aibu- to expected to be offered a drink at an interview?

[scrummummy]

am I? I'm not talking about anything alcoholic or a fancy coffee but a glass of water or plain coffee?
I'm currently looking for a new job and have had about 8 interviews in the last 3 weeks. only 1 place offered me anything to drink. I always thought this was just common courtesy. so Aibu? obviously I need to worry more about not getting a job but still

The last interviews I sat in on there wasn't anywhere for anyone to put drinks anyway. That said if they'd listened to me and held the interview somewhere more suitable there would have been, but hey ho.

I sometimes get offered a drink, sometimes not, depends on the professionalism of the place I've found.

I wouldn't offer a hot drink, but I always ensure there are glasses and a jug of water available for when we are interviewing - for both the panel and the interviewee

Indeed Fleta. No way would I conduct a day of interviews without having plenty of water or diet coke available to me, so certainly should be also available to candidates.

I've usually been offered water

Saffy, I wouldn't be there to refresh myself. I'd be there to sell myself.
Plenty of time for tea drinking once job is yours.

I was always taught not to accept a drink offered at an interview - highly unprofessional don't you know

So are they offering just to take note of who accepts, and then they can cross those people off the list?

There are much bigger things to worry about at interviews in my opinion.

I have been offered water on a hot day, but never anything else - apart from one which was an interview, chance for me to see the place etc and there I was given lunch. (But it was a jab in a residential setting and a hot lunch for the staff was part of the job perks.)

I had an interview this week. I was recovering from a chest infection so my voice was slightly hoarse. Boy was I glad they provided a glass of water in that 4ins interview. I would not have felt professional walking I'm clutching my own drink, so YANBU.

*40 mins interview

YANBU. The last interview I did was 3.5 hours. I would have keeled over if I hadn't had some water!

YANBU.

I have always been offered a drink (and would always say yes just a glass of water please) at interviews.

I need to drink water during interviews as my throat goes dry from talking constantly otherwise.

Think it is the least that should be offered!

YANBU. Recently done a series of interviews to employ someone. All were offered water. And no it wasn't some kind of ploy . Just courtesy. People get nervous, dry mouth etc.

iammiranda
I do know this I've just come back from yet another interview and wanted a lighthearted complaint.

also I usually have a bottle of coke with me which I try not to use as I think it looks worse. maybe I should just ask for water? I have 2 interviews tomorrow.

How interesting.

I've always been offered but never accepted, I think it's like some sort of a test. But I'm weird.

The idea that a candidate who drinks a proffered glass of water has failed some kind of 'strike 'em from the list' type test is hilarious!

I have never been offered a drink at an interview and it's not something I have ever expected or wanted.

Don't drink your coke OP, that doesn't look great. If they don't offer you water (as any courteous person would imo), then I can't see anything wrong with politely asking for a glass of water if you get dry mouth or cough or similar.

It really really isn't some sort of test!

A candidate swigging from a bottle of coke would be awful. I would take water, and have a drink shortly before going in. I wouldn't expect anything at all, and would be very surprised about being offered anything other than water (unless it was an interview 'day')

YANBU.

Once at an interview I was given water in a paper cup with a cone shaped bottom. Which meant it was impossible to put it down on the table in between sips, I didn't want to have to gulp it down either, so ended up clutching this damn cup for most of the interview.

Apparently their cups were this shaped to stop employees drinking at desks. Something so petty did cloud my judgement of the company and went to work for a rival instead.

Would people who don't consider it necessary to offer/be offered a glass of water think the same about a visitor coming for a different kind of meeting?

I'm interviewing this week & my first question as people come in is "would you like a drink?" - the "brew station" is just outside the room, it's an ice breaker as you can have a bit of small talk with them before the serious business of the interview starts & it relaxes them.

I'm potentially going to be working with this person & would like to get an idea of their personality as well as their skills - this is easier to do if they're relaxed!

Plus, I'm going to be sat there with my cup of tea & I feel less guilty if they've got one too...

I don't think I've ever had an interview and not been offered a drink? I thought it was just curteous

When I've been interviewing, I've always offered candidates a glass of water - it's there on the table and I always indicate it and offer to pour them some. And when I've been an interviewee, I'm pretty certain water has always been offered. Makes sense, doesn't it, if you're doing a lot of talking? Bizarre to think otherwise.

I once had a horrible interview with an interviewer who was clearly not keen on the whole process (reasons are complicated involving a merger of organisations and attempts to reallocate staff to new jobs) - and she sat there eating a muffin while she interviewed me. I thought that was pretty weird, and disrespectful of the process. (And very crumby.)