Advice For Lunch Interviews.

Thursday, February 18th, 2010 at 8:32 am

Advice For Lunch Interviews.

Sometimes when you get to the serious end of the interview discussions such as after a second or third interview, the company who is hiring may invite you to meet for lunch or dinner, this news should be welcomed as it is a sign that you are a genuine contender for the role. However this type of interview should be treated with just as much seriousness as a first-round interview, so it is worth reading this previous post on a job interview checklist.

If you perform poorly during a lunch interview then serious harm will be done to your credibility as a possible employee. The 6 tips outlined below will help whet your appetite for the interview and serve as a guide on how to perform well during this kind of interview.

1. Avoid messy food.

A dinner/lunch interview is not the time to order awkward food to eat, so avoid food like tacos, spaghetti or stews and instead focus on food that you don’t run the risk of spilling on your shirt.

2. Mind your manners.

Refrain from speaking when you are in the middle of eating something, even if you are asked a question, finish eating before answering. The interviewer will far prefer the short delay rather than being given a close-up of your half-chewed food. Along a similar vein try to ensure that you have your mouth closed while eating and avoid slurping your drink/soup.

3. Be polite.

Your communication skills will be scrutinized by the interviewer particularly in relation to waiters and staff so ensure you show common courtesy at all times to prove to the interviewer that you have what it takes to work well with other employees.

4. Avoid distractions.

Have your cell-phone switched off or put in on silent, a business lunch is most definitely not the time to be sending text-messages or receiving /making calls.

5. The bill.

Most job seekers are unsure who should pay, the rule of thumb is the person who invited the other to lunch and that is usually the interviewer. As a matter of courtesy do offer to pay, once the interviewer declines your offer, politely thank him/her for the meal.

6. Send a thank-you note.

Following your lunch interview be sure to avail of the opportunity to send the interviewer a thank-you note. As with all thank-you letters make sure you emphasize your interest in the job in the letter and thank the interviewer for his/her time.

Don’t allow the fact that you have progressed to this stage of interview cloud your judgement, as over-confidence will not stand you in good stead with the interviewer, it will have the opposite effect. The tips provided in this post work equally well for dinner interviews so keep them in mind should you have any meal-related job interview.