Sorry if this is a really stupid question, but we’re stumped.
D has an alumni interview at Panera. What is the etiquette for this? Does she get herself a drink then wait for the interviewer? Does she wait to get her drink until the interviewer gets there? If the interviewer is already there, does she offer to buy D a drink? Who pays?
Clearly you can tell this is our first time at this rodeo!
if she wants a drink, get there early before the interviewer to get one. If she gets there and the interviewer is already there, don’t get anything - just sit down for the interview. I think it would be unlikely that the interviewer would pay for anything.
Hm. Well, even though I’ve never done an alumni interview, I have conducted and done several interviews in the past in my high school, and outside (joining a club, scholarship competitions, interviewing doctors, etc.)
If she ends up getting there first, I would recommend her waiting for the interviewer to come. The reason why is because if she ends up getting a drink first, and the interviewer comes after, he/she may want a drink. Then, they will wait in line, get a drink, then sit down for the interview. This takes away time from the interview and causes a disconnect in the beginning.
When the interviewer comes, I would greet him/her and ask if they would like a drink. If they join your D in line, then they can have some small talk and get to know each other while they wait. When they get to the cash register, she should let the interviewer order their drink first, then your D order her’s. When the cashier asks for payment, D should say that she will be “more than happy to pay for the drink”. If the interviewer says that it would be too much of a burden, your D can say “it’s no problem at all. I can pay for it.” However, if the interviewer insists he/she pay, let them. There is no sense in arguing.
If the interviewer doesn’t wanna wait in line, your D should ask for what he/she would like. Then she should order their’s and her’s, then come back to the table and give the drink to the interviewer first before setting her’s down. Personally, I would wait for the interviewer to try his/her’s first before your D drinks her’s.
This is just my opinion, so you may consider it if you’d like. Good luck to her!
@mjrube94 - applicants are not expected to offer nor pay for the interviewers. Applicants are not expected to offer to stand in line for them either. Interviewers may or may not offer to buy / pay for the applicants. If they offer - take it (if your D wants it). If not - just focus on the interview.
My D did an alumni interview at a Starbucks which is a very similar thing. Many interviewers prefer to meet at a public place which I think is a good idea. Here is my advice…
-If your D would like a drink, arrive early and she should purchase it herself (it is a good idea to arrive 10 minutes or so early in any event). It is fine to have a drink at the interview. On the off chance the interviewer does offer to purchase her drink, I’d think it is fine to accept.
-She should not offer to buy a drink for the interviewer (while it seems at first glance like good manners, it could be construed as offering some kind of a bribe in return for positive evaluation)
–It is possible that when your D arrives the interviewer is with another candidate. It will probably be obvious who the interviewer is and the interviewer will probably figure out that your D is there for the next interview. She may need to wait a few minutes until the interview before hers is complete. She shouldn’t hover next to the table the interviewer is at , but should stay where she is visable. It isn’t as complicated as I made it sound – it all just kind of works out.
This is good question as this is often a young person’s first encounter with an interview/meeting w/some social protocols in place. This is applicable to other business mtgs as well.
If you arrive early and want one, get yourself a drink. When the interviewer (clearly your senior) arrives, he/she may or may not get a drink. You do not offer to buy him/her one. If he/she wants one, he/she will purchase one.
If you both arrive simultaneously or the interviewer is there already, he/she may offer to buy you a drink. If so, accept if you want one. If not, you can decline politely and have a seat.
If he/she does not offer you a drink and you want one, ask if you can excuse yourself to get one. Nothing wrong with this whatsoever. Again, no need whatsoever to offer to buy him/her a drink.
This is the typical situation when a junior and a senior meet (interviewee & interviewer, student & professor, job applicant & hiring person, etc.) – the senior knows to offer to buy a drink for the junior or at least allow junior to buy himself/herself a drink; the junior does not offer to buy a drink for senior.
If both parties are more equal (say classmates or student & grad assistant), then the mutual offering of drinks is more common.
In most circumstances, it’s inadvisable to order food/snacks unless you know, in advance, that this is a business meal (i.e. both are having breakfast, lunch or dinner). You don’t want to be chatting w/food in your mouth if at all possible. And if offered, don’t ask for the $6-8 super mocha frappe whatevercinno or kiwi smoothie with whey powder and unicorn dust. Get a simple tea, coffee or soda that’ll cost $2.
Good luck, interviewees!