Job Interview over a Meal?

Dining Etiquette

Lunch interviews are becoming more and more common in many professional areas. While a regular job interview requires a certain set of skills, a lunch interview can be especially tricky. If you are facing one, however, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of acing that job interview.

For starters, obey all rules of a regular job interview. Dress appropriately, show up on time, and bring any required papers in a portfolio that is easy to set aside in case your potential employer wants to wait until after dessert to take a look at it. Being late to a job interview is always a no-no, but being late to a lunch interview is particularly damaging. People usually hold interviews over lunch because they lack the time to meet you at their office; if you are late, you are seriously reducing your chances for getting the job.

A job interview held at lunch offers you the chance of showing off your table manners. If you don't remember where the napkin goes or which fork to use, practice before the actual job interview. If you smoke, avoid the temptation, even if the restaurant allows it. Keep your elbows off the table, turn off your cell phone, and do not order anything too messy to eat, such as fried chicken or spaghetti.

When it comes to ordering during a job interview, always let others be your guide. Ask for something on the same price range, and skip alcohol if nobody else is having it. If you are forced to order first, stick to mineral water and don't select anything too pricey. Always try to pick up on what the other person is doing and try to mirror it. Is he ordering dessert? Join him. Is he eating slowly and speaking between bites? Do the same.

Remember to be polite to those around you. How you talk to the waiter says a lot about you and it can mean a world of difference to the person on the opposite side of the table. After the job interview is over, remember to send a thank you note.

Dining etiquette Q & A

Q: Why are meals part of interviews?
A: Employers may want to see you in a more social situation to see how you conduct yourself, particularly if the job for which you are interviewing requires a certain standard of conduct with clients and superiors. You could be critically scrutinized on your table manners and conduct. On a practical level, interviews that last for several hours may extend through mealtimes, and the employer is acting as a gracious host to provide you with meals. The meal is a time to visit and interact, and this is always more important than the function of eating.

Q: Who should sit down first?
A: You should wait for your interviewer/host to ask you to sit down before taking your seat. If he/she doesn't ask you to sit, wait for him/her to be seated, then sit.

Q: Is it okay to sit with my legs crossed?
A: You should not push your chair back and cross your legs until the meal is completely finished. During the meal, sit up straight and keep your feet flat on the floor or cross your legs at the ankle. Crossing your legs during the meal can cause you to slouch, and looks too casual.

Q: Which salad plate, bread and butter plate, and drinks are mine?
A: Your salad plate and bread and butter plate are on your left, above your fork. Your beverages are on the right above your spoon. Remember: Solids on the left, liquids on the right.

Q: Which fork is for what?
A: Always use your silverware from the outside in. So if you have two forks, the outside fork is for salad and the fork closest to the plate is for your main course. The silverware will be removed as you finish each course. There may be a third fork outside the salad fork for appetizers. Usually no more than three utensils are placed on each side of the place setting. If a fourth utensil is needed, it is placed above the plate and is usually for dessert and/or for coffee to be served with dessert. (When you are seated, don't play with your utensils or make them a topic of conversation.)

Q: What do I do with my napkin?
A: As soon as everyone is seated, unfold your napkin and place it across your lap, folded, with the fold toward you. Do this discreetly without flourish. If you need to leave the table, place your napkin on your chair, folded loosely (NEVER wadded). Only after the meal is over should you place your napkin on the table to the left side of your plate (NEVER on your plate!).

Q: How do you wipe your mouth with the napkin? Is it considered poor etiquette to wipe one's mouth with the napkin?
A: It is considered poor etiquette NOT to use your napkin. The purpose of the napkins is to keep food off your face. Use it frequently to discreetly dap or wipe (no ear to ear swiping, please) your mouth. Replace the napkin on your lap loosely folded, not wadded and not stuffed between your legs.

Q: What do you do if you drop your napkin on the floor?
A: If your napkin falls on the floor and it is within easy reach, retrieve it. If you are unable to retrieve the napkin without drawing attention to yourself, ask the server for another one.

Q: When is it okay to begin drinking and eating? Does one wait until the host/hostess starts eating his/her meal at a restaurant?
A: If water is on the table as you are seated, it is appropriate to sip your water after everyone is seated and after you have placed your napkin in your lap. For other beverages and foods, wait until everyone has been served, and do not eat until your host/hostess has begun; when your host picks up his/her fork, this is an indicator that you may do so. Do not help yourself to the bread basket and other communal foods until your host has indicated you may do so. If you pick up the bread basket, hold the basket and offer to the person to your left, then serve yourself, and then pass the basket to the person on your right. (Same applies to butter, salad dressings, and other condiments that are passed.) The host/hostess may ask you to start eating and you should comply with the request.

