Lunch interview...help please!

[enbell]

The good news is that I made it to round two. The bad news is that it's for lunch (which makes me nervous no matter what), and it's sushi (more nervous). I really enjoy sushi, that's not the problem, I am fairly certain however that my sushi etiquette is not at all up to snuff. If anyone could give me some pointers or major 'do NOT do this, whatever you do' scenarios, I will forever be in your debt! Thank you in advance :)

[nosh]

enbell,

Look, I'm glad you got the job and everything. Congratulations.

But this is Chowhound. What was the restaurant, and how was the food??

;-)

[enbell]

This all took place at Shige's Japanese Restaurant in Boise, Idaho - probably not the sushi capital of the world - probably not in the top 10, maybe not top 50 of best places to get fresh sushi (fresh trout, yes - high grade sushi, I'm not so sure). It's funny though because I'm vegetarian, so while the raw fish aspect could have been worrisome over an interview, I didn't have to deal with it. And for all you interested chowhounds, I cannot report on the quality of the fish. I was a bit concerned with what my interviewers would think of my vegetarianism (it can be a big deal/problem i.e.: picky eaters thread). Some places do fun fusion rolls, but when in doubt I can get a few cucumber rolls and I'm happy. I will return though to at least try the natty (I really want to cross that of my things to try list). Regarding my chopstick, soy sauce and wasabi etiquette, I believe I was much more concerned than the gentlemen interviewing me. They both ordered spicy tuna rolls and when I saw each of them dissolve the entire portion of wasabi into their soy sauce, I figured they probably weren't there to scrutinize my behavior at the level I was concerned initially. One person also inhaled the ginger, what is the proper use of that? In the past though, I have probably overdone the soy sauce (damn American upbringing), so it was still good to get all the advice on this thread. The miso soup was fine, not memorable, not bad, but I don't think I've ever had terrible miso. I had a cucumber roll and a combination veg roll with Japanese pickle, sprouts and avocado which I enjoyed. What bugged a bit me was the salad. In the bottom of the bowl was a pool of water (a minor detail in a sushi resto, I know). I'm glad they wash their lettuce but the leaves were big, and hard break up with chopsticks, and they could have been dried or spun a bit longer. Once again, an all around good experience, with a great result :)

[Miss Needle]

Ha. When I read your interviewers' spicy tuna rolls and soy sauce and wasabi etiquette, you really had nothing to worry about in terms of Japanese sushi etiquette. And I'll bet they would have been horrified if you picked up your sushi with your fingers.

Congratulations on your job! And sometimes it does take a lot of time for people to make a decision. DH hires people for certain positions, and it sometimes takes many, many months to find the right person for the job. So I figure a week's not bad.

[Caroline1]

Hooray and good for you! And now, if you ever drop sushi in your lap again, you will KNOW it's a good sign! Enjoy the new job.

[enbell]

Thank you :) I am both nervous and excited. Now if every time I had a mishap at a meal, it was good luck, I'd be set!

[Whosyerkitty]

hmmm...maybe that's the answer and a sign for you :)
AFTER the fact, I eat sushi and go to sushi bars and have NO QUALMS about asking for a fork and have seen them offer them. I am a Westerner after all. I love it and I want EVERY little bit. I probably wouldn't in Tokyo, though.

According to a friend who's American but lived in Japan for several years, sushi in the US is 'all wrong' and 'bad'. I have no idea if this is true, but with that in mind, I don't think forks should be taboo.

[dolores]

Excellent, enbell! Good luck.

Are you celebrating with a meal of sushi? :O)

[enbell]

After a week of sleepless nights I am pleased to say I have been offered the position :) Apparently part of the hold up was in accounting, they put together a sign-on bonus that I was completely not expecting! I am a bit curious though, is this amount of time normal? From my point of view, it sure seemed to drag on...oh well, I'm just happy to report good news. Thank you again to all!

[Servorg]

If they went back and did a sign on bonus, (most likely because they had no relocation expense for you) then the slight delay is normal for formulating and getting approval signatures. Congratulations. Flying fish is evidently not a deal breaker for these guy's. ;-D

[JackieChiles]

Congrats!

[Sam Fujisaka]

Congrats!! Hope you are celebrating! I just raised and then downed a shot of rum as a toast to you.

