Job interview dining etiquette is a fine art of conducting yourself elegantly and with finesse while achieving your chief target of impressing the interviewer. It may look daunting sometimes, but practice will make you an expert in participating in such interviews. You, getting a call for dining with interviewer shows that you are a strong contender for the job. This should give you lot of confidence. Here are some useful tips that help you in knowing the standards that are part of job interview dining etiquette.

Tips on Job Interview Dining Etiquette

1. First and foremost, you switch off your mobile phone even before you arrive at the table. An interviewer or a team of interviewers may be there for the job interview dining. The atmosphere may be informal, but the interview is serious and should be held without any interruptions from your side.
    
2. Take a seat as directed and wait until all others are seated. Do not drag chair nor disturb the table while sitting. You can sit cross-legged if you are comfortable with it.
    
3. Do not go for expensive food while ordering. Opt for light food which is moderately priced. Do not go for complicated and messy food.
    
4. Do not go for alcohol unless insisted. Go for soft drink or plain water. This is not the time for alcohol.
    
5. The surrounding atmosphere in the restaurant may be noisy, but concentrate on the ensuing interview while you wait for the arrival of the ordered food.
    
6. Follow general dining etiquette during the interview. Use right kind of forks, knives, spoons, plates, etc. Get information from internet and books regarding right table manners to be followed at such dining interviews.
    
7. Do not overstuff your mouth. Consume small pieces of food at a time. While eating food or sipping water, see that nothing falls down.
    
8. You may come in formal attire that is appropriate to such dinners. You need not come in tuxedos, but do not come in college student stuff.
    
9. You have to wait for the conversation to start. Do not jumpstart and be informally talkative. Never raise your voice that is more than required. It is enough if people at your table can hear you clearly.
    
10. Stick to conversation topics. Never stray away from the current subject. If you happen to know only little about the subject matter, politely say so.
     
11. Laugh politely and good-naturedly in lighter moments. You should give the feeling of appreciating the good qualities of others.
     
12. Never talk when there is food in your mouth. But, as there is going to be some talk or the other always in such dining interviews, eat only small quantities so that your mouth is never fully stuffed.
     
13. Avoid generating any noise while using forks, knives, plates, etc. It will reflect badly on you. Practice at home in smoothly handling cutlery and utensils noiselessly.
     
14. Do not smoke when others at the table are not smoking. Resort to smoking only when you are insisted upon. But never smoke between courses. It is better to smoke at the end of the meal. If you are a non-smoker, you politely inform the people at the table.
     
15. You may be nervous at the interview, but maintain a relaxed posture. Do not rush things - while eating, or talking, or passing on dishes, etc. Operate gently. And moreover, keep your elbows off the table.
     
16. Maintain a dignified persona at the interview. Your body language should exude confidence. It is your chance to get your desired job.
     
17. Be polite with the staff at the dining place. Never get angry nor talk to them in raised voice.
     
18. After the dinner or luncheon interview is over and when the time of departure comes, you should thank the interviewer or their team for their time with you. You should follow it up with a 'thank you' letter later.