Handling a Lunch Job Interview

How do I handle a lunchtime job interview?

Tutorial

Lunch interviews are a great opportunity for a hiring manager to observe how a potential employee acts with other people. Most people are worried about watching what they eat, not making a mess, promoting their potential for the job, and they don't think about the relational aspects of a lunchtime job interview.

Treat Others with Respect

A potential employer likes to see how you handle the waiter at lunch, the people around you, and the hiring manager. If you have a problem, how do you handle it with the waitress? There are some stories of how an employer purposefully has your meal ruined (having your steak well done when you wanted it rare), just to see how you react to the situation. Do you speak up? Do you handle the situation with anger? Are you polite and courteous to the waitress?

Dress for Success

As with any other job interview, make sure you come to the interview dressed for success. Where the same suit or dress you would have worn for the interview in the office.

Don't assume just because you are in public that you shouldn't use the same decorum you would have had in the office. Once I took a candidate out to lunch and heard about his partying the previous weekend, a fight he had with his girlfriend, and some stories from his college days that I can't repeat. The lunch time appointment seemed to let his guard down - a little too much. Treat the lunch interview as you would any other interview.

Order the Right Meal

You have heard the horror stories - spaghetti dumped in the lap, a bowl of soup tipped, or knocking a drink into your interviewer. Reduce your chances for problems by ordering the right meal. Avoid messy food or "slurpy" foods - e.g. spaghetti, hot wings, or soup. Also avoid expensive meals - don't go for the filet mignon when they potential employer is picking up the tab.

We highly recommend avoiding alcohol during the job interview. Some have recommended only ordering a drink if the interviewer does, we recommend avoiding it altogether. Anything that can hurt you should be avoided.

Make an Impression

Don't forget that this is a job interview and you want the interviewer to walk away with a good impression and remembering you for the position. Make sure you know the points you want to get across and you are prepared for potential questions. There are a lot of distractions at a restaurant so you should be prepared for your interviewer to forget half of what you say. Make you sure you present your candidacy in a light that your interviewer will remember you.