posted
I finally got another interview! I am, once again, very excited about the possibility of getting out of this maze of cubicles and work for a person again, rather than a faceless corporation. The job looks like it is fairly similar to the one I'm doing now, but with a lot more responsibility, which is a good thing.
Here's the part where I'm really nervous: this is going to be a lunch interview. The guy is picking me up and taking me to lunch where we will interview. I've never done a lunch interview. What if he decides within the first 5 minutes that I'm not suited for the job? What if I decide I don't want it? Do we just sit there and make small talk for an hour? What am I gonna say?
This is more like a business lunch, where I will be expected to not only answer any and all of the standard interview questions, but also bully through 3 foot thick layers of nervousness to have light clever conversation. I don't know if I can do that. Well, I'm sure I can, but I'm nervous about it. Have any of you had this kind of an interview? What can I expect? What level of etiquette is he expecting from me?
Anyways, just thought I'd share my excitement with ya'll and see if you have any pointers or encouragement. Thanks for any help!
The lunch interview is a long held business practice, but can feel very awkward!
Some advice:
If you partake of alcohol, pass on it this time. Even if others order. If they insist on pouring you a glass of whatever (assuming you have no informed them that you do not drink at all, ever, if that is indeed the case) politely sip a little of it but don't let yourself get even remotely tipsy/ happy.
Do not order anything difficult to eat or likely to get stuck in your teeth.
Start from the outside in with the silverware. Chew with your mouth shut. Put your napkin on your lap before you commence eating. Wait for everyone's food to arrive before you begin. Wait for the host to lift his/her fork first. Try to keep the speed of your eating to everyone else's speed.
Plan to pay for your own meal. If your host insists on paying, thank them very much, and empahsize that it is an exceptioanlly nice thing to do - don't act like you expected it and don't appreciate it.
The most successful interviews are those where the talkign is 50/50, so don't dominate the conversation but don't stay dead silent either.
Basically, this is a first date! So bring all your best manners, and don't discuss bodily functions or disease or politics or religion. All that good stuff. Do bring a few thoughful and pertinent questions abotu the job or company which you would legitimately like answered and which show that you've done your homework/ care. Again, just like a first date!
You'll do great - I'm waiting on one of these myself, eeek!
Posts: 471 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Don't season your food before eating it. I know for some interviewers, they automatically don't hire someone who doesn't taste the food before seasoning it.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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Some of that is obvious manners stuff, but good to have reiterated. This:
quote:Plan to pay for your own meal. If your host insists on paying, thank them very much, and empahsize that it is an exceptioanlly nice thing to do - don't act like you expected it and don't appreciate it.
, I had no idea on. I was completely expecting him to pay for it, but now I will make sure to pull out my wallet and try to pay, even though I still completely expect him to pay for it.
I was also really looking forward to a surf and turf, but I guess I'll pass on that.
I didn't know lunch interviews were that common. When you say it's like a first date, does that mean there will be a good amount of conversation not pertaining to the job? That's what I'm most nervous about, having to talk about myself and why he should hire me for and hour and a half. I'd much rather be able to make a good impression professionally, and then show him that I'm a nice guy that he would like to work with.
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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quote:Originally posted by blacwolve: Don't season your food before eating it. I know for some interviewers, they automatically don't hire someone who doesn't taste the food before seasoning it.
Really?! That is bizarre, but I will take your advice, just in case.
posted
That reminds me, I was always given advice on how to eat bread at interviews. I don't recall the issue, exactly. I think you are supposed to be sure to break rolls in half before biting into it. Biting into a whole roll is a no-no.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Yes, and always break with your hands, don't use a knife to saw into it.
Do you know anything else about your interviewer? Or about the company? Those might be good conversation starters. Maybe a sports team he likes? Or something? Mostly you will be talking shop, but it's nice to be able to comment on other things. For example, he might mention a movie he's seen, and you can comment on having seeing it to, or thinking of seeing it, and ask his opinion. If you'll be working with him on a day-to-day basis, he really does want to make sure you're a nice guy!
Posts: 471 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
I suggest you eat a snack before you go. Don't focus on eating, focus on what the interviewer is saying. Don't go hungry, in other words.
The best strategy is to listen thoughtfully and ask good questions. Most interviewers are hopeless and tend to talk more than they listen. Studies show that interviews are useless at picking good people.
Sales people tell me that when the prospect is talking the sale is moving forward. Don't feel bad if the interviewer does most of the talking. It is generally a good sign (most people are inordinately fond of hearing themselves talk).
