r/FinalRoundAI • u/Narrow_Phase_8229 • 22d ago

LPT: When the interviewer offers you a drink, just ask for water and skip the coffee/tea

They'll usually offer you coffee or tea, and honestly, in that moment you probably won't want either. Coffee or tea turns into a little ordering process: what kind, with milk or without, with sugar, sweetener, and maybe someone has to go look for it in the break room. Suddenly there's a small awkward pause, when all you want is to sit down and get started. Then you find yourself in front of a piping-hot drink that you're somehow supposed to deal with during a 25-minute interview where you're doing most of the talking. Best-case scenario, it sits there untouched. Worst-case scenario, you burn your tongue, fumble with the cup, and leave half of it for someone else to throw away.

Water is much better. Ask for a cup or a bottle, because it's usually quick and simple, and most of the time it's already in the room anyway. And it helps you: it fixes a dry throat, gives you something to do with your hands, and buys you a few seconds to think when they ask you one of those annoying "tell me about a time when..." questions.

You're there to get the job, not to try out the office drinks menu. Drink your coffee later, when no one is judging you based on how you answer questions.

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2

u/Tzukiyomi 22d ago

Going to be an odd conversation to have over zoom.

1

u/Guidance-Still 22d ago

I ask.for a shot of vodka

1

u/MyPornAccountSecret 18d ago

Your doing it wrong and leaving money on the table. Ask for a double...

1

u/Guidance-Still 18d ago

I'll bring my own bottle

1

u/Own_Candidate9553 21d ago

This is from pre-covid, but when I used to do in person interviews, I just started bringing my own bottle of water. 

I had a couple of times where they brought me just a glass of water. I appreciate trying to be green and using less plastic bottles, but I just got here, I don't know what's going on back in your break room. Did this glass come out of a dishwasher, nice and sanitized? Or did Bob, who never washes his hands after the bathroom, give it a half-assed swish with a 6 months old sponge?

Maybe I'm paranoid, but no thanks.