June 20, 2018
The goal of a mealtime interview is to test your behavior, personality, and social graces. There are certain behaviors that your potential boss will be evaluating. Some will be a red flag against you and others will score you big points! If youâve been invited to an interview that will take place over a meal, there are several things youâll want to think about ahead of time. Here is a list of major doâs and donâts for mealtime interviews:
Do...Dress for an Interview
Dress as you would for a regular interviewâthis means a suit. Even if your lunch meeting is at a casual restaurant, we recommend dressing to impress.
Do...Bring Your Resume
Go prepared with a copy of your resume. This keeps your interviewer from having to pull it up on their phone and squint at the screen. Some employers will bring a copy of your resume with them, or may have already read it and will come with questions for you. Regardless, bring a copy with you; you'll look sharp for having one.
Do...Mind Your Manners
Everything from standing up for a handshake when your interviewer arrives, to being mindful of the mess youâre leaving at the tableâitâs all part of the test. Consider eating a snack before you go so you can focus on highlighting your strengths, skills, and experienceâas opposed to satisfying your empty stomach. Remember to do basic things like eat slowly, chew quietly, and put your napkin in your lap.
Do...Treat the Waiter or Waitress Kindly
How you treat the server can be a big part of acing a mealtime interview. Say "please" and âthank you.â If something is wrong with what you ordered, be kind and gracious when you call this to your serverâs attention. Similarly, donât overdo it on the special requests. This tells your future boss that you're high maintenance.
Donât...Order a Messy or Super Expensive Meal
Aim to order light, easy-to-eat items. An interview isnât a great time for peel-and-eat shrimp, ribs, or spaghetti. Itâs also not appropriate to order the most expensive thing on the menu, so save the lobster for another time.
Donât...Talk With Your Mouth Open
When food is part of an interview, it's important to eat slowly and close your mouth when you chew. Youâll likely be doing a lot of the talking, so you want to make sure youâve swallowed your food before commenting or responding to questions.
Don't...Ask If Theyâre Buying
If youâre invited to an interview over drinks or a meal, itâs understood that your potential employer is footing the bill. Donât awkwardly ask if you need to request a separate check, or bluntly ask if they're paying. Â
To Drink or Not to Drink?
The best way to approach drinking during a mealtime interview is to follow the lead of the person youâre with. If youâre invited to a dinner interview and offered alcohol, politely declineâunless the hiring manager orders a drink in which case itâs acceptable to do the same. Itâs not okay to order hard liquor or a cocktail when the hiring manger orders a glass of wine. Itâs also not okay to order multiple drinks or glasses of wine. If youâre asked out for a lunchtime interview and offered alcohol, the answer is always noâeven if the hiring manager orders a drink it just doesnât look professional to drink and then go back to work. If youâve been asked out specifically for drinks, order ONE drink. If you donât drink alcohol, a safe, professional choice is club soda with lime.
Â
Need A Resume?
Let us help you craft a resume that really grabs an employer's attention.
Recent Posts
Don't Forget To Sign Up For Free Email Updates
Sign up below to make sure you receive the latest articles first.