Ask about the biggest challenge they have, hopefully something you know about it. That way you can ask informed questions about what they are trying.
Ask about the vision and mission of the organization. Not the official nonsense, but the real stuff, what makes the company a good place to work? What does the interviewer feel best about? What are some of the most exciting things that have happened.
Finally, research the heck out of the company and get the current stock price and look at the trend for the last year. "I see your stock is off $3.00 from the high six months ago. What do you think is going on?"
posted
It's today, and I'm gettin' kinda nervous...
I really hope I don't have to talk about stock prices or anything like that. This is a small privately owned events company. I'm gonna do some research into what events they've done recently, and what awards they've won, so I have something to talk about.
But that bread breaking and salt and pepper thing is weird. Are there any other little rules that an interviewer might look for? Actually, the interviewer is going to be the owner of the company, so he might be incredibly picky. I'm getting kinda nervous, but I'm trying to stay cool, so he doesn't think I can't handle it.
posted
Check out the Google News headlines just to have an idea of major news stories of today in case he brings them up. If he says, "what do you think about what's going on over in Thailand?" you don't want to be clueless.
posted
I've had one lunch interview. It was very informal, designed to give the interviewer a sense of my personality and character rather than my technical skills (it came after a phone interview that was designed to test my Domino Admin knowledge). We talked a good bit about things that weren't work related.
Good luck! I expect that it'll go very well.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
My god people, you're creeping me out, and I'm not even the one going to the interview.
Relax. Breathe. It's not the end of the world, just an interview. You won't get hanged if you bite into your bread. Or misuse your 6th fork.
Just be yourself and don't try to be smart about things you don't know about. Admit it and move on. Treating this like your life depended on it will just make you forget things.
Good luck.
(you'll need it. )
Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Farmgirl: Check out the Google News headlines just to have an idea of major news stories of today in case he brings them up. If he says, "what do you think about what's going on over in Thailand?" you don't want to be clueless.
FG
But I get all my news here? If he brings up a current event that I don't know about, I'm blaming Hatrack.
I'm hoping this will be more of a "get to know you" type of interview, because while I know my job and industry very well, and can perform more than adequately with clients, when I'm nervous I tend to stumble over my words, and don't come across as learned as I believe myself to be. But I'm trying to go over every conversation and question to make sure I have a good answer.
One of the big saving graces is that I was refered to this company by another company I interviewed with. I posted about it here, they passed me over for someone with more experience. But the fact that they then refered me to for this position gives me hope that he already thinks I'm right for the job.
Edit: Would it be a bad idea to mention all of the grammar and punctuation mistakes on their website?
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Bad idea. Bad, bad, bad idea. Don't make them look bad just yet. It will seem like picking on the small things instead of concentrating on the real issues.
Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003
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Vonk, on their web-site, only offer corrections if you are applying for a job where you will be incharge of the site.
Don't buy the most expensive thing on the menu.
Relax.
Forget the bread and seasoning stuff. They are just playing with your head.
Good luck and break a leg.
His, if you have to, in order to get the job.
I had one lunch interview. The interview was the best I've ever had, and I told him that. I didn't get that job because the second interviewer was a bit clueless, but the first called me months later about another opening he had.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
And I'm back. Whoo! I think it went okay. When he dropped me off he said he thinks I have all of the qualifications he's looking for, but he has to look at the numbers and make sure they can afford me. He said I will hear from him by Monday.
We talked pretty much the entire time about business, but I think I heald my own pretty well. He was pretty impressed and I would love to have that position.
I didn't eat any rolls and didn't use any seasoning, just in case. If those of you that mentioned those things were just messing with my head, that wasn't very nice, I completely believed you. I'm also freaking starving, because I ate barely anything. I should have snacked before we went, like lynn mentioned. But I ordered pasta, and after the first time I had to slurp up a noodle I put the fork down and didn't try again. Oh well, I'll survive.
I just hope I get this job. It would be the best thing to happen to me, career wise, in my entire life.
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I just read this now--I hope you get the job, that's exciting.
I would hate a lunch interview. I'd already have enough butterflies in my stomach at an interview without trying to put food in there . . . and I'd probably drop the fork or something out of sheer nervousness.
I'll bet the interviewers love it, though--get a nice lunch out at the company's expense!
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
I suppose pasta would be hard to eat at an interview. I ordered a big salad a few months ago at a meeting and I couldn't concentrate on eating nicely and listening attentively at the same time. I couldn't look down at my plate enough to pick up any food. No more salads at meetings for me.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Glad it went well. Interviews are bad enough, eating while interviewing is just one more thing to worry about.
