Interview Tips - How to approach and outclass a Meal Interview

A lot of interviews, especially for hiring experienced people, happen in a casual sense setup these days. If you are invited for a meal, over which your employers want to discuss things, it is probably the infamous 'Meal Interview' that is in trend right now.

Meal Interviews are carried out by employers who want to check out how an individual responds to real-world situations and scenarios. Applicants for Business Analysts, Client Servicing Professionals, Business Development Managers and other job roles that involve Social Interactions are weighed upon by recruiters using such interviews. Your every move is noted and keenly observed to see if you are the right person to represent their organization.

Professional Etiquette

Just like you would do for a regular interview, arrive on time and be dressed right. If it is a classy place, then suit up! If it is a casual dinner or eatery, go for business casuals that do not stick out like a sore thumb in the place.

Make sure you are as prepared as you would be for any normal interview but carry documents only if required. Both parties are here to eat and talk and not to browse through papers or peer into a laptop so unless required, do not impose. You can leave the papers and laptop in your car if required to pick up later and present.

Table Manners

Do not order something sloppy! Spaghetti or something greasy should be off your mind. It is not ideal to have food all over you and your clothes in front of a potential employer! Also, do not order the most expensive thing on the menu – Employers/Interviewers pick up the bill for these meets but be considerate about what you order.

Have a few options in mind but let the interviewer lead with the order and adapt based on their style of ordering. Eat slow, chew silently and remember to maintain a conversation at all times. Do not be engrossed completely by the food! The goal of the meet is to converse so have that in mind at all times.

Important pointers

Do not order alcohol! Even if the employer order for himself, go clean for obvious reasons. You need to stay at your sharpest.

Do not gobble down food quickly. Follow a neutral speed of eating in sync with the other people at the table. Eating quickly puts pressure on the others to finish their meal.

Offer to pick up the bill even though you do not have to. Don’t worry about it since the employer will insist and pay for it since it is them who invited you for the meeting.

A meal interview is an indication that the employer is interested in investing time with you alone and getting the job is almost a sealed deal unless you put off the employer with something undesirable in a person. Take it slow and make it count!