[enbell]

Thank you Sam, cheers :)

[enbell]

Thank you again to all for your continued interest in this. One of the people interviewing me was heading out of town after the interview for Memorial Day, and I was told they won't even meet about me until Tuesday. They hope to get back to me sometime Wednesday. I will post the news either way (man I hope it will be good)! I definitely have thought about the sushi scenario as well. For fear of jinxing the results I am witholding my opinions until I at least know one way or the other. Also, one never knows who reads these boards, and I would never want to hurt my chances. Happy Memorial Day to all :)

[LaLa]

have you heard anything yet?

[Sam Fujisaka]

enbell, congrats and crossing my fingers...

Just one thing after the fact: maybe you, like me are Japanese American and the interviewers were just trying to make you more comfortable.

[Servorg]

Sam, I would think that if enbell were Japanese American then the the plan to brush up on o-hashi skills would have been wholly unnecessary, even if we were talking Yonsei rather than Sansei. ;-D

[dolores]

It also would have been politically incorrect.

enbell, how did it turn out? Hope you got the job.

[Servorg]

dolores, I am missing what would have been PI?

[dolores]

I don't believe a corporation (if this was a corporation) would have chosen a sushi place for a prospective JA candidate.

A smaller company might not be party to the 'sensitivity' training given in corporations.

[Servorg]

Ah ha. Got it know. That fast ball was so far over my head I didn't even have to duck.

[enbell]

Portuguese actually. Good thinking though, I can totally see that as a good will gesture on their part. I can also see how, like dolores said, if I were of Japanese decent, there is the posibility of being offended.

EDIT: This was supposed to reply to you, Sam :)

[Sam Fujisaka]

I knew you weren't of Japanese descent; but people made so many assumptions about eating the dreaded sushi as some diabolical torture. I fugured that hounds would at least be sushi eaters. GOOD LUCK!

[enbell]

Thank you again, EVERYONE :) First of all, I think it went well. I was excited to learn that out of 300 applicants, 30 were given initial interviews, and then the field was narrowed down to me and someone else (yikes). I definitely over-thought the specifics of sushi/chopstick etiquette though. While I used my soy sauce sparingly, and was sure to set my chopsticks down with the tips facing left, these details likely went unnoticed but oh well. I must confess though that there was a 'tiny little incident' (read in a high-pitched squeaky voice)...Um, I dropped a piece onto my lap! Yep, I played out in real life what I wanted to prevent against the most. I picked it up, said oops, chuckled, and continued in our conversation. Gosh, I hope that moment isn't as vivid in the eyes of my interviewers' minds as it is in my mine. And I can't shake the thought that the other applicant didn't miss his or her mouth at their meal - sheesh! Again, thanks to all for your $.02. I will try and pay it forward by increasing my increasing my 'chow-quotient' and posting more myself after a dining experience (I think about it, I do, I just usually chicken out).

[Caroline1]

Not to worry about the sushi in your lap, enbell! Your gracious recovery and keeping your composure may have given you points you couldn't get otherwise! Sounds like a good interveiw, and congratulations on being one of the final two. My vote is that your the one! '-)

[Miss Needle]

Glad to hear it went well. I wouldn't worry about the "little incident." They probably don't even remember it. Congratulations on making it this far!

[enbell]

Thank you to everyone for your pointers everyone! I have been using chopsticks as much as possible this week (salads, grapes, even a baked potato) in order to get ready. I also did re-read some Japanese customs articles and found some contradictory info which I'll ask anout later. I'll post back after the big day, all I can do now is get a good night's sleep...if only it were that easy...

[Caroline1]

You'll do great. Relax. A baked potato? Incredible. I thought I was being smart eating popcorn! '-)

[madisoneats]

I've been an HR exec for 20 years and I've seen it all-- including an applicant who brought a sandwich to lunch in my office-- and it wasnt a lunch mtg!!
Be yourself but follow their cues-- unless they order alcohol, which is never ok for an applicant to do at lunch. The interviewer shouldnt either, but that's another story...
Dont go ravenous. Eat a snack before so you are not concentrating on the food. If you are concerned abou the menu, it's perfectly ok to say something like "What a lovely lunch spot. Is there something that you usually enjoy here?" Then if you are asked to order first you'll have a guideline.

I know fingers are fine, but be safe and use chopsticks. Ignore the wasabi and soy-- too many chances for a mess.

Relax and enjoy. And do update us!

[ML8000]

Wow, never thought of that. I guess soy sauce and wasabi is the equivalent of trying to butter flakey bread in a dark suit.

Any other tips like soup, ribs (haha), or anything else hard to handle?

