Interview in person etiquette

Interview attire tips:

• Proper outfit or clothes to wear: Unless you’ve been told by your interviewer that you should dress casually, you should wear clothing that’s appropriate for an interview. For men, that means a 2-piece suit, shirt, and tie OR clean and pressed slacks, a shirt, a tie, and a blazer. Whether you wear lace-up shoes or loafers, they should be clean and shined. For women, that means a 2-piece pant or skirt suit and shirt OR clean and pressed slacks, a shirt, and a blazer. Whether you wear high heels or not-so-high heels, they should be clean and shined.

• Don’t wear uncomfortable shoes: Some women wear heels that are so uncomfortable that they have trouble walking or even need to take them off while they’re seated. But, what if you’ve taken off your uncomfortable shoes and suddenly need to stand up to shake hands with the company’s CEO—who just happened to stop by to speak with your interviewer? Or, what if your interviewer wants to show you around the company but your feet hurt too much to walk? If you really want the job you’re interviewing for, leave the uncomfortable shoes at home and wear shoes that are comfortable.

• How to dress on “casual” day: If your interviewer tells you that the day you’re interviewing is “casual Friday,” you shouldn’t wear the pants and hoodie you wear to class. Instead, if you’re a male, wear clean and pressed slacks and a shirt. A blazer is optional. If you’re a female, wear clean and pressed slacks and a shirt or sweater. Again a blazer is optional. Remember once you get the job, you can dress like everyone else. But, until you do, dress accordingly.

Interview meal etiquette:

• Why a meal interview isn’t about eating: Some interviewees think that an interview conducted during a meal is less formal and easier than one held in an office. In fact, an interview during a meal is somewhat more challenging. Why is that the case? Because you need to multitask—make “small talk,” listen to your interviewer, reply to her questions, and, of course, eat. Are you getting the picture? An interview during a meal ISN’T about eating. In fact, if you’ve finished your interview but ate very little, you probably had a worthwhile conversation with your interviewer.

• Where to sit during meal interview: If you and the interviewer walk into a dining room or restaurant together, let her sit first. Then take a seat—either across from her if there’s just one other chair at the table or next to her if there are several chairs available. If the interviewer is already seated in the dining room or restaurant, when you meet her, shake hands, say that you’re happy to meet her, and sit down.

• Making small talk: Usually, you and the interviewer will engage in some “small talk,” such as whether you had any trouble finding this restaurant, whether you’ve eaten there before, or how the weather has been.

• What to eat during meal interview: If your interviewer takes the time to look at the menu, you should do so as well. If you’re not sure about what to order, you can say, “Have you eaten here before? If so, what would you suggest?” Whether or not your interviewer suggests a particular item or entrée (French word for main course or meal), you should order something that’s relatively easy to eat, such as a salad or a chicken or fish dish that you’re able to cut into small pieces. Don’t order spaghetti, a large, juicy, hamburger, or corn on the cob. Such items are both messy and difficult to eat. What’s important is that you need to be ready—at any moment—to respond to your interviewer. If you’re struggling to chew a huge mouthful of food, you’ll have trouble being verbally agile.

• What to do before and during meal interviews: Here are two last suggestions. First, have a light snack before you go to lunch. That way, you won’t be that hungry. Second, if you’re not sure which utensil or plate is which, watch your interviewer. If she picks up her glass of water on the right side, your glass will also be on the right. Or, if she uses a small fork that’s on the far left to eat her salad, you should do so as well.

How to shake hands with interviewer:

• Don’t shake unnaturally: Some people think that the stronger or longer they shake hands, the more impressive they’ll seem. Actually, the opposite is true.

• Shake hands naturally: When you enter a room and see your interviewer, walk up to this person, shake hands, and say, “Mr. Brown, I’m Frank Wu. I’m happy to meet you.”Your handshake should be brief and natural for you. Don’t grasp your interviewer’s hand tightly. Also don’t vigorously pump your and your interviewer’s hands up and down.

• When to shake hands with interviewer: You shake hands at the start of an interview when you first meet your interviewer and also at the end of your meeting.

• If your interviewer doesn’t shake hands: If your interviewer isn’t inclined to shake hands, don’t worry. Sit down and focus on your interview.

How and where to sit during an interview:

• Where to sit during interview: If you walk into an office and your interviewer is already seated behind a desk, take the seat that’s across from him. Or, if you walk into a conference room and your interviewer is seated at a table, take a seat that’s either next to (if he’s at the head of the table) or across from him. If the seat at the head of the table is empty, don’t take this seat. That seat is usually for the “boss,” which, in this case, isn’t you.

• Where to sit during meal interview: And if you walk into a restaurant for your interview and your interviewer is already seated, take the seat across from him (if there’s only one other chair at the table) or next to him.