yummycheese

so I had an interview at a coffee shop, and when the interviewer showed up, she was like, i'm gonna grab an ice tea, would you like anything? I guess naturally you would say yes i want blahblah, but question is, how do you handle who pays?

would you say, yes, I'd like a coke, why don't i pay for us? or something like that.

at my interview, i just kinda sat there while she paid for everything, so i felt REALLY stupid.

liberate

That's a tough question. I would have kindly turned down the offer.

hcvops

I always show up really early before they get there so I can get my drink alone and not have to worry about that

DwightEisenhower

"I always show up really early before they get there so I can get my drink alone and not have to worry about that"

Same.

If I didn't do that, I would probably politely decline. If the interview were at a diner or restaurant, however, you should never decline an offer of food. Sitting there watching the interviewer eat would look silly.

nooob

pay for your own. If you really want something to drink say "actually, I would, but I brought some money to pay for it"

if not, just say "oh no, i'm fine, thank you"

CBBBlinker

When you send a note after the interview, don't forget to also thank her for the drink!

In the future, offer to pay for your own. If the interviewer insists, accept graciously, say thank you, and and mention it again in the follow-up note.

BaystateNutmeg

I'm an alumni interviewer. I always offer to pay, so the student won't be left wondering. If the interviewer doesn't offer to pay, you could just offer or ask "how much do I owe you?"

EveryWhichWay

Just politely ask before the interview begins. I think the safest route is to 'go Dutch', meaning each pays for his/her own. It's perfectly acceptable for acquaintances, and it gets the question out of the way quickly. Also, you could just offer to pay yourself if your interviewer doesn't say anything; giving your interviewer the chance to decline. Otherwise, just do what Baystate says. Any of these are perfectly polite for something that really isn't a big deal.

curious77

At one interview, my son's interviewer was alread there with a bottle of water. At another, he paid for his own drink. At another the interviewer was in line when he got there, but left the line and they sat down with nothing and conducted the interview (this was at 6 pm, so neither one of them really wanted a drink). Agree with those who say to offer to pay for your own. The interviewer is kind enough to take the time for the interview and you should not expect them to pay. But if they do insist, do not continue to say that you will pay, just accept it and thank them.

zapakovex

Buy a drink before you even look for your interviewer, it completely eliminates the problem and gets the interview started more smoothly.

juillet

Bring enough money to pay for the drink but if they offer, don't decline. Alumni interviewers typically will offer -- I know if I were an alumni interviewer I would, since drinks can't be more than $5 and it makes the student feel at ease.

la montagne

At my interview at Starbucks the interviewer was already there when I got there (she had been conducting another interview just before mine), and already had a drink. She asked if I'd like to go get anything and I said yes, but then kind of regretted that. I felt kind of odd just leaving her sitting there for a few minutes while I waited on line and ordered and stuff.

If she had asked if I wanted anything with the connotation that she was going to go get it for me, I probably would have politely declined, for simplicity's sake.

T26E4

There is NOTHING odd that you should feel if your senior (the interviewer) offers to pay for your drink. This is absolutely common meeting protocol. While it's nice and polite for you to offer to pay, the senior already knows it's his/her obligation to pay for the junior (that's YOU).

This is true in business and other social occasions. Don't offer to "go dutch" -- it just strains things. The suggestion of saying "how much do I owe you" is fine. I'd imagine 99.99% of the time, the senior will decline.

Just relax and have a seat.

Youdon'tsay

I agree. ^^^

If I am the more senior person, then I assume I will pay. If I am the junior person, then I would offer and be prepared to pay, but just offer a gracious "thank you" when they pay.

The only way you can go wrong is to say "Dude, aren't you going to get me a drink?"

ignatius

Didn't read this thread ahead of time, but my d just had an interview at a Starbucks. So:

She got there a tad early as she was worried about traffic. She had emailed the interviewer her cell # a couple of days ahead of time in case he needed to reach her at the last minute (again worried about traffic or last minute snafus). She DID NOT ask for his cell #.

The interviewer bought d a small hot chocolate. (She's not a coffee drinker.) She did offer to pay for the hot chocolate and his drink, also. He declined - and paid.

I do think she felt more comfortable having something to drink. It made the interview (which lasted over an hour) seem less formal, somehow.

Obviously thanked him for the drink as she left. She also wrote a follow-up thank you note to him for making her first interview a great experience. And he did!

Her overall impression of her first interview: FUN!

Kudos to all those who interview and make it positive.