Mastering The Lunch Interview

Interviews can be nerve-racking, brain-draining, headache-inducing experiences. These days, recruiters have found a way to make the interview even more difficult by combining the experience with a meal. This means that in addition to listening to the interviewer, formulating intelligent responses, and trying your hardest to be confident, you now have pay attention to how you look while eating.

Interviews over lunch or dinner are an increasingly popular recruiting tool. This http://www.WorkTree.com career article gives you the need-to-knows of the meal interview.

1. Mind your manners
2. The dish dilemma
3. Consume and converse
4. Finish with a bang

1. MIND YOUR MANNERS

It may seem unnecessary to mention, but those basic table manners you were taught as a child still matter. In casual settings, poor manners are not always corrected. Therefore, you could have picked up some habits that your mother would be ashamed of and more likely than not, your interviewer probably will not be too be impressed by them either.

Here are just a few of the habits you should be mindful of during a meal interview:

- BE POLITE. In addition to evaluating your answers to questions, an interviewer is also assessing your personality. Be courteous and respectful to everyone, especially the wait staff. Words such as "please" and "thank you" speak worlds about your character.

- BE AWARE. Keeping you elbows on the table, chewing with your mouth open, talking with your mouth full all convey a negative impression. Pay attention to even your smallest actions.

- BE PREPARED. If you feel uncertain about your table manners, consult the experts. Emily Post's books on etiquette are considered to be among the definitive works on etiquette. There is no shame in doing research; after all, this is an interview.

2. THE DISH DILEMMA

Even though you are being treated to a nice meal, you are not free to order any dish you like. You are in an interview, and therefore, you have the duty of maintaining a certain level of professionalism and formality throughout the meal.

There are no definitive rules of food selection, and you may have to make a game-time decision. However, following these rules will help you steer clear of trouble:

- AVOID MESSES. Steer clear of foods that have to be eaten with your hands or have a tendency to splatter. It is hard to recover from the embarrassment of splashing your interviewer with spaghetti sauce, nor do you want to inadvertently adorn yourself with gravy or cream sauce. So stick to foods that can be cut into small pieces with a knife and fork.

- NO STENCHES. Avoid foods that have a strong or unpleasant order. You are better off having an interviewer not remember you at all rather than as the candidate with bad breath. So no matter how much you love onions and garlic, lay off the stinkers for one meal.

- KEEP IT QUIET. You need to be able to conduct a civil conversation. Avoid foods that are crunchy and noisy to eat. In a public setting there is a lot of noise that could drown out the voice of a person sitting across from you so try not to order food that would add to the problem.

- FOLLOW THE LEADER. You may be wondering if a menu item is priced too high or if to order an appetizer first, etc. The answer is to follow your interviewer's lead. Try to order food in the same price range as the interviewer and order the same number of courses. You do not want to be sitting idle while the recruiter is still eating.

3. CONSUME AND CONVERSE

You are at an interview and also dining out. This means you need to not only be talking, but also eating. It can sometimes be difficult to do both.

Try and keep these issues in mind when posed with the challenge of eating and talking at the same time:

- YOU ARE IN CONTROL. Don't feel so pressured to talk that you don't eat at all. This can be interpreted as nervousness.

- ASK QUESTIONS. When going to an interview, it is always a good idea to have questions. This will allow you get more information on the company and show that you have done your homework. During the meal interview, it will also give you the opportunity to actually eat as your interviewer responds to your questions.

4. FINISHING WITH A BANG Unlike that of a standard interview, the end of a meal interview does not just end with a handshake and a "Thank You". There are other things to keep in mind including:

- DON'T OFFER TO PAY. It's never expected of a job candidate, and you don't need to do it.

- NEVER ASK FOR A DOGGY BAG. No matter how delicious the meal was, requesting to take a portion of it home is not appropriate for the setting.

- REAFFIRM YOUR INTEREST. Let the interviewer know how much you would like to work for his/her company.

- A "Thank You" AND HANDSHAKE CAN'T HURT. As in any interview, don't forget to thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. In addition, be sure to be gracious and say that you enjoyed the meal and end the interview with a firm handshake. Make sure to follow up with a thank you letter in the morning.

