How to Handle a Job Interview Over Dinner

Job interviews can be quite daunting. The questions, the pressure, and the expectation that can go into a job interview can be difficult for some people to handle. Add the extra element of eating dinner and you could have a recipe for disaster. Follow some basic steps to handle a job interview over dinner with grace and poise and still show your professionalism.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Determine where you will be having dinner. If you are asked to decide on the restaurant, pick somewhere where you are comfortable and where you know the menu and food choices. Be flexible on the time of the interview, since it will show your general flexibility which could be seen as a positive on the job.

2. Choose your clothing choice carefully. If you are meeting at a formal restaurant, it will probably be appropriate to wear a suit (male or female). However at a more casual establishment, business casual should be appropriate. Make sure you are well groomed and presentable.

3. Remember your manners. It will be important to show poise and proper eating habits while at your interview, which could add considerable pressure. Carefully monitor yourself to ensure that you are not over-monitoring yourself or being too stiff. Remain relaxed and follow the basic rules of table etiquette most of us learned as children.

4. Respond to questions about your job skills only if you do not have food in your mouth. Be mindful of having food on your face or in your teeth while speaking. Order an alcoholic beverage only if the person you are interviewing is drinking. It is safest to refrain from drinking on a dinner interview as it could give the wrong impression.

5. Bring your resume and any other pertinent information for the interview in a protected briefcase or folder. Pull out the resume before the food comes or after you are finished with the meal to avoid getting it messy. Keep the conversation friendly but remember your job during the dinner is to sell yourself and your job skills.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch yourself eat to get a feel for what you look like while eating. Make any adjustments needed and pay attention to your posture.
• Turn off your cell phone and other things that could interrupt the interview; it will be considered a distraction and rude to your interviewer.
• Get to know your interviewer personally and show him a bit of your personality, preferably before the meal comes or upon sitting down for drinks.
• Do not get drunk at an interview.
• Do not order messy or overly complicated food that will be difficult to eat in a composed way.

Resources

• Read some basic job interview tips that could help.
• Visit this website dedicated to job interviewing.