<p>I'm meeting my Harvard interviewer tomorrow at Starbucks and I am having a discussion with my friend about how to introduce myself. She told me to offer him coffee but I just think that's weird and as if I am trying too hard.</p>
<p>Now we are having a full blown argument. She thinks it is common courtesy while I think that they wouldn't want to be offered by a mere 17-year-old and it may seem like I'm sucking up.</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>I’m an alumni interviewer who met a prospective student at a coffee shop. She was already there and had a cup in front of her. I said hello, said I’d get myself a cup of coffee and did so. I wouldn’t have thought it weird if she’d offered (but then we’d lose the table), but there’s no way I would have accepted it. Honestly, we’re not out to get you! If you get there second, I imagine the interviewer will already have a cup; in that case (assuming you’ve connected) I might say "would you mind if I get a cup of coffee? And then presuming the answer is no, not at all, I might say “can I get you anything?” and the interviewer will certainly say no, other than perhaps, a napkin :)</p>
<p>Below is text from a reply I made before:</p>
<p>This is not a dumb 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.</p>
<p>1) 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. No need for you to offer to buy him/her one. If he/she wants one, he/she will purchase one.</p>
<p>2) 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>If both parties are more equal (say classmates or student & grad assistant), then the mutual offering of drinks is more common.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Good luck, interviewees!</p>