A working lunch that can be eaten in 20 minutes
Quantities
As a starting point per candidate for a full-day assessment centre:
- 3 hot drinks
- 2 bottles of water (or a water station with glasses)
- 1 portion of fruit
- 2 snacks
- 1 lunch
Add the panel and HR team, plus about 10% spare.
Dietary needs
Ask candidates about dietary needs and allergies in the invitation email. Label every platter with the main allergens and keep a nut-free and a vegetarian option at each break. The nut-free pantry guide and allergen labelling guide explain what to do.
Stationery for assessment days
Candidates need pens, notepads, name badges and flip chart paper for group exercises. Order them with the pantry so nothing is missing on the day. See stationery and office furniture.
Who runs large hiring days
- Banks, fintechs and consultancies run graduate assessment centres every year. See fintech and consultancies.
- Government entities run large recruitment drives for national talent programmes. See government and public sector.
- Recruitment and HR firms in Dubai Knowledge Park host candidate days for their clients.
Many of these offices are in Business Bay, Downtown Dubai and Dubai World Trade Centre.
From candidate to new joiner
Good hospitality on interview day sets up a good first day. The new joiner welcome guide shows how to carry it through onboarding, and the employee retention guide explains why the pantry matters after that.
The short version
- Match the offer to the format: single interview, interview day or assessment centre.
- Always offer water and a hot drink in reception.
- Plan an assessment centre like a training day, with set breaks and lunch.
- Ask about dietary needs in the invitation and label every platter.
- Order stationery and pantry items together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should we offer candidates waiting for an interview? Still and sparkling water, coffee or tea, a caffeine-free option and something small such as dates, nuts or a wrapped biscuit.
Should an assessment centre include lunch? Yes, for any session longer than about five hours. One main, a vegetarian option and a salad usually covers most candidates.
How do we handle dietary needs for candidates? Ask about allergies and dietary needs in the invitation email, label every platter and keep a nut-free and vegetarian option at each break.
How much should we order per candidate? For a full day, plan about three hot drinks, two waters, one fruit, two snacks and one lunch per candidate, plus the panel and 10% spare.
Can the same order cover stationery for group exercises? Yes. Pens, notepads, name badges and flip chart paper can be delivered with the pantry order.
