So tomorrow I will be going to an interview at Starbucks and I was hoping for some tips. Also l was wondering if I get there before my interviewer should I buy a drink already or sit and wait? Should I offer to buy my interviewers drink? If they offer to buy my drink do I politely decline or accept?
If you arrive first, it is OK to get something to drink while you wait. If the interviewer would be delayed, do you really want to be hanging out there while you wait for a long time without anything to drink?
It would be charming of you to offer to buy them a coffee, but I’d expect that offer to be turned down. If they offer to pay for you, it would be polite to refuse, but if they insist, be gracious and let them pay. This isn’t a time to fight over the check.
I’d also suggest no super messy drinks, and no snacks. You don’t want to suddenly choke on a cookie do you?
Good luck with the interview!
I have interviewed countlessly in coffee shops. If this isn’t a personal interview, chances are, the interviewer has been there for hours before you have come and has interviewed other people. So, they probably have a drink (as was the case for all my interviews). It would personally be cringie to ask them to buy a drink because they already have one and also probably don’t have time to waste because there are people interviewing after you. However, if this isn’t the case, it doesn’t hurt to ask if you arrive before or are the only interview scheduled.
It would be cringeworthy to offer to buy your interviewer a drink. Feel free to arrive a little before the interview and have yourself a simple drink (avoid something like a frappuccino). If your interviewer offers to buy you a drink, politely refuse unless they persistently insist. In that case, the same rule applies (simple drink).
As an interviewer, I usually have a drink because I don’t want to use up a table at a coffee shop without buying anything. I don’t think you should offer to buy a drink (even though it is kind) because you don’t want to make it seem like a “bribe”. If you do want to get a drink, make sure you get their early enough to wait in line.
As an interviewer, I always buy a drink because I am using the coffee shop’s space. I always offer to buy the interviewee a drink if they don’t already have one, but whether they take me up on the offer or not makes no difference to me. Often interviewees will have water, which I think is smart because we will be talking for at least half an hour. I try to get to the spot 5-10 minutes before the designated time and most interviewees are usually early. I don’t mind if an interviewee is a few minutes late, but I do get annoyed if they are ever more than 15 minutes late.
thanks for the help guys! I got there early and sat down with my drink and when my interviewer came she just sat down right away. It was… odd to say the least. We shook hands and she told me her name but then she stopped talking. She didn’t ask me a single question the entire interview so I started rambling and kept asking about her experience at the college. I don’t think it went that well but luckily it wasn’t a top choice haha
@pveg123 I wouldn’t worry. It is always hit or miss with alumni interviewers.