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Ten Things to Never Order at a Meal Interview

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Contents

- Job Search Tip of the Week, by Brian Krueger, author of "College Grad Job Hunter," the #1 book for entry level job search:

"Ten Things to Never Order at a Meal Interview"

  1. Spaghetti
    It's bad form to cut it, worse form to twirl the huge ball and worst form to slurp up the one that tried to get away ...
  2. Pizza
    Ever get hot pizza stuck to the roof of your mouth? Or pulled the toppings off in a clump right into your lap?
  3. French onion soup
    This is the one soup that should come with a knife and a fork ... See "French Onion Soup Technique" below
  4. Most expensive item on the menu
    You don't want to be an asterisk on an expense report ...
  5. Least expensive item on the menu
    That includes anything on the kids menu, even if you still love chicken fingers . . .
  6. Any fish with the head or bones still attached
    "Hey waiter, I think the chef forgot to skin and clean this here fish!"
  7. Any food that requires you to lick your fingers when you are finished
    "Them there were da best ribs I've ever eaten ..."
  8. Any food that requires a bib
    Even if the little lobster bib does match your suit ...
  9. Any food in a foreign language, unless you are 100% sure of the pronunciation
    "Hey there, garcon, I'll have one of them there fillet mig-nons ..."
  10. Any food you are not sure how to eat
    Artichokes come to mind ...

French Onion Soup Technique

College students are often under the mistaken impression that they must conduct themselves perfectly in an interview. If they make a mistake, they've had it. Interview over. Give it up. History.

In truth, that point of view often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. A manager rejected a candidate after his meal interview. What happened? The candidate spilled soup on his tie. Mistakes happen. But this candidate proceeded to lick off his tie . . . But it does not have to be that way. Occasional "stumble errors" do happen. But if you use your error as an opportunity for well-placed humor, you can actually increase your odds.

Let me give you an example. I was on a luncheon interview with three partners from the firm I hoped to work for after college. I made the foolish error of ordering French onion soup. Why an error? Well, it wasn't just onion soup--it was French onion soup. So it also had that chewy, crusty piece of French bread smothered with mozzarella cheese buried in the steaming broth. Still don't see the problem? Let me describe it to you graphically--every time I tried to take a spoonful of the soup, I also brought with it a two- to three-foot strand of stringy cheese. As hard as I tried, I could not get that cheese to separate from the bowl on the way to my mouth. So there I was, trying to convince these managers that I would make an outstandingly graceful consultant, when I could not even gracefully handle the soup sitting in front of me.

So what did I do? I took the spoon out one last time, lifted it high into the air--with all eyes at the table fixed on the three-foot strand of cheese--and stated calmly, "I promise you that I will never, ever again order French onion soup for as long as I work for this firm. One of my greatest assets is that when I make a mistake, I recognize it, change, and never make that mistake again!" We all broke into laughter. That broke the tension and made everyone feel comfortable again.

P.S. I got the job.

So if you make an obvious error, use self-deprecating humor to remove the tension--and the error--from the situation. It shows that you can admit to your own mistakes and laugh at yourself at the same time--two valuable traits for any company employee.

Another student arrived for the company-site interview minus his luggage (containing his interviewing suit), which apparently chose to take an alternate flight to Los Angeles. Others might have considered calling off the interview in disgust, but he showed up in his blue jeans, sweatshirt, and tennis shoes. As he met each new person during the interviewing process, he began by assuring them that he really did own a blue pinstripe suit. Everyone got a good laugh and he got the job.

Next newsletter: "Friends in High Places"

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Job Search Links:

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- Job Search Book Online

There are at least two other entry level Web sites that offer books on job searching, proclaming that they will tell you everything you need to know about entry level job search.

However, there is a very important point about these books they don't mention up front: they cost money.

At CollegeGrad.com, we give you two things they don't:

  1. The #1 entry level job search book ("College Grad Job Hunter").
  2. It's free.

It's that simple. So don't buy the hype. Read the real information you need for FREE:

http://www.CollegeGrad.com/book

Don't ever pay for books or reports or resources of lower quality when you can access the very best quality information for free.

P.S. Yes, you can buy "College Grad Job Hunter" in hardcopy format as well at Amazon.com for $15 (actually, 30% off that price), but the online version is better. Why? Because the version at Amazon.com is being continually updated at CollegeGrad.com. So the most current version of the book is actually the online, free version.


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