CONCLUSION

The meal interview is tricky, but not impossible. With a little guidance and a lot of confidence, you can sail through them with flying colors. Just try to keep these helpful hints in mind. Good luck and bon appétit!

We hope you found this edition helpful Selin, and we promise to bring you even more valuable career advice and tips next month.

This article can be read directly online at: http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/meal-lunch-interview.html

Sincerely,
Nathan Newberger,
Managing Editor
http://www.WorkTree.com
"Helping You Find More Jobs Faster"

Nathan Newberger is the job and career expert at http://www.WorkTree.com Nathan has over 10 years experience in staffing and human resources. He has worked both as a recruiter and career counselor. Mr. Newberger has been the Managing Editor at http://www.WorkTree.com for the past 5 years and his articles have helped thousands of job seekers.

Permission is granted to use reproduce this article but the article content cannot be altered and credit must be given to the author and also an active link to http://www.WorkTree.com

---

9 Tips on Creating a Professional Emailed Job Application

With the advent of the Internet, many of us have... Read More

Become an LPN, the Fast Path to a Nursing Career

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) CareersLicensed Practical Nurses provide the most... Read More

Job Interviews and The Secret of Selling Yourself

A very effective and persuasive tactic when selling something is... Read More

Why Choose A Professionally Written Resume?

Good question, considering that nowadays you can find many useful... Read More

The Inevitable Job Interview Question: ?Why Did You Leave (Are Planning To Leave) Your Last Position

This is a question that you can almost count on... Read More

Skills Make Labor More Valuable

As you know by now, if you have been a... Read More

Don?t Discount the Temporary Position Interview

If you think, 'it's just an interview for a temp... Read More

Supplement Your Skills and Improve Your Work Position

It is often said that the majority of people are... Read More

During Midlife Change: Are You a Jumper or a Clinger?

Over the years, I have identified two kinds of midlife... Read More

How to Get Paid More Without Being Pretty or Good Looking

Guess what. The results are out they are ugly. Pretty... Read More

The Group Interview

Sometimes, when going on job interviews, you might end up... Read More

How to Track Your Right Career

Are you lost in the wilderness when it comes to... Read More

Ten Great Careers For Single Parents

The challenges of raising a child by yourself, whether you're... Read More

You Should Interview the Interviewer, Too

I know what you are thinking. You're thinking, "Wait a... Read More

Kill the Hype

She was waiting for me when I returned from a... Read More

Searching for Employment

Searching for a job can be a daunting and confusing... Read More

Free Resume Examples: Use Them, But Dont

There are lots of free resume examples (or free resume... Read More

Fun At Work Leads to More Success

Common sense at work: Such qualities as loyalty, energy, intelligence... Read More

A Killer Secret To Get Your Cover Letter Read

You're still reading?so I know my title grabbed your attention.Why?... Read More

Applying for a Job in Another Country? International Resumes

Is an International Resume still a Resume? This is a... Read More

The Top 10 Ways to Manage Your Career

Many people in the last decade have experienced either a... Read More

Seven Ways to Say You?re Fired and What to Do When It Happens to You

Today's employers scramble for creative ways to advise employees of... Read More

So, What Do You Do For Work?

I remember being asked this question a lot when I... Read More

How Well Do You Manage Your Boss?

Are you in this situation? You and your boss just... Read More

I Just Lost My Job: How Am I Going To Tell My Kids?

One of the responsibilities of a human resources professional is... Read More

Jobseekers! Look For Smoke, Not Fire

"If you always do what you've always done, you will... Read More

Have Some PASTA with Your Interview

When cyclists prepare for a big race, they always make... Read More

Genes and Work Ethic

If you have good genes, you are blessed. If they... Read More

Creating Your Own Luck

Losing my job in the last recession of... Read More

What To Do When Your Boss Is a Butthead

I've never worked for a boss I didn't like or... Read More

Job Interview Preparation - What Employers Are Looking For

When an employer decides to conduct an interview with you,... Read More

Your Interview Secret Weapon

Have you ever been on a date where you had... Read More

Your Job Search -- a Marketing Campaign?

The successful job search is really just a personal marketing... Read More