<p>So my UChicago interviewer requested that we meet at Chipotle or this local pizza place Friday evening (around dinner)... it's downtown in a pretty big city so I was surprised that she didn't offer Starbucks as a first option. </p>
<p>Can anyone with experience with this give me advice for what to expect? </p>
<p>I've had interviews at coffee shops before, but I feel like since she's probably expecting this to be a light dinner it will be different. What's the etiquette in this situation? How do I avoid the awkwardness of eating and talking?</p>
<p>Allow your interviewer to order first to see if he/she order for a light meal or a real dinner and then make yours accordingly would be my suggestion.</p>
<p>The best would be to not order anything that would be eaten with your hands. You really wouldn’t want to appear messy, if you go to the Pizza place that’ll be difficult. Just see what he does, if he eats his pizza with a knife and fork, then you should as well, etc.</p>
<p>It’s at 5:30 so I’m assuming she’s treating this like we’re getting dinner. She graduated in '11 so she’s probably very new to the whole interview process. The pizza place is just about as casual as chipotle so i went with that. But I was wondering if interviewers or people who have had an interview over a meal have any experiences to share, since this is a pretty uncommon occurence.</p>
<p>Just to update this for future applicants, do your best to avoid an interview with any food involved… it was awkwards sometimes, even though the pizza was good! It could interfere with the interview, although it didn’t for me this time- it felt more like a date, LOL… but I suppose that was a good thing since it went amazing.</p>
<p>Okay, I know this is an old thread but just bumping it.
What is the etiquette like for an interview at a five star hotel? I feel a bit intimidated because it’s very unusual- whatever interviews I’ve had have been at starbucks. So what do I wear?? How do I act?</p>
<p>The restaurant in a 5 star hotel will probably require men to wear jackets. If you’re female, dress nicely but you don’t have to wear a suit. Unless the interviewer orders food, I’d stay only with a drink. If the interviewer does get food, get something small and easy to eat. Don’t feel compelled to eat the whole thing.</p>
<p>But it’s at 5 pm, so it probably wouldn’t be in the restaurant right? probably their coffee shop or lobby? The interviewer just mentioned the name of the hotel, no further details. Is it okay if I wear dark blue jeans with a button down shirt and blazer (female). Should I offer to pay? Also, is it usual for an interview to be in such a formal setting?</p>
<p>That outfit sounds fine. No, you don’t offer to pay – he/she is your senior and invited you to a place of his/her choosing. It’s on his/her dime. Usual or not, it’s fine. (many years ago, my Yale interview was in the restaurant of a Holiday Inn, chosen because it was a known, mutually agreed upon location)</p>