The good news: you landed an interview for that job you’re interested in. The potentially bad news: your prospective boss wants to conduct the interview over lunch. “Meal interviews” can come about for several reasons. Perhaps the interviewer has an insanely busy schedule and must multi-task by talking with you over lunch. Or the reason could be a bit sneakier-as in, wanting to size up not only your business credentials, but also on your table manners and ability to successfully mix business and pleasure.

This trial run is a legitimate test for candidates who may be doing a lot of these “let’s do lunch” meetings if they secure the job. But no matter the reason for the lunch meeting, the trick to mastering this specific interview is to incorporate the usual blow-them-away techniques with some tips uniquely relevant to mealtime meetings.

? Remember mom’s rules. The quickest way to turn off a potential employer is to appall him with your table manners. You probably slack off a bit when you’re at home, so in the meals leading up to the big interview, go back to the basics. Sit up straight, no elbows on the table, put your napkin in your lap, use the proper utensils, etc. And for heaven’s sake, don’t talk with your mouth full. If you have real concerns about your table manners, ask a good friend to dine with you and give you honest feedback.

? Choose your food (and drink) wisely. The number one rule of thumb? No alcohol. Even in the unlikely event that your interviewer makes it a martini lunch, stick with water, tea, coffee, or lemonade. Skip the soda and seltzer because belching isn’t exactly professional. When it comes to food, picking the “right” entr?e is as tricky as a first-date meal selection. You don’t want to go too cheap-a salad says that you aren’t comfortable-but you also want to stay away from the priciest item on the menu. Because you’re the guest, you’ll probably order first, so you may not be able to depend on the interviewer to set the tone. The best choice is to stick to something middle-of-the-road but easy to eat. Go easy on messy pastas, sauce-covered ribs, or anything that will have a strong aroma.

? Juggle food and conversation wisely. The trickiest element of a lunch interview is the balancing act between eating and talking. You’re likely nervous and may be tempted to simply pick at your food, but you want to come across as confident, and that doesn’t happen when you’re pushing chicken around on your plate. The solution is to take small bites so you’re not stuck with 30 seconds of chew time just as you’re asked a question. It’s also wise to avoid shoveling your food in just to get it over with-that’s just begging for hard-to-hide digestive problems.

? Finish strong. Just as with a traditional, in-office meeting, let the interviewer set the pace. If she doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to end the conversation after the meal, feel free to order a cup of coffee and keep talking. But pay attention to cues that she wants to wrap it up-asking you whether you have any final questions or looking around madly for the waiter and your check, for example.

Other tips for successfully navigating a meal interview:

? Be nice to your server. Your interviewer is looking at all of your behavior to determine whether you’d be a good fit for the company.

? No matter how much you dislike what you ordered-or even if you’re served the wrong dish-make an effort to go with the flow. “Unflappable” is always a good impression to give.

? Don’t ask for a box at the end of the meal. Regardless of how succulent the steak or how fresh the salmon, a doggie bag makes it hard to take you seriously as a candidate.

? Don’t suggest that you pick up the check. It’s never expected and comes off as awkward rather than polite.

? Reiterate your interest in the position as you’re saying your farewells.

? When sending your follow-up thank you note, don’t forget to thank him for the lovely meal, as well as for his time.

Best Resume And Cover Letter Secrets

By: Jason Kay
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Pay attention to your interview body language – it plays a critical role in determining how you come across in the job interview! Non-verbal communication accounts for over 90% of the message you are sending the interviewer. 58% of that is your actual body language and 38% is the way you speak including voice tone and pitch. There are 7 simple ways to ensure that you are sending the right message with your interview body language.

1. Sit Properly

Sit upright but in a relaxed fashion leaning slightly forward at about a 10 to 15 degree angle towards the interviewer. This send the message that you are an interested and involved candidate. Hunching down or leaning off to the side gives an impression of nervousness, a sloppy posture and leaning back appears casual and careless, perching on the edge of the chair comes across as tense.

