I am asking this for a dear friend whose in the process with a small pe firm. Is lunch with the team members as part of a final round Interview indicative of firm’s very strong interest in the candidate or do firms typically take out many / all final-round candidates for a meal? This is different from the pre-interview lunch / dinner / cocktail reception. I think the answer would be it depends but would still be helpful to learn of people’s experience who’ve gone through this. Thanks
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I think it depends. But short version is that its normal.
If its a all day interview, then the team (or few people from the team) take the candidate out for lunch. If its a half-day ending around 1 pm or after (based on my experience) then the team can also take them out to lunch.
Other than courtesy, I think the firm also wants to see if you can hold a conversion (as you are being grilled in the interviews) and also your manners. Especially small PE shops where they need everyone to be ready/polished enough to have meals with c-levels and boards.
I have experienced lunch as part of the final round at both small and large shops in PE, PE FoF, Big4, and small IBs.
It's normal. Treat it as an interview and don't be weird.
^exactly. You are special in the sense that you have made it that far and they care about your opinion enough to not be rude (by not taking you out for lunch/dinner/feeding you after a long super day), but not so special that they are wining and dining you.
Be careful, I actually lost an offer during lunch stage. I was later told it was a lock but that that changed once I was over informal by ordering a beer at lunch.
Hahahahaha shit man i'm dying at this. Dinged for a lunch beer? Absolutely classic.
This is the problem. Who tf changes hiring decisions because the candidate ordered A beer at lunch? I would have thought, "This person is ballsy. I want them on my team." Unless you got shit faced...
Good learning lesson - let the table order first. See what they're eating/drinking, and get something similar or the same.
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