MSU Extension 4-H Careers & Entrepreneurship

Why would a company or potential employer interview a candidate during a meal? By putting a person in a different environment, an employer can assess an interviewee’s personality, social skills and ability to adapt.

According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “being interviewed by an employer in a restaurant setting carries with it some unique challenges. Though you may feel more relaxed being interviewed over a meal, do not forget that this is a very important part of the interview. Employers will be assessing your conversational and interpersonal skills to determine how well you would fit in with the organization and/or their clients.”

This is an opportunity for a candidate to make a positive impression and demonstrate professionalism to a potential supervisor and co-workers by practicing appropriate manners and etiquette.

The following are some tips on the dos and don’ts of interviewing while eating a meal to help make the experience successful:

A dozen do’s

• Dress in appropriate interview attire. Business casual to business clothing should be worn to a mealtime interview.
• Use a binder or portfolio to carry your resume, references and questions for quick retrieval.
• Arrive five to ten minutes early.
• Sit up straight and keep elbows off the table.
• Put your napkin in your lap once everyone has been seated.
• Maintain eye contact, despite the distraction of food.
• Consider water or iced tea as a beverage. Keep it simple.
• Maintain a positive attitude with anyone that has joined you, including the servers. Being polite and positive speaks to your character. One’s behavior and conduct is being assessed at all times.
• Ask what others recommend to order. Make your meal selection quickly and order something that is easy to eat and in the middle price range. Stay away from soup, spaghetti and hand-held food. It is best to use a fork while answering interview questions and having conversation.
• Eat something. It is best to at least eat half of the meal.
• If the meal includes a roll, break off one small piece at a time.
• If something is a little wrong with the order, ignore it. This meal is not about the cuisine.

A dozen don’ts

• Do not drink the beverage through a straw or straight from a bottle. Use a glass or cup.
• Do not sop up sauce, gravy, etc., with the bread.
• Do not eat too fast as if to be in a rush, but also do not eat too slowly.
• Do not chew with your mouth open; nor talk with your mouth full of food.
• Do not ask for a to-go box. Again, this is about conveying a good impression, not about having leftovers.
• Do not interrogate or ask too many questions of the server. Keep this meal simple.
• Do not put elbows on the table.
• Do not order the most expensive nor the cheapest item on the menu.
• Avoid ordering anything that is oversized, smelly or crunchy. Order a dish that you can easily and gracefully eat with a knife and fork. Avoid messy or sloppy foods like spaghetti, spare-ribs, fried chicken, tacos or big sandwiches.
• Do not lay your used silverware on the tablecloth or table. Use the edge of your plate(s).
• Do not toss the napkin on the table. Fold it loosely and lay it on the table next to the plate when finished.
• Do not forget to mention the meal in the follow-up thank-you note.

Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development helps to prepare young people for successful futures.  For more information about career exploration, workforce development and readiness, youth financial education or youth entrepreneurship, email us at 4-HCareerPrep@anr.msu.edu.