[Cheflambo]

Good advice, Madison - I knew an HR person would come to the rescue here. As if meal interviews weren't fraught with enough danger zones, sushi adds an extra dimention to the protocol. And really, no drinking at lunch, even if the interviewer has the whole flask of sake him/herself. YOU need a clear head. I'd practice my best chopstick skills, and follow their lead.

You'll do fine, and let us know how it turns out!

[Sam Fujisaka]

Unless the company markets wasabi and soy and other Japanese products, and if the interviewers use their fingers.

[Sam Fujisaka]

enbell, you will be fine! Enjoy and be yourself. People on the short list are there for good reason.

[PeterL]

First of all how's your chopsticks skills? Unless your host is doing the ordering, I'd personally just go for some kind of bento box. Much easier to manage.

[enbell]

Well, until I really thought about my skills, I thought they were fine. Now, though, I'm a bit trepadatious...maybe I'll have to bust out the chopsticks for the rest of the week in preparation. I don't think I'm compltely incapable however. If I did order a bento box, I'm honestly afraid of how that would 'look.' Am I over thinking it? How much will they read into what I order, or will they? Can you tell I'm a wee bit nervous!

[Caroline1]

Obviously, if both of the interviewers order bento boxes, then okay, but... My initial thought is that they may be on an expense account, and treating you and themselves to something special. If they both order sushi, I wouldn't even think about a bento box. Besides, with sushi, chopsticks are optional! '-)

[enbell]

Okay good, I'd much prefer sushi :)

[PeterL]

Chopsticks are optional in a regular setting, not in an interview lunch. I would not even think about using my fingers for eating during an interview.

[Miss Needle]

Totally concur. Not everybody gets it. If your interviewers were Japanese, I think using your fingers would be fine. But they are not, so I think it's pretty risky.

[Miss Needle]

Another thing -- probably not as applicable in a Japanese restaurant, but I would avoid some controversial menu items like foie gras (had it the other day at a Japanese restaurant) and veal. You never know.

[Caroline1]

Just relax and enjoy. If you're a bit nervous and your hands are a little shaky, it is absolutely appropriate to eat sushi with your fingers instead of chopsticks. Turn the sushi upside down and dip the topping (fish, whatever) in the dipping sauce and NOT the rice! Rice will crumble and fall into the dipping sauce and that's considered yucky behavior. And you do not have to dip! The sushi chef does his very best to make the sushi perfect and ready to eat, so it's a compliment to the chef not to dip. If you do use chopsticks, when you're not using them either set them together across the top of the bowl (not "in" the bowl) or rest them together on the chopstick rest. Never set or leave chopsticks in a bowl or dish when you're not using them. And sushi (well, exept for those big hand rolls that look like a licorice ice cream cone, of course) is intended to be eaten in one bite, so don't be bashful about putting it all in your mouth. That's about it as far as I can remember... Have fun and enjoy! That's what sushi is all about.

[enbell]

That's funny, I must have missed your reply. Thank you as well, especially for telling me where to place my chopsticks. I always feel like a glutton shovelling a huge piece of sushi into my mouth at once, but will do! I know that interviews over at meal are about the interview first, and the actual meal is secondary, I just don't want to make a complete fool of myself :)

[Miss Needle]

I guess I missed your first post. Unless you're being interviewed by a Japanese firm, I would just follow regular protocols that you would at any other lunch interview. Take the lead from the interviewer, don't order things that are difficult to eat, don't order any booze unless the interviewer orders it, don't drink too much booze, don't order any really expensive stuff unless you see the interviewer doing the same. And while it's perfectly acceptable to eat sushi with your fingers, I wouldn't do it in an interview setting. I've seen people give me dirty looks because I use my fingers to eat sushi -- and they are always non-Japanese. There are a couple of other things -- don't drown your sushi in soy sauce. Be judicious with the wasabi -- you don't want to have an incident during your interview.

[enbell]

Thank you! No, it is not a Japanese firm, so I don't have to brush up on my Japanese social etiquette thank goodness :) I'm not a drinker, so no worry there. I'll just follow my interviewers' (yes, plural - two gentlemen) leads and try not to spill!

[Miss Needle]

Thank goodness it's not a Japanese firm. Makes it much easier because your interviewers would most likely be clueless about Japanese etiquette. I'm sure you know this but just in case you don't -- most sushi places will give you a rolled up hot white towel to clean your hands before your meal. When I was a kid, I thought it was a burrito! Good luck on your interview!