Dining Out Etiquette Makes the Sale
Have you ever been out with a group of people to share a meal at a restaurant that wound up to be not such a happy experience? I’m referring to when some people choose to unwittingly take advantage of others by ordering the most expensive dish on the menu and an excess of alcohol. They then expect to divide the expense of the check equally among all.
Should you be headed for a dining out experience with a hiring manager or a client who asked to treat you to a meal, take a moment to read the following suggestions:
1. Ask the other person what they are thinking of ordering as this will give you an idea of their budget.
2. Should you hear “I don’t know yet just order what you like” – order something mid-range on the menu. But if you hear a specific item that your host is considering, quickly check the price to order something close in value. If their selection appeals to you, then by all means order the same.
3. Only order alcohol if your host is ordering it. Should you be driving your client or are dining with a potential employer, it would be wise to drink Less than what you believe you can handle.
For a more complicated meal featuring lots of silverware and dishes on the table, it can get confusing as to which dishes are yours particularly with a number of people at the table. For a quick reminder, and underneath the table, quickly move your two thumbs sideways to touch the finger next to each. Your left hand will form a small letter “b” indicating bread dish on your left, and the right hand will indicate the letter “d” for drinks on your right.
Enjoy your meal and graciously thank the host in person. Write a quick follow-up email upon your return to the office, and write a hand written thank you note to be mailed.
Should the meal be a step in the interviewing process, you will be on your way to hearing HIRED! and if it is simply more face time with your client, you will be headed for a continued Smooth Sale!
Read Additional Sales Techniques:
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International Best-Seller:
Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results
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HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews.
