The Public interview

Surviving the interview while dining out.

Prospective employers, for many reasons, have been known to hold interviews in a variety of public places. One of the most popular places for scheduling a public interview is a restaurant. Whatever the reason for the choice of venue, the more prepared you are for this interview, the smoother it will go.

The reasoning behind scheduling an interview here can be either a matter of convenience for the person giving the interview or quite possibly your prospective employer wants to see how you conduct yourself socially. Either way, you’re going to have to revise your table manners and social skills because most likely, you will be expected to talk and eat during the course of the interview.

Interviewing is a stressful process in an office setting and it is far more challenging when you are expected to interview in a social setting. In a public setting you will need to focus on the interviewer because there will certainly be distractions, such as waiting staff and background noise within the establishment where you are being interviewed. It is always a good idea to choose carefully from the menu and something uncomplicated is usually a good choice. You will want to avoid foods that tend to be messy or can get stuck in your teeth easily. There is nothing more embarrassing than answering a question with spinach stuck in your teeth and it certainly won’t do much for winning over your prospective employer - even if you do have a winning smile. A great way to avoid this scenario altogether is to visit the restaurant and choose an item on the menu prior to arriving for your interview. Brushing up on your table manners for your public interview will be beneficial as well. It will show you are able to conduct yourself professionally in any social situation. Another good tip is avoiding alcoholic beverages at all costs. In addition to keeping a clear head during the interview, that glass of wine is certain to taste much better when you are sitting at home, relieved when the interview is over.