Q: What do you do if your host/hostess uses the wrong utensil? Do you follow his/her lead?
A: You should eat correctly, but never point out errors of others. If you don't know how to eat a certain food, follow the lead of your host.

Q: What should I order to drink?
A: Water, juice, or iced tea are safe choices. It is best not to order alcohol even if the interviewer does. One glass of wine, sipped slowly, may be acceptable. Know your own limits. You want to remain sharp and responsive. Do not consume alcoholic beverages if you are under 21 years of age! Coffee or hot tea after the meal is okay if this is offered and if time allows.

Q: Is it rude or wrong to use multiple packets of sugar or sweetener in tea or coffee?
A: Limit yourself to one or two packets of sugar. Tear one or both at the same time ¾ of the way at the top of the packet, and leave the paper waste at the side of the plate. Using more than two packets of sugar or artificial sweetener may be seen as excessive.

Q: What is an appropriate way to explain a food allergy?
A: Refrain from talking about health during meals and in business situations. If you know the menu in advance, you can let your host know ahead of time that you cannot eat a certain food. Be pleasant about your request, and apologize for any inconvenience. This allows your host to make arrangements for you. If food you cannot eat is served to you at a meal, simply leave it. Be discreet and pleasant if you are asked why you are not eating. In a restaurant where you are ordering from the menu, you can explain any allergies discreetly to your server. Again, be pleasant and don't call attention to yourself or make this a topic of conversation.

Q: What do you do if the menu is fixed and you are served something you do not want?
A: Be polite and appreciative. Never criticize or state a dislike for a food that is served to you (something we all should have learned by age 5). This is insulting to your host. Simply eat foods you do like, and make an attempt to taste unfamiliar foods. If you are asked point blank if you like something, and it would be an obvious untruth to say you do, say something gracious like, "It's different," or "I'm not accustomed to this flavor, but I'm glad for the opportunity to try this." The job for which you are interviewing may involve business travel and dining in other other cultures than your own. You could be evaluated for you grace in such situations.

Q: What if I order from the menu but am served the wrong thing.
If it's a major mistake, you can discreetly mention this to the server immediately so that it can be corrected. If the error is small — you didn't want tomatoes, but they are served to you, or you received the wrong side dish — ignore it. Fussing over food can make you look childish, finicky and concerned with the wrong things (not assets in a job candidate). Your goal is to appear gracious.

Q: What is appropriate to order for dinner?
A: Simple foods that are easily eaten with a fork and knife (meats, simple salads and soups). Avoid spaghetti or other things with red sauce, huge deli sandwiches, greasy hand held items like pizza, and gassy foods like beans, broccoli, or cauliflower. Sometimes you may not have a choice. Follow your host's lead.

Q: Is it best to avoid ordering a food if you can't pronounce its name?
A: No. If you'd like it, ask the server to describe the food, and point to it on the menu.

Q: How are things like the bread basket, butter and salad dressings passed?
A: When your host indicates ("Please help yourself to bread," or something similar), the person closest takes the service plate/basket, offers it to the person on his left, helps himself, and passes to the person on his right. Always include the service plate in passing; don't, for example, lift the salad dressing bowl off the service plate and pass the bowl by itself. Foods should go from the service plate to your plate, never to your mouth. Butter should be placed on your bread and butter plate, not directly on your bread. Don't touch other people's food, and never use your used utensils to obtain food from a service plate.

Q: Is it okay to spread butter on my entire roll at one time?
A: No. It is appropriate to break off a bite-sized piece of your roll, butter it and eat it, one bite at a time. If the piece you break off is slightly too big to make one bite, it's fine to eat it in two bites, and much better than stuffing a too-large bite into your mouth.

Q: Is it okay to cut your salad if the lettuce pieces are too large?
A: Yes. Cut a few bites at a time; don't slice and dice the entire salad at once. It is preferable to cut large salad pieces than to attempt to stuff large bites of food in your mouth.

