<p>I have 2 interviews on saturday, with one being for Columbia College. The problem is that I dont know the etiquette of how to handle the restaurant bills (or something like Starbucks). Do I get to pay it all, or do we split, or what? I dont want to make something awkward - in country I am from at certain situations splitting the bill is considered very disrespectful, etc. Is it ok in the US?</p>
<p>any ideas?</p>
<p>Um, on an interview you are never expected to pay for your food/drink, and you should never offer (forcefully or just to be polite) to pay for it. Also, a Columbia interviewer won’t likely be spending more than $5 on you (if anything) since he’s paying for it out of his own pocket.</p>
<p>oh, wait. so you think that he is the one going to pay for it ? I still feel really uncomfortable with some stranger paying for me however small the amount is. How does it work if they interview dozens of people, would they have to pay for everyone? will that apply to every interviewer?</p>
<p>I really don’t know what Columbia2002 is talking about.</p>
<p>YOU always pay for what you buy.</p>
<p>And you should ask your interviewer if he wanted anything and offer to pay for them. (They almost always say NO, as is the custom in the US)</p>
<p>But NEVER expect the interviewer to pay for you… NEVER</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Your interviewer will offer to buy you a cup of coffee if he’s meeting you at a coffee house. If he doesn’t want to buy you coffee, he’d do the interview somewhere else where he doesn’t have to buy you coffee. Most interviewers probably interview less than 5 people.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Um, you’re a high school student, or do you have real world experience? This is basic interviewing 101, and you don’t have a clue. If an interviewee offered to buy something for the interviewer, that would be seen as highly inappropriate.</p>
<p>The interviewer is kind enough to take the time for the interview and you should not expect them to pay. But if they do insist, do not continue to say that you will pay, just accept it and thank them.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>God you’re dumb. If he’s bringing you to a coffee house, he’s telling you he’s going to buy you a $3 coffee. If he didn’t want to buy you coffee, he’ll interview you at his office or in a library or something. This is basic.</p>
<p>^yeah guys, stop arguing with C02, the standard practice is for your interviewer to pay for stuff, he/she is older than you, and is a columbia grad, you are a high school student and it would almost be insulting if you insisted on paying for him/her. I had one interview at a starbucks, my interviewer was already there, I went to the counter, got myself a coffee and sat down, this seemed like the straight-forward thing to do. In any place where you receive a common check though, your interviewer will always pay, if this is not immediately clear, out of politeness you can ask to split it, but if the interviewer replies saying he/she wishes to pay for it, just nod and say thanks, it important to know how to accept a token with grace.</p>
<p>columbia, you’re dumb… maybe the person just likes the atmosphere?</p>
<p>in any case, it’s the interviewer that decides.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is still not correct. It’s universally understood that an interviewer pays, so offering to split it shows ignorance not politeness.</p>
<p>Columbia, maybe in your own little world, it is understood, but not in the real word…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Seriously, you’re arguing with alums who CONDUCT interviews. They know what they are talking about. You don’t. Get over it.</p>
<p>SO who’s the alum who conducts the interview?</p>
<p>I also know people who conduct interviews…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>What real world are you in? You’re a high school student, no?</p>
<p>If I were being interviewed at Starbucks I would definitely pay for my own drink but accept it if the interviewer offered to pay. I wouldn’t offer to pay though, that’d be weird…</p>
<p>I disagree w/ C2002 who’s all like “DUH IT’S OBVIOUS the interviewer pays”… maybe for him when he interviews kids but real life is a little more ambiguous unfortunately.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No, it’s universally understood that interviewees don’t pay for their food/drinks.</p>
<p>Quick googling reveals this back-up for my point, which is totally an obvious one:</p>
<p>[Interview</a> Dining Etiquette - MonsterTRAK.com](<a href=“http://www.monstertrak.com/career-guide/entry-level-job-search/int_dining-etiquette]Interview”>http://www.monstertrak.com/career-guide/entry-level-job-search/int_dining-etiquette) :</p>
<p>“You were invited to the meal so you are not obligated to pay the bill. To offer payment would be inappropriate. Whoever invited you will pay the bill.”</p>
<p>[Mastering</a> The Meal Interview or Lunch Interview](<a href=“http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/meal-lunch-interview.html]Mastering”>Loading...) :</p>
<p>"DON’T OFFER TO PAY. It’s never expected of a job candidate, and you don’t need to do it. "</p>
<p>With my Yale interview, my interviewer and I went out to dinner at Chili’s and spent 4.5 hours talking. She paid for my food even though I told her it would be fine if we split the check. She was very nice, a high school principal. You guys can’t say YES YOU ALWAYS PAY or YES YOU ALWAYS LET THEM PAY. It really depends on your interviewer. However, it’s always polite to offer.</p>
<p>And I say it’s polite to offer because it would be rude to assume they’ll pay for you.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You’re a high school student. Your statement is based on nothing but your personal opinion–not logic or experience. And it’s wrong.</p>
<p>Get there ten minutes before him/her and pay for your food. Get something for him/her and when he gets in, hand it in. That is so British and would win you points.</p>