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Confused about interviewer request
lets_do_lunch
Registered User new member
Registered User new member
Alt, since I know the parties involved can easily see my web presence under my normal handle.
Okay, so this may not be a totally appropriate entry for H/A, but I had an odd situation come up today. I guess I'm technically looking more for opinions than actual advice, but here goes...
So after a couple years of working from home, I recently decided to apply for a job posting a friend relayed on Facebook. Without getting into too much detail, it's a tech company with an international presence, whose US arm is effectively operating like a startup.
Anyhow, they seemed SUPER interested in me; they scheduled a phone interview within two hours after my submitting my resume, and almost immediately solicited some sample work. I just had my in-person interview yesterday, and spent about two hours talking with the person hiring for this position, as well as the GM and a marketing person. We handled most facets of hiring, including salary expectations, benefits rollout, etc, and they let me know they were interviewing one other person for the position.
NOW FOR MY ISSUE
My contact (the person doing the hiring) emailed me this morning, and asked if I could come to lunch with her tomorrow. There is no mention of whether this is an additional interview component. In fact, there is no mention of what this is at all.
My guess is that she will be making a formal offer, or perhaps further negotiating my salary and benefits, but really... I'm totally baffled. Has anyone had an experience with this before? I can't imagine that she wants me to come all the way down for lunch, just to tell me I WON'T be getting an offer -- is this a rational assumption? I would really love to hear people's experiences/opinions with this.
TL;DR What's up with my interviewer asking me to lunch without specifying whether or not I'm getting an offer?
Okay, so this may not be a totally appropriate entry for H/A, but I had an odd situation come up today. I guess I'm technically looking more for opinions than actual advice, but here goes...
So after a couple years of working from home, I recently decided to apply for a job posting a friend relayed on Facebook. Without getting into too much detail, it's a tech company with an international presence, whose US arm is effectively operating like a startup.
Anyhow, they seemed SUPER interested in me; they scheduled a phone interview within two hours after my submitting my resume, and almost immediately solicited some sample work. I just had my in-person interview yesterday, and spent about two hours talking with the person hiring for this position, as well as the GM and a marketing person. We handled most facets of hiring, including salary expectations, benefits rollout, etc, and they let me know they were interviewing one other person for the position.
NOW FOR MY ISSUE
My contact (the person doing the hiring) emailed me this morning, and asked if I could come to lunch with her tomorrow. There is no mention of whether this is an additional interview component. In fact, there is no mention of what this is at all.
My guess is that she will be making a formal offer, or perhaps further negotiating my salary and benefits, but really... I'm totally baffled. Has anyone had an experience with this before? I can't imagine that she wants me to come all the way down for lunch, just to tell me I WON'T be getting an offer -- is this a rational assumption? I would really love to hear people's experiences/opinions with this.
TL;DR What's up with my interviewer asking me to lunch without specifying whether or not I'm getting an offer?
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Don't assume they are paying for lunch, but go, be appropriately dressed, and don't get drunk.
Haha. Will do.
But this brings up an excellent question: when your interviewer was wearing yoga pants and a Joy Division shirt (which was totally on par with the rest of the team), how does one be "appropriately dressed" for a lunch like this?
Really though, if you're a dude just wear jeans and a polo. That's the magic of being a man - you can dress for almost any occasion without even thinking about it. If you're a woman I'll leave the fashion advice to people who have had to actually figure that shit out all their lives.
Kidding. Personally, I'd go with a new pair of nice (IE not faded/torn/etc) jeans or khaki's and either a polo shirt or a button up shirt.
Use good table manners, and order food that isn't going to make a mess.
No wings, pulled pork sandwiches, crazy ass noodle dishes. Don't chew with your mouth open.
If they're ordering a $20 meal, you order a $20 meal.
If they get the side salad, you get the side salad.
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
As for the mode of dress, I'm probably going to go pretty casual -- it seemed pretty clear that the previous person to fill this role was too formal for both the office culture, and the customers/clients themselves.
I hadn't yet considered what to have for lunch, but while I assumed they'd be paying, I would never presume to order an expensive meal.
In arranging the location for lunch, I forwarded my contact a picture of my dog, which we had talked about during the interview (it's a dog-friendly startup incubator, and she loves dogs).
The last sentence of her last email was essentially: "We all approve of your dog, and hope you can bring her in sometime soon.
The good news: Your dog doesn't really need the money and is more than happy to help their human.
The general rule of thumb for something career related is to be just slightly better dressed that the person you are meeting. Jeans and a polo probably covers this especially now that you've got confirmation that the meeting is positive. If you are still nervous, a shirt with buttons tucked into jeans would be about as dressed up as I would go.
Actually it sounds like they're running pretty casual. I'd be reflective of personality while still trying to look "nice". Basically your nice relaxed cloths. If those are a button up and jeans, rock it. I'd stay away from the mustard stained old white t-shirt though.
No, don't do that. Bring money to pay for your meal, dress advice has been solid. Maybe bring some work samples; anything that's easily portable to show at a lunch meeting. Could you show some past work on a tablet?