Q: How do I eat and answer questions at the same time?
A: By taking very small bites, so you can quickly finish and swallow the bite before speaking. Never speak with food in your mouth. You may not have much time to eat if you are being asked a lot of questions; remember that the main point of the meal is to interact and eating is secondary. You can initiate asking your host questions so that the conversation is more balanced and you have more time to eat. Don't eat too quickly, and don't attempt to hurridly scarf down all your food. A large, hurridly-eaten meal can make you drowsy and uncomfortable; a disadvantage if you have interviewing after the meal.

Q: How should soup be consumed?
A: Dip your spoon away from yourself to fill your spoon with soup. Rest your spoon periodically. When a service plate under the soup bowl is provided, always place your spoon on the service plate behind the bowl. If no service plate is provided, obviously you rest your spoon in the soup bowl. Used utensils are never placed on the table. Sip quietly. To finish the last bit of soup, you may slightly tip your bowl to fill your spoon.

Q: Should one go out of his/her way to use utensils when he/she is eating finger food?
A: When in doubt, eat with a utensil rather than with your fingers, even those foods (like french fries) that you may eat by hand at home. If something is served on a plate, you should use utensils! Chicken, or any other meat with a bone, is not finger food; you should use the knife and fork.

Q: If you are wearing a nametag and are having problems with it, what is the appropriate course of action?
A: If the nametag is not sticky and keeps falling off on the table or on the floor, remove it. If the nametag is in your way, move it.

Q: Is it better to spear or scoop food?
A: Scooping or spearing depends on the type of the food. Do not jab at your food; try to scoop and spear in the same action.

Q: How does one indicate having finished an appetizer or soup? Should the fork or spoon be placed in or out of the bowl?
A: When a service plate is used under the food vessel, always rest your utensil on the service plate behind the food vessel. Obviously if there is no service plate, rest your utensil in the food vessel. Your utensil always rests with the handle to your right. Never place a used utensil on the table. If plates are being cleared and you are not finished, simply lift your utensil as though you are in the process of eating. However, don't lag behind the rest of the diners; if everyone else is finished, and you're not, simply leave the remaining food.

Q: Do you always pass the salt with the pepper, even if someone asks for salt only?
A: Yes, always pass the salt and the pepper together. It is also considered rude to use it first before passing it to the person who asked for it.

Q: Is it rude to season your food before tasting it?
A: Yes. This is an insult to the chef. You should not salt and pepper your food before tasting it. Try a bite first, then season if necessary. Don't over season; this can appear childish.

Q: What do you do if there is a hair in the food?
A: You have a few choices if you find hair in the food. You can discreetly remove it, eat around it, or politely ask the server to bring you another plate. In any case, do not cause a scene and do not spoil the appetites of others at the table.

Q: Do you announce to the table if you need to be excused? What is the appropriate way?
A: You can excuse yourself from the table by saying, "Excuse me"; you do not need to offer an explanation. If you must leave during the meal, you can indicate whether you are finished eating through proper placement of your utensils. Ten and four o'clock (handles at four, knife blade toward you) indicates you are finished. Three o'clock to center (handles at three) indicated you are not finished. Do not rest utensils or utensil handles on the table.

Q: If a lady were to get up during the meal, should all men get up too?
A: Yes, men should rise when a lady leaves the table. It is not necessary to completely stand for a temporary departure. Simply rise off the seat to acknowledge her leaving.

Q: Is it appropriate to put eye drops (for contact lenses) in my eyes at the table?
A: Absolutely not. No grooming of any kind should be done at the table. You should excuse yourself for this purpose.

Q: If you are a slow eater, should you finish completely or just quit when everyone else is finished?
A: Try to stay with the pace of the meal so that you don't hold up the remaining courses. If you are lagging behind, when the others are done eating, don't make them wait on you too long.

Q: Is it ever OK to remove your jacket for heat or other reasons? Is it appropriate to ask? Does this differ for males and females?
A: As a general rule, follow the lead of the host before removing your jacket. If the host keeps on his/her jacket, keep yours on. If it is unbelievably hot, it is appropriate to ask the host's/hostess' permission. This applies to both men and women. Keep in mind that some restaurants/clubs require customers to keep their jackets on during meals.

Q: What is the correct response to someone accidentally sneezing on the table (near the food)?
A: Respond by saying "Bless you," and continue with your meal. If the person sneezed on your meal, don't eat it, but don't make an announcement about it.

Q: Where do you place the knife when you are eating?
A: Put the knife across the top of your plate when you are eating, blade facing toward you.

