Mastering The Lunch Interview

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

Interviews over lunch or dinner are an increasingly popularrecruiting tool. This http://www.WorkTree.com career article givesyou 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 youwere taught as a child still matter. In casual settings, poor mannersare not always corrected. Therefore, you could have picked up somehabits that your mother would be ashamed of and more likely than not,your interviewer probably will not be too be impressed by themeither.

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

- BE POLITE. In addition to evaluating your answers to questions, aninterviewer is also assessing your personality. Be courteous andrespectful 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 mouthopen, talking with your mouth full all convey a negativeimpression. 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 areconsidered to be among the definitive works on etiquette. There isno 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 toorder any dish you like. You are in an interview, and therefore, youhave the duty of maintaining a certain level of professionalism andformality throughout the meal.

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

- AVOID MESSES. Steer clear of foods that have to be eaten with yourhands or have a tendency to splatter. It is hard to recover fromthe embarrassment of splashing your interviewer with spaghettisauce, nor do you want to inadvertently adorn yourself with gravyor cream sauce. So stick to foods that can be cut into smallpieces 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 allrather than as the candidate with bad breath. So no matter howmuch you love onions and garlic, lay off the stinkers for onemeal.

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

- FOLLOW THE LEADER. You may be wondering if a menu item is pricedtoo high or if to order an appetizer first, etc. The answer is tofollow your interviewer's lead. Try to order food in the sameprice range as the interviewer and order the same number ofcourses. You do not want to be sitting idle while the recruiter isstill eating.

3. CONSUME AND CONVERSE

You are at an interview and also dining out. This means you need tonot only be talking, but also eating. It can sometimes be difficultto do both.

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

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

- ASK QUESTIONS. When going to an interview, it is always a goodidea to have questions. This will allow you get more informationon the company and show that you have done your homework. Duringthe meal interview, it will also give you the opportunity toactually 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 doesnot just end with a handshake and a "Thank You". There are otherthings to keep in mind including:

- DON'T OFFER TO PAY. It's never expected of a job candidate, andyou 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 thesetting.

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

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

CONCLUSION

The meal interview is tricky, but not impossible. With a littleguidance and a lot of confidence, you can sail through them withflying colors. Just try to keep these helpful hints in mind. Goodluck and bon appétit!

We hope you found this edition helpful Selin, and we promise to bringyou 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 (The site listed is now a scam site). 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 (The site listed is now a scam site) 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 (The site listed is now a scam site)


More Resources

Stacking The Deck In Your Favor
Many people do not bother to look at their own magnificence and without that view it is not likely that we will recognize the need for strategies to maximize our strengths. When we buy an outfit for a special affair, we automatically try to coordinate each piece so that they enhance one another and amplify our sense of "looking good" from head to toe.
How to Know if You Are in the Right Career
Ever wonder if you are in the right career? If you are like most people you have. Did you know that 80% of people are currently misemployed? They are either underemployed, not happy with their current position or not fairly compensated for their skill and/or function set.
Drive Your Career Change - A Direct Approach
If your career has gone off the road, take control and drive back to job satisfaction with a direct approach.When you're looking for that new job or a career move it's easy to think that 'they' hold all the cards.
Writing A Resume That Gets You Noticed
As the old saying goes, "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." In today's business world, of course, that first impression usually does not come from a face-to-face conversation, but from whatever you can tell your future boss about yourself on paper: your resume.
Six Sure-Fire Ways to Get Yourself a Pay Rise
Many employees do not care too much for their bosses or supervisors. It is an all too common trait.
The Surefire Way To Getting A Pay Raise
If you are working for someone else, it is important to remember this fact: No one gives you a raise, you must earn it. You've got to prove you are worth the additional money you are asking for.
Any Job is an Honorable Job
Seeing your job as an honorable job, adds more meaning and peace to your life. Also, seeing the honor in what you do now, creates an ideal foundation upon which a career change can be built.
Job Security Is Dead! Are You?
Job security is an out dated concept. The idea is nice: The longer an employee works for a particular company, the more valuable that person becomes to the company in question.
Mystery Shopping - An Excellent Part Time Job Or Additional Income Source
Though the name itself may seem a bit mysterious, the concept of mystery shopping is actually straightforward. Also referred to as secret shopping, performance evaluations, service checks and frontline evaluations to name a few, mystery shopping allows companies to obtain a "snapshot in time" by trained researchers who know in advance what they are to evaluate.
6 Vital Tips For Creating A Superior Resume
1: Keep It ShortConsidering that initially HR personnel only spend approximately 10-20 seconds on a resume, the shorter your resume, the most desirable it is. Aim for one page.
Are Online Degrees Valid to Prospective Employers?
Online distance learning has gained rapid popularity with the advent of the internet, which has proven to offer great supporting facilities and convenience for online education. However, just like everything else with pros and cons, the internet has also opened doors for the widespread sale of bogus online degrees.
Start Working Before You Get Hired
What if there were a way to *prove* to any sane employer that you alone were the one to hire?Would learning how to do that interest you? I thought so.I call this the "start-working-before-you-get-hired" job-hunting method.
Corporate World: Jungle Or Paradise?
The road to the top is not easy, it is bumpy and dirty. Along the way, we meet interesting creatures.
What To Do When HR Calls...
Generally, when you present yourself as a prospective candidate for a new employment opportunity, your information will filter through the Human Resources department. Since every company has their own hiring process, understand that you cannot always control when HR will call you.
Hiring the OverQualified Employee or Mining for Gold
I am having a hard time understanding why a valuable resource such as the "over qualified employee is having such a hard time getting a job. Something seems to be out of whack here.
Resurgence of the Time Sheet: Why You Should Write Down Your Workday Activities
One day I walked into my boss's office and said, " I think all staff should do a time sheet, including you, from now on." I definitely surprised her but the results of thisrequest certainly got the attention of all of our staff.
Everyday Is Saturday: Help for the Suddenly Unemployed
I recently was "unhired" by my former employer. Unhired is a softer term than "fired" but it means the same.
Moving Without A Job: Should You Move to the Location of Your Dreams and THEN Look for a Job?
Moving without a job will challenge your identity -- but for some people, it's the best way to go.Here are some ways to deal with the question.
How to Crash - Proof Your Job Search
Think you have the speed, endurance, and know-how to fix what's broken? Bet not. The smartest people in the world are those who can leave their ego at the door, and know when its wise to seek help.
Losing A Career Can Feel Like Getting A Divorce
Most of us are aware that we need to grieve the death of a close friend, relative or favorite pet. We are beginning to learn that other events -- relocation, divorce, illness -- can also be experienced as loss.