2. Be Aware of your Hands

The best is to rest them loosely-clasped in your lap or on the table if there is one. Fiddling with hair, face or neck sends the message of anxiety and uncertainty. Body language experts agree that touching the nose, lips or ears can signal that the candidate is lying. Keep your hands out of your pockets. Hands pushed down into pockets send a message of secretiveness, showing your palms helps to build trust.

3. Don’t Fold Arms

Folding arms across the chest suggests a defensive type of position. It sends the message that the candidate is feeling threatened and ill-at-ease and is shutting the interviewer out. It can also send the message that the candidate does not agree with or buy into what the interviewer is saying. Waving your arms about too much is often interpreted as a lack of maturity and confidence. Try to keep your arms placed by your sides, this looks confident and professional.

4. Place Both Feet on the Floor

Crossing feet at the ankles or placing them both flat on the floor sends a message of confidence and professionalism. Jiggling or moving the legs creates an irritating distraction and indicates nervousness. Resting an ankle on the opposite knee looks arrogant and too casual, crossing the legs high up appears defensive.

5. Maintain Direct Eye Contact

Keeping direct eye contact with the interviewer indicates active listening and interest. Blink regularly, look away very briefly and move the head slightly every now and them to not appear to be staring aggressively. Eyes that dart around suggest dishonesty. Looking down gives the impression of low self-esteem.

6. Be Conscious of Mouth Movements

These can speak louder than the words coming out of the candidate’s mouth! Pursing the lips or twisting them sideways shows disapproval of what is being heard. Biting your lips suggests nervousness. Try to relax your mouth.

7. Position your Head

The position of your head sends a clear message. Keeping your head straight looks self-assured and authoritative, it sends the message that you should be taken seriously. For a more friendly and relaxed look tilt your head slightly to one side. Nod your head every now and then to show you are listening closely.

Be aware of the non-verbal signals in your job interview. These interview body language tips will send a positive and professional message to the interviewer.

By: Julia Penny

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How to write a Professional Resume

Having prepared your best for your dream job interview, it would feel pretty bad to miss out something trivial which has the potential to make or break your candidacy. Because you should not leave your job search to chance, it is best to have a checklist of things to do and carry to the interview and follow it.

General Checklist

1. Do you have a neat haircut and did you shave?

2. Do you have your suit pressed and cleaned?

3. Are your shoes shined?

Checklist of Things to Carry

1. Extra copies of resume

2. Photocopies of your credentials, including your school certificates and any other certificates of professional training you have

3. A neat notepad and a good pen

4. A copy of your application with cover letter

5. Your references neatly typed on resume paper

6. Instructions on how to reach the interview location including whom to meet and at what time

7. A list of expected questions and a list of questions you want to ask the interviewer

After you are finished with the above list, you are almost done with your preparation. You should then check the following:

1. Check the directions if you are traveling by car. Also get the car and the spare tire serviced beforehand.

2. If you are traveling by airplane, keep the tickets handy and check the times again

3. Read your resume and cover letter again on your way to the recruiters office or at the office. Do not forget to read the job advertisement again also.

4. Quietly try to recollect your subject knowledge

5. Losing your confidence in the interviewers office will immediately remove you from the list of potential candidates. Try to remember how well you have prepared for the interview.

6. Recollect whatever information you have gathered about the organization.

When you get to the interview location, be patient and tell the receptionist or assistant that you have come for the interview. Wait in the lounge if you are asked to. You can strike up small talk with fellow interviewees if there are any. Better still, you can browse through journals or magazines available. These are all parts of showing the interviewer your personality and how it is suited for the job.

By: Tony Jacowski

About the Author:

How to write a Professional Resume

- “How much are you looking to make?”

Few people are ever prepared to answer that question. Should you aim high and negotiate backward? Human Resources will inevitably push your price down regardless of what you request; if you ask for too much you’ll price yourself out of the job and risk losing the opportunity altogether. Should you just request a few thousand over your current salary? If you do that you’ll likely leave money on the table.

