Employers working to get people out from behind formal sit-down meet-and-greets

Prior to his job interview, all Austin Harris was told was to show up before the crack of dawn with his running shoes on.

"I assumed that we'd be doing something fitness related, but had no idea exactly what it would entail."

Harris and his interviewer started with a jog-- followed by a quick cross fit-style workout. Think he was interviewing to be a personal trainer? Not even close.

"I'm Chief Financial Officer of a natural food brand."

So why did Co-Founder Nick Morris put Harris through the paces?

"Seeing somebody outside their comfort zone and seeing how well they respond to whatever challenge it is, gives you a little bit of knowledge about how they're going to perform when they are you know having a difficult day," said Morris.

"We want to work with people who work very hard, power through problems, dream big, and are fun to work with. So, we would find different ways of figuring out who fit those buckets better," said Health Warrior CEO Shane Emmett.

While there are no stats, it is clear that more companies are incorporating physical components into interviews.

Morris said, "I think you can learn a lot from these interviews that you can't when you're sitting in a suit across from a table."

Laura Yecies thought she was well prepared for her interview a while back. She researched the company, dressed in business attire and high heels, but was anything but prepared for what happened next.

"When I showed up for the interview he announced that he preferred to do the interview while walking in the neighborhood."

Laura said she loves to walk and hike, but prefers to keep her work and exercise separate-- she bailed on any future interviews.

"I don't think this is an appropriate type of interview for a desk job."

Harris, on the other hand, believes he and his company could determine they were a perfect match by taking it to the mats.

"It was much more about personality and cultural fit, and less about whether I had the intellectual horsepower to get the job done."