Interviews are stressful for candidates as we posted this morning. If you want to gain an even more in-depth knowledge of the candidate, take them out for a meal as part of your interview process. Selling Power has a quick article worth the read – Out to Lunch?
In case you were wondering what to watch for at the meal:
Business etiquette expert Barbara Pachter says that by taking a candidate out to a restaurant you will be able to observe interpersonal skills that you may not be able to witness during a more formal interview. First, is the candidate on time? How do they treat the server? What do they order? Are they decisive or indecisive when ordering? Do they keep changing their order? Do they send their meals back? Some red flags to watch for include treating the server as a second-class citizen, ordering the most expensive thing on the menu, ordering alcohol during the meal, and having bad table manners do you really want this person talking with his mouth full or licking his fingers in the middle of a $3 million deal with a potential client?
Licking the fingers – classic. I have sat with some salespeople who smack while they eat which, to me, is about as unprofessional as it gets at any meal.