Agh! This is the most important interview question; it comes up every time, but you never know the right answer.

(1) Scenario:

No matter how much thought goes into the salary question ahead of the interview it always seems to become a game time decision. We ponder over resumes, deliberate on job postings, and comb our wardrobes until we’re completely confident. Equal effort goes into considering our salary request, but we always settle with an uninformed offer.

Salary is likely the primary motivation for seeking a new job, so how could anyone approach an interview without knowing what they’re worth? Most people know what type of job they want and geographically where they want to work; in many cases they’ve even narrowed it down to a specific industry. Salary, however, is always a little vague. Job seekers generally want to make “more” than they are currently making, but how much more? Why settle for 10% more when you could negotiate a 20% raise?

(2) Problem:

Unfortunately there are few resources for researching salary and compensation. The American culture deems salary a taboo topic so it’s rarely discussed. Most people keep their income private, which companies are aware of and leverage to their benefit. Generally speaking salary inequities allow companies to negotiate compensation below an employee’s market value.

There are a few websites that provide salary guidance based on geographical location, title, and experience, but most sites only list salary ranges. Oftentimes the range varies by tens of thousands of dollars, frequently indicating a 15% difference in either direction. A search result of $85,000-$115,000 doesn’t help much when you are narrowing in on your price tag.

In short, companies are going to low-ball you at every opportunity. It’s important to enter the interview knowing how much you want make; have an answer before the question ever arises. Know your value because the recruiter certainly won’t give you the benefit of the doubt.

(3) Solution:

www.Zenzia.com is an anonymous forum where subscribers can post and search salaries for specific companies and jobs. www.Zenzia.com is a free service to anyone who subscribes.

How to write a Professional Resume

By: Josh Z
About the Author:

Since just getting an interview can often seem like a job in itself, you can go ahead and give yourself a big pat on the back if you’ve landed one…

However, now the hard work really starts…

Now it’s time to actually land the job!

The interview itself is the most difficult part of securing job. Not only do job interviews consist of many difficult questions, but you will most likely be faced with some fierce competition. Therefore, you should thoroughly prepare yourself each and every job interview.

Unfortunately, job interviews vary from one person to the other and from one industry to the next. However, all job interviews do have some similar characteristics and you can follow some basic rules that will help you face your next job interview with confidence.

Here are three things everyone interviewing for a job should do…

1. Communication ~ Whether it is verbal phone calls or written emails, poorly stated or disorganized communication shows a lack of professionalism. Also, during an interview, don’t be shy or soft spoken. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer and carefully listen to everything they say.

Answer the interview questions confidentially without the use of slang or street language. In fact, make sure to use the jargon of the profession.

2. Body language ~ The fact is you are being judged from the second you walk into an interview. That’s right, before you even say a word the interview committee is already judging you just based upon your body language.

Do NOT underestimate how important body language is during an interview.

There is no doubt that your physical appearance plays an important role in getting you a job. If you are dress too casually you won’t be taken seriously for the job. Dress in a nice suit or other formal clothes that make you look organized, sharp, and controlled. When undecided about what to wear always weigh on the side of caution and dress more formal than less.

Hand shakes also play a big part of body language. A soft handshake doesn’t make an impression while a firm handshake indicates you have drive and confidence.

Also, while seated, you should always sit with your back straight, keep a smile on your face, be attentive, and maintain eye contact with all interviewers.

3. Ask Questions ~ Having sat on countless interview committees I am always shocked at how many candidates do not ask us, the interviewers, any questions. Asking questions gives the impression that not just any job will do, but that you are looking for the right job…the right fit for you. As much as possible try to make the interview seem more like a two-way conversation rather than a one-way interview.

Again, while job interviews will vary from person to person and from one industry to the next, by following these basic guidelines you will be much more confident and that will shine through during your interview.

By: Adam Waxler

About the Author:

Write Amazing Cover Letters