More Careers & Employment Information:

Related Articles

Stepping Stone Jobs
What we name something matters.It sets a tone that alters our attitude.
Job Hunting Tips: Accepting Judgment
Applying for work is stressful, no matter the circumstances. Even if you are already working, and merely looking to see what else is out there, you still want to be offered the position.
Using Journal to Support Your Job Search
Are you searching for a job? Here are some tips on how youcan use journaling in that pursuit.It is important to know what we are looking for in aposition and company.
Successful Job Interview Tips
Congratulations! You've finally landed that job interview you've been waiting for. Now the real work begins! Remember, resumes don't get jobs; they merely get you in the door.
Wake Up and Learn Something New
The US Government has just released last month's job creation figures. It was the lowest number in two years.
Career Education Options For Working Adults
Ask yourself this question: "Do I like what I do for a living?" If you answered "no", what are you doing about it? Maybe you have a "good" job, but it's not very rewarding to you personally. Maybe you have job with good pay, but bad hours or worse - a job with good hours, but bad pay.
One Step at a Time in the Job Search
What is the first step to take in a job search?Let's start with "Who Am I?" If the job seeker can answer that question easily, then the rest of what to do, comes easily.It is often the hardest thing to do in a job quest, or anything else in life.
Are Your References Ready?
One of the most common forms of background check performed by companies hiring new employees is the reference check. They typically request that candidates provide them with three names of previous bosses.
Closing the Gap on Your Career Goals
If you still picture a steady progression up the ladder when you think of your career goals, it is time to shift your thinking. For most people, climbing the career ladder is no longer an option.
Blogging for Candidates 101: Nuts and Bolts
A "blog" is simply an internet (web) log. Blogs are created for personal or professional use.
When the Teacher Becomes the Student
A relationship expert once said that during an argument, there's usually three sides to every story: his side, her side, and of course, the truth.This is something we must definitely keep in mind as teachers.
Unemployment Survival: Creating a Sense of Security
In a time of economic downturn, international turmoil, company restructuring and corporate mergers run amok, thousands of people are either out of work or fearful of losing their jobs.Is there, then, such a thing as job security?No job, in itself, is totally secure.
Thank-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career Design
There is one little practice that is vital to generating the interest of potential employers. It is critical, but very few job seekers actually do it.
Discontentment in the Workplace
While more people are finding employment, more employed workers are discontent and experiencing frustration. In most cases it can be boiled down to four factors: feeling undervalued, unappreciated and powerless, and world events.
Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment Success
Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment SuccessBefore you write your resume in a word processor, print it, and hand out copies to prospective employers, you should consider formatting it for easy scanning and retrieval from a computer database.As you can imagine, dozens, maybe hundreds of resumes bombard employers for a position they would like filled.
How To Write A Job Winning Resume That Puts Yours On Top
Many people would love to get a better job. And most of these same people have the proper training and skills to achieve this goal.
How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy
Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a place called Apathy. Had been for months now.
Write Resume Keywords That Gets Your Application Read
As children we often used to read stories where magical words can open caves filled with treasures or magicians using words like abracadabra..
The Best Business And Economy Solutions
In todays Business and economy, starting any business service requires a good business plan. A little money wouldn't hurt either.
Students Discover Your Niche By Using Career Assessment
In our ever changing world where job competition is rampant it can be difficult to understand one's strengths and what one wants to do in life.If you feel uncertain about your career path you're not alone.