Lunch Interview?! Advice, please.
- Thread starter sean
- Start date
I don't think this is the exact article I was referenced to a while back, but it's close enough. Some of it is super obvious, but it hits the major things.
http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2010/04/21/25-tips-for-acing-the-lunch-interview
That said, I only had to do a lunch interview for an entry-level position... so my experience won't match what you're going for.
http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2010/04/21/25-tips-for-acing-the-lunch-interview
That said, I only had to do a lunch interview for an entry-level position... so my experience won't match what you're going for.
bdc30
BoM May '11
I really like that idea from the employer's end, and wish I'd have thought about it back in the day when I was hiring people. I can see how it would be somewhat uncomfortable from the other side though but hey -- FREE LUNCH!! 
Robert will probably have good advice since he had a class on it
some tips:
-Be careful what you order, don't order something that will make you look like a slob or turn them off, like a huge plate of buffalo wings and getting hot sauce everywhere, or something with a very unpleasant order
-The lunch interviews that I have been on were really not lunch interviews, it was kinda a break between other interviews where they took me out to lunch (day long/multiple interviewer interviews suck). It was more of free lunch for them and to evaluate "how well" I would "fit in" with the company culture (e.g. do they like me or can I behave myself)
-make sure you come prepared with job relevant or non-relevant topics to discuss to fill any potential akward silences
-don't bring them a mix tape, that is creepy
and good luck!
some tips:
-Be careful what you order, don't order something that will make you look like a slob or turn them off, like a huge plate of buffalo wings and getting hot sauce everywhere, or something with a very unpleasant order
-The lunch interviews that I have been on were really not lunch interviews, it was kinda a break between other interviews where they took me out to lunch (day long/multiple interviewer interviews suck). It was more of free lunch for them and to evaluate "how well" I would "fit in" with the company culture (e.g. do they like me or can I behave myself)
-make sure you come prepared with job relevant or non-relevant topics to discuss to fill any potential akward silences
-don't bring them a mix tape, that is creepy
and good luck!
My wife writes resumes and has a lot of HR experience. Her advice is; no spaghetti, salad, or anything difficult to eat. No garlic the night before and nothing in the morning that might upset your stomach or give you gas or make you burp. Breath mint before you go in. At the end of the lunch, do not put your napkin on the table until they do.
My advice is; go to an all day breakfast place and order the same meal Dwight did when he was trying to convince Jan to give him Michael's job and give the same speech he did as well. Of course you won't get the job, but it will be a great story.
My advice is; go to an all day breakfast place and order the same meal Dwight did when he was trying to convince Jan to give him Michael's job and give the same speech he did as well. Of course you won't get the job, but it will be a great story.
BradMc
<b>Charity Liaison</b><br>BoM September 07
I wouldn't ask him if he likes "tequila, ground up salt, and lime in the eye" ( I still laugh my ass off when ever I think of u guys doing it ) O was that a secret .......Good luck Brother
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All very good advice above. I love lunch interviews for middle to senior staff positions. It places the candidate in a public situation and allows me to see how they interact on a business and personal basis. It is a foregone conclusion that they have the qualifications for the job. Now its more do they fit the team.
Examples: Do they order the most expensive thing on the menu? This tells me a lot about the individual. Can they hold a conversation, eat with dignity and be aware of their environment? How do they treat the wait staff? Friendly? Superior? Do they interact with others around me ie can they sell. Do I enjoy hanging with them. Do they know what they are talking about
In other words is this a person that can travel with us, interact with us, have fun with us, hold their own and add to the team's total mix. Dress for success, be yourself and you should have no problem
Examples: Do they order the most expensive thing on the menu? This tells me a lot about the individual. Can they hold a conversation, eat with dignity and be aware of their environment? How do they treat the wait staff? Friendly? Superior? Do they interact with others around me ie can they sell. Do I enjoy hanging with them. Do they know what they are talking about
In other words is this a person that can travel with us, interact with us, have fun with us, hold their own and add to the team's total mix. Dress for success, be yourself and you should have no problem
All great advice above, I'll chime in with do not order alcohol, even if the other person does. Also, sometimes they lay a "trap" a bit and ask the waiter to leave the check on your side of the table, and then don't make a move for it. Let it sit, they asked you. Best of luck man, tell us how it turns out!
All great advice! Thanks guys!
I just find out that my further band mate's wife works for this firm, and knows the interviewer very well. I'm feeling more and more confident...
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I just find out that my further band mate's wife works for this firm, and knows the interviewer very well. I'm feeling more and more confident...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
Agentskull
BoM Feb 14
the more confident you are the much easier anything is to do. let us know how this works out man.
Blazer, no tie. Order a salad or something that you dont need to finish, doesn't need any effort to prepare and can be nibbled at with a fork while you chat.
If they take reservations, call ahead and make them - let them know the other party's name so the hostess can expect him, know what he looks like and escort him to the table. This also allows you to pick the table ahead of time and ensure that you have any space void of excess noise from a lunch crowd if possible.
If they take reservations, call ahead and make them - let them know the other party's name so the hostess can expect him, know what he looks like and escort him to the table. This also allows you to pick the table ahead of time and ensure that you have any space void of excess noise from a lunch crowd if possible.
I agree with Chuck and purposefully schedule them for those very reasons. If you didn't meet the requirements for the position and have some particular quality or experience that made you stand out they wouldn't waste their time to have lunch with you. That being said I am always looking at personality and how the candidate would fit with the group. It's is the one thing that you have that cannot be conveyed by anything other than face time. How you act and react in that environment is always a good indicator (not guarantee) of how you will work in their culture. Good luck.
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This is dead on from my experience.
Additionally because the people I hire have to interact with customers, I want to see their table manners, do they wait for the others to get their meals before chowing down?, do they talk with food in their mouth? Do they blow their nose with their napkin at the table? Yes, this has happened!
Keep your choice simple. If you ask the interviewer for a recommendation, you might want to say "that sounds great" and order it. Avoid foods that get caught in your teeth: spinach, poppy seeds, etc.
Good luck brother.
Agree with salad or something you can eat with a knife and fork. Expect to not eat all of it. Wear clothes that won't show a stain well if something drops on your shirt.
Good luck!
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Good luck!
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all good points. I'd avoid alcohol, finger food, use the correct silverware, use correct table manners, etc. Be sure to take along a small pack of floss - just in case.
I've given interviews where lunch was involved and been interviewed where lunch or dinner was involved. I was once interviewed where the hiring manager ordered the most expensive things on the menu, ordered alcohol, didn't have the best table manners, etc. but that said he was president and owned the company.
When I have given interviews to someone I looked for clear signals - can the person make small talk - personal life (not wife, kids, the type of things you can't ask an interviewee, but hobbies, interests - be sure NOT to say cigars that might set off a red flag).
I've given interviews where lunch was involved and been interviewed where lunch or dinner was involved. I was once interviewed where the hiring manager ordered the most expensive things on the menu, ordered alcohol, didn't have the best table manners, etc. but that said he was president and owned the company.
When I have given interviews to someone I looked for clear signals - can the person make small talk - personal life (not wife, kids, the type of things you can't ask an interviewee, but hobbies, interests - be sure NOT to say cigars that might set off a red flag).
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