For the job I have now I had 3 meal interviews in a row: dinner, breakfast, and lunch. In between breakfast and lunch I got to have the pleasure of the two hour technical interview and the 1 hour HR interview. It wasn't fun. I wish I would have had some pointers to give you, but I just have to say good luck! I also wouldn't second guess yourself on the meals. I had the filet mignon for my dinner interview (he ordered it first though), a scramble for breakfast, and Chinese for lunch. I just kind of ordered what I felt like and had a good time. YMMV I guess
BTW, isn't it generally considered a good thing to give him a follow up call in the next two days? Also, do you know when you'll hear back from him?
Posts: 1412 | Registered: Oct 2005
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After two more lunch interviews and working a couple of events I have been offered a job that pays slightly less than I was asking and includes a company car. A company car! That excites me, even though it will be a used pickup, it still means that I can avoid car payments and insurance payments for a least a little while.
I'm so excited about this. It seems like a great step in making a future for myself. There are only 3 people that work for the company, and the owner is planning on starting another business in Charlotte, NC in a couple of years, which would leave me completely in charge of the company down here in Houston. Golly, if things keep picking up, I might actually be able to, you know, make a decent living. Wow!
Now is the hard part. I have already submitted my two weeks notice, and now I find out from another employee of my rank that they were planning on firing me today. So I'm stuck with two weeks of working for people that I know don't want me here, and who also know that I don't want to be here. I'm very tempted to just walk in to boss-man's office and quit straight out. I can start my new job, which pays a whole lot more, on monday. I don't need this. A co-worker mentioned that I should stay so that I can use this job on my resume. 1)I don't know that they'd give me a good review in the first place; 2)If the new job doesn't work out, I'm planning on going back to college and starting a whole new career, so I don't necessarily need this experience at all.
I dunno, I'm conflicted, and probably not thinking terribly clearly, what do you wise people think?
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I don't think quitting immediately will make any difference if they're planning on firing you anyway, but I'll wait for someone with more experience in hiring to chime in.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I think if they truly were planning to fire you today anyway, they would have gone ahead and done that when you gave 2 week notice. They would have just shown you the door. How reliable is the source that told you? It sounds questionable to me.
posted
That's a good point. I don't think my co-worker would lie about it, but she could have been mistaken.
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Trust me. I worked for a company and decided to move on. The week before I quit my coworker quit. They went straight from the boss's office to his desk, where they supervised him cleaning it out, then they marched him out the door and off of their property.
They didn't trust him.
When it was my turn I planned on a similar responce. They were really upset when I could only give them 1 week's notice. THey wanted me to stay for as long as possible.
They trusted me.
If they didn't kick your backside out the door, they trust that not only will you work and not be a drain on their paying you, but that you won't sabotage or steal from them in some lame attempt at social revenge.
It speaks well for you.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I know several people who got severance packages and so it really was a game. Neither side wanted to be the one to end it since that money went to whoever broke first, but neither side was happy about the guy working there. So, it is possible the company had decided to break but then wasn't going to mention it when you quit. Also, I know a lot of employers want to be nice and will give you the option of quitting or being fired. It just depends on the employer. Maybe there is a way you can phrase the 2 week notice that will let you out early (like I can work if you need me to but if not...).
Posts: 1001 | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Maybe there is a way you can phrase the 2 week notice that will let you out early (like I can work if you need me to but if not...).
Yeah, that would have been a great idea. Unfortunately I already turned it in. Do you think I can ask for it back and rewrite it?
I think that the main reason they haven't just told me to leave is that they don't have anyone to replace me right now. I know for a fact (well, almost a fact) that my boss doesn't like me, personally. We've been having a rough patch for the past four or five months. I also think that he is afraid of confrontation. He doesn't want their to be a big scene if he fires me, and, honestly, there may well be. I would love to believe that my situation is Dan suggests, but I'm pretty sure they are just being lazy and making things easier on themselves.
I mean, I know it's immature and all, but after the disrespect and condescention they've been piling on, I've been rehearsing the speaches I would give, the invectives I would hurl and the dirty little secrets I know about certain bosses I would tell. I probably won't do any of those things, but it brings a smile to my face to think about it.
And thanks for all the well wishes everyone! I know this new job is gonna be so much better and I can't wait to get started on it.
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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I've never done a lunch interview. What if he decides within the first 5 minutes that I'm not suited for the job? What if I decide I don't want it? Do we just sit there and make small talk for an hour? What am I gonna say? 
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