<p>I have an interview tomorrow at a Borders cafe. Should I arrive 10 minutes early and buy two drinks (one for me and one for him)? Would that be weird? Should I call him by his first name or Mr._____ (which is what I've been doing in the emails)?</p>
<p>Dress in something decent (no jeans), arrive early, have something to drink yourself if you want, but dispose of it when your interview person arrives OR if they are already there do NOT order a drink (look, nothing is worse than fumbling over a drink or food or spilling it on yourself, or god forbid, spilling it on the admission rep - people in business know this trick...when offered a beverage during an interview or client meeting SAY NO THANK YOU. It's a distraction. It also gives a very subtle message of "I'm more interested in this beverage/food than going to your college/ getting your business/ landing this job, etc.... Business lunches are different, by the way, with their own rules.)</p>
<p>So, given that advice, don't buy them anything either (it is presumptous to think you know what they would want). </p>
<p>And absolutely call him Mr. whatever. The only time that you should do otherwise would be if he specifically told you something else. And, finally, send a thank you note within a week. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. So no drink? It feels kind of weird taking up space without buying anything...</p>
<p>God. My advice? Don't sweat it so much. Having a cup of coffee wouldn't be the end of the world! *Refusing *a drink might well be seen as nervous or defensive! Don't sweat it, just go with the flow. They're not there to kill you!</p>
<p>I agree. If the interview is at Borders, then it's nothing incredibly formal...</p>
<p>I would get there early and get a drink first, then you won't be fumbling over your drink. But if you don't get there early enough to do that, don't turn down a drink if it's offered. Try to pay for your own drink, but be gracious if the interviewer wants to pay for it. My kids never address people my age by their first name and their friends always call me Mrs. ___. Don't forget to shake the person's hand when you meet him, but if it's a woman you wait for her to extend her hand. Send a hand written thank-you note.</p>
<p>dood, if you want coffee, get coffee, if you don't, don't. The fact that you are even worrying about this says to me that you don't have enough self-confidence, in which case you have bigger fish to fry than whether or not you should get coffee.</p>
<p>One thing to remember is that you are not interviewing with your peers. You are interviewing with people that are your parents' age. Unfortunately, with us manners matter. Evereything your parents have taught you should be remembered now - say please, thank-you, don't play with your hands or any parts of your body, always look at the person's eyes when you are speaking. Virtuoso_735 shows maturity by asking those questions. But sometimes ignorance is also a blessing.</p>
<p>what if they are only 23?</p>
<p>Then you can call him a dude or her a dudette.</p>
<p>lol, just order a coffee if you want one and make sure you don't spill it or anything, its not that difficult</p>