Q: What do you do with your soup spoon when you are momentarily not eating?
A: When you are resting, place the soup spoon on the service plate, or leave it in the bowl if there is not a service plate. When you are finished, place the spoon on the service plate.

Q: Is it okay to lick your fork/spoon before putting it down?
A: Absolutely not. Remove all food from your utensil when you remove the utensil from your mouth. Do not take partial bites off a utensil; so do not put more food on your utensil than you can place in your mouth with one bite.

Q: What if your dinner fork falls on the floor and you cannot get the server's attention?
A: Do not reach pick up dropped utensils. Wait until you get the server's attention and discreetly ask for a new utensil.

Q: How do I call the server if I need him/her?
A: You can usually catch her/his eye, but if not, you may ask a nearby server. If the matter is not urgent, wait until the server checks at the table to make sure everything is okay; be discreetly on the lookout for him/her to do so, so you won't be caught with your mouth full. Avoid getting up from the table to hunt someone down. Remember the meal is not the main purpose for your being there.

Q: What do you do if a piece of food falls off your plate?
A: If the food falls on the floor, leave it and don't step on it. If the food falls on the table and it is a big piece, use your fork and move it to a corner of your plate. Otherwise, let it be.

Q: How do you let someone know he/she has something in his/her teeth?
A: Be subtle and quiet. Do not bring it to the attention of everyone at the table and do not embarrass the person. If it is someone of importance, you may not want to cause him or her any embarrassment; so let it go!

Q: What if I get something stuck in my teeth?
A: Try to remove the lodged item with your tongue. If this does not work, excuse yourself from the table and go to the restroom. It's a good idea to go to the restroom after the meal to check your teeth and freshen up. Toothpicks should be used discreetly and in private; never at the table.

Q: What do I do if I have a bone in my mouth?
A: If you have a bone in your mouth, remove it unobtrusively with your fork, and place it on the rim of your plate. Any time something needs to be removed from your mouth, remove it be the same means (fork, spoon, fingers, etc.) that it went in.

Q: What do I do when I don't want to swallow something I already have in my mouth (such as an olive pit or a piece of gristle)?
A: If it went in with your fork, it should come out with your fork and likewise with your hands. Move it to your tongue and onto the fork and deposit it on the rim of your plate. No one should notice you doing this, because the fork to mouth motion is a common one made by anyone who is eating.

Q: How do you avoid eating a certain food? (For example, onions on a salad)
A: Discreetly eat around the food and/or move it carefully to the side of the plate or bowl. Don't make a fuss, and don't remove it from the plate.

Q: What should I do if my food is cold or doesn't taste good?
A: If your food needs to be warmer but is not unbearable, you should just eat it and not call the server over to avoid a scene. However, if it is not edible, politely call the server over and explain.

Q: What do you say when you really don't like your meal and someone asks, "How is your meal?"
A: Be polite and say, "Fine, thank you."

Q: Is it OK to rest your wrists on the edge of the table in between bites?
A: Yes, it is all right to rest your wrists on the edge of the table or place your hands in your lap, but no elbows on the table!

Q: As a left-hander, is there anything one should do differently?
A: If you are allowed to choose your seat, choose a seat where you do not hit any other person's elbows.

Q: Should you clean your plate in any particular way? (Push all uneaten food to one side?)
A: You do not have to clean your plate. It is polite to leave some food on your plate. Do not push the remaining food around on the plate

Q: What do I do to signal I am finished with my meal?
A: Your silverware should be parallel to each other in the ten and four o'clock position (as on the face of a clock), with handles at 4:00 and tops of the utensils at 10:00. The knife blade points toward you. Never place or rest used utensils on the table.

Q: What do I do when the check comes?
A: Typically in an interview, you are the guest and so the meal is paid for by the company. Your host will most likely pick up the check so you won't have to deal with it. Remember to thank your host for the meal at its conclusion.

Q: What should I do if I feel sick during the dinner?
A: If you really cannot make it through the dinner, just excuse yourself and go to the rest room. Return when you are feeling better or have the server explain that you are not feeling well.

Key Points to Remember:
1. Remember the purpose of the meal.
2. Follow the lead of your host or hostess.
3. Be discreet.

Additional reading:
Acing the Lunch Interview
How to Use a Knife, Fork, and Spoon
How to Use a Napkin
Tips and Pitfalls
Foods You Can Eat with Your Fingers
The Secret of the Formal Place Setting