Best lunch interview tips

[Deleted]

Other than the obvious - no messy/hard to eat foods/alcohol,etc.

Thanks!

[Deleted]

I have nothing to add but GOOD LUCK!!! I hope this works out for you, God knows you need a new job

[formerlyak]

I always call my finalists in for lunch interviews because I work in fundraising and if someone can't have a meal and a conversation, they'd be a crappy fundraiser. Things that make me think twice about hiring someone after a lunch interview:

- Chewing while talking. It is perfectly acceptable to wait until you finish chewing to answer a question.
- Poor table manners. Wait until everyone has their food to start eating, napkin on lap, etc.
- Inability to make a decision. If you can't decide on lunch, how are you going to make decisions for my organization? A previous poster suggested looking at the menu ahead of time if possible. I think that's a great suggestion.
- Because in my case I'd be sending this person out to meet with donors or potential donors, I also take note of things like the person asking where I'd like to sit before they are seated. I frankly don't care where I sit, but a donor might, so it shows me they are aware.

Good luck!

[msamyfarrahfowler]

I just had to interview two people today. A lunch interview would've been fabulous.

Anytime I have an important lunch meeting with people I want to impress, I eat a good sized snack prior, so that I can spend more time talking during the meeting.

Ask your interviewer for menu suggestions. It'll make the interviewer feel good if you go with their suggestion.

Offer to pay the bill, just as a courtesy.

[h]

Once during law school I was at a group interview dinner with a couple other law students and a few attorneys from a big firm. One of the law students kept reaching over with his fork and randomly stabbing food on other people's plates and eating it, without asking or anything. Like he just ate the potatoes off the plate of the partner who was asking him questions, as though it was no big thing. It was utterly bizarre. So don't do that.

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2015 16:51:17 GMT -5 h said:

Once during law school I was at a group interview dinner with a couple other law students and a few attorneys from a big firm. One of the law students kept reaching over with his fork and randomly stabbing food on other people's plates and eating it, without asking or anything. Like he just ate the potatoes off the plate of the partner who was asking him questions, as though it was no big thing. It was utterly bizarre. So don't do that.

Wow just wow! I mean I know lawyers are t always known for having stellar social skills, but there are no words for that.

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone - already looked at the menu - I was just going to go for a Caesar salad - easy enough to eat and converse - not overly messy - classic

[h]

Mar 2, 2015 17:05:27 GMT -5 @bonsoirlune said:

Mar 2, 2015 16:51:17 GMT -5 h said:

Once during law school I was at a group interview dinner with a couple other law students and a few attorneys from a big firm. One of the law students kept reaching over with his fork and randomly stabbing food on other people's plates and eating it, without asking or anything. Like he just ate the potatoes off the plate of the partner who was asking him questions, as though it was no big thing. It was utterly bizarre. So don't do that.

Wow just wow! I mean I know lawyers are t always known for having stellar social skills, but there are no words for that.

Right? The most shocking part is that the guy actually got a job offer. Extremely smart guy with great credentials at a time when the industry was booming and jobs were markedly easier to come by, but still...

[v]

Mar 2, 2015 16:51:17 GMT -5 h said:

Once during law school I was at a group interview dinner with a couple other law students and a few attorneys from a big firm. One of the law students kept reaching over with his fork and randomly stabbing food on other people's plates and eating it, without asking or anything. Like he just ate the potatoes off the plate of the partner who was asking him questions, as though it was no big thing. It was utterly bizarre. So don't do that.

Having been to your school a bunch of time for recruiting cocktail parties, I can't say I'm all that surprised to hear that

I love law student stories.

Good luck, bonsoir!  If you want to share what kind of job this is, I'd love to know what kind of move you're looking to make...

[LoveTrains]

Mar 2, 2015 13:39:50 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

I always call my finalists in for lunch interviews because I work in fundraising and if someone can't have a meal and a conversation, they'd be a crappy fundraiser. Things that make me think twice about hiring someone after a lunch interview:

- Chewing while talking. It is perfectly acceptable to wait until you finish chewing to answer a question.
- Poor table manners. Wait until everyone has their food to start eating, napkin on lap, etc.
- Inability to make a decision. If you can't decide on lunch, how are you going to make decisions for my organization? A previous poster suggested looking at the menu ahead of time if possible. I think that's a great suggestion.
- Because in my case I'd be sending this person out to meet with donors or potential donors, I also take note of things like the person asking where I'd like to sit before they are seated. I frankly don't care where I sit, but a donor might, so it shows me they are aware.

Good luck!

I always ask the donor where they would like to sit, but I have never asked in an interview. I think it just seems awkward and weird in an interview, like I need them to tell me what to do, while with a donor, it is gracious and courteous.

And I always have lunch interviews. They make sense for our field. 

[Deleted]

v - just another firm, but one that seems like a better fit.