by Rosalinda Oropeza Randall is an etiquette and civility consultant and author of “Don’t Burp in the Boardroom“
Whether the interview is held in the company cafeteria or in a fine-dining restaurant, it isn’t about the food. It is a discovery exercise.
You obviously wowed the potential employer on paper, now you have to be sure to wow them when you’re face-to-face.
Eating a meal with someone can be a very personal experience. Well, that is if you both stay off your cell phones!
Why do some companies conduct a meeting or an interview over a meal? To learn beyond what’s on paper. What will they discover about you?
Presence: Considerate or Careless
- Do you arrive on time?
- Do you order a drink, appetizer or shove a butter-slathered roll in your mouth before anyone else arrives?
- Do you order an expensive item off the menu or multiple courses?
- Do your eating habits (chewing with mouth open, licking fingers, inhaling your food, picking your teeth) gross everyone out?
- Do you dress appropriately?
- Do you sit up straight, slouch, hover, or lean back after the meal and pat your full stomach?
- Are you loud?
- Do you move the place setting around to make room for your cell phone?
Attitude: Professional or Preposterous
- Are you condescending and rude to the server?
- Are you demanding?
- Do you complain? Do you threaten to post a negative comment on social media?
- How do you handle finding hair in your food?
- Do you monopolize the conversation?
- Do you pace yourself during the meal?
- Do you make a scene when the bill arrives?
- Do you bring up or stir up sensitive or controversial topics?
- Do you lecture the others about their dietary choices?
- Do you remember to say, “please” and “thank you”?
Ask yourself:
- Am I considerate of others?
- Do I know when to keep quiet?
- Do I treat everyone with respect?
- What is the purpose of this meeting?
- Do my friends look away when they eat with me?
Bon appétit.
Rosalinda Oropeza Randall is an etiquette and civility consultant and author of “Don’t Burp in the Boardroom: Your Guide to Handling Uncommonly Common Workplace Dilemmas“. She defines etiquette as an attitude, and believes that you can’t apply a one-solution-fits-all to relationship dilemmas. For more etiquette and civility tips, please visit her blog at Your Relationship Edge. E: rosalinda@yourrelationshipedge.com
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