Question:

I have an interview coming up that's going to last a few hours. I'll be meeting with three people throughout the day, including the CEO of the company, whom I'll be meeting for lunch. I've never done an interview where there's a meal involved, so now I'm nervous! Any advice?

Answer:

By Brad Karsh and Courtney Pike

The full-day interview with lunch! Yes, that can be a little intimidating if you don’t put it into perspective.

First, you want to prepare like any other interview. Do your “YOU” prep work which means going through your resume and familiarizing yourself with everything you have done. It sounds crazy, but you will know what I mean the first time someone asks “Tell me about an obstacle you have overcome when you were working on a team.” Of course, this question is easy to answer if you’ve thought about it before the interview.

Here are a few tips for long interview days:

1. Bring several copies of your resume in a padfolio. Since you will be meeting with several people, you want to make sure everyone has a copy.

2. Ask for a business card from each person that interviews you. You want to have the name and email address of everyone you speak with so you can promptly send him or her a thank you note after the interview. It’s also a great idea to make notes on the back of the business card that references something that will help you remember them. Ex: Red Tabasco tie, born in Louisiana.

3. Stay in the game. For each interview, you have to pretend like it is your FIRST interview. You may get asked the same question by three different people, but of course, you answer with the same energy and sincerity as if it were a novel and very original question.

Now, for the ever-so-important lunch with the CEO! Of course, you want to follow all of your grandmother’s rules – don’t chew with food in your mouth, don’t wave your fork around when making hand gestures, and don’t rest your elbows on the table. Fortunately, the CEO is more concerned with your experience and background than whether or not you correctly butter your bread.

Play it safe with the food. Don’t pick finger foods, spaghetti, or oysters on the half shell. Buffalo wings might be your all-time favorite, but you can celebrate with your friends that night with an extra-saucy batch. No one wants to return to the last round of interviews with Ragu on her white blouse. You also want to be liberal with your napkin use. It’s difficult to be taken seriously if there is salad dressing on your mouth.

Play it conservative with your order. You don’t need to get the side salad or a cup of soup, but you also don’t want to order the $45 surf and turf. Try to pick something in the same price range as the CEO, and it’s always smart to pass on the alcohol. During an interview, you want to be on the top of your game, and a mid-day martini will give you the lazy eye.

Follow the lead. Is he ordering dessert? Is he ordering coffee? Is he eating slowly and speaking between bites? You will probably be famished after a long morning, but resist the urge to inhale your grilled chicken sandwich. Take small bites so you aren’t caught with a mouthful and keep the CEO waiting 4 minutes while you finish chewing.

Be polite. The way you treat the waiter may be the CEO’s cue of how you will interact with members of a team. Be sure to say please and thank you, and don’t complain about the food – even if it is bland or rubbery. Since you were invited to lunch, do not worry about the check. Just say thanks and send a follow up thank you for a nice meal.

Be yourself. Interview lunches are usually a little more casual than boardroom interviews. Remember, this is a human being sitting across from you. Do not think you have to talk about the state of the economy and interest rates the entire meal. CEOs want passionate, driven people at their company not two-dimensional puppets. Relax and enjoy the company.

Keep these tips in mind, and that will not be your last lunch with the CEO!

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Brad Karsh is President and Courtney Pike is Director of Communications at JobBound (http://www.jobbound.com), a company dedicated to helping job seekers with resume writing, interviewing, career coaching and landing that dream job. JobBound has been featured on CNN, The Dr. Phil Show and CNBC and quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fortune, The Chicago Tribune and many others. Author of Confessions of a Recruiting Director: The Insider's Guide to Landing Your First Job (Prentice Hall Press), Brad is considered one of the nation's leading expert on the job search.