First lunch with your female bosses?

Question

I am a new intern at a clinical studies department. My bosses (female) told me to have lunch with them next week. I just earned my B.S. degree and have been working for them about 2 weeks now. It is my first internship/job, subsequently, it will be the first time I have lunch with my bosses. I don't know if it will be a casual or work related lunch. Should I offer to pay for their meals? What topics should I talk over lunch? What should I do to show them that I like my job and would like to work for them after my internship ends?

Answer 1

Definitely don't offer to pay for their lunches.. they asked you to have lunch with them.. that could mean you have to pay for your own meal.. more likely you will be invited by them and you don't want to appear as if you want to ''ingratiate yourself to them by paying for a meal to which they invited you..'' I am sure the company is paying, they put it on the bill and for them it means no extra expense..so no. you don't pay.. and i am sure it will be a bit of both. it will be a bit of work related but the other part will be just to get to know you as a person better.. and the work related part will be more about.. how you like the job.. and don't worry, they will ask you questions and if you have any work related questions you can of course voice them.. Maybe they will tell you about some new tasks.. which you may get assigned to and they will tell you about that.. then you can ask about that.. but mainly I guess it will be just a friendly meal together to get to know you better, so just be yourself. They are humans just like you and they either want to update you about something work related or just get to know how you like the job so far.. or that you have new assignments in the near future and they may tell you a bit about themselves.. personal stuff.. and may ask you something about your family.. nothing too personal.. but to get a better idea what kind of person you are outside the workplace.

Answer 2

1. Dress professionally.  Whenever you are around people that you know in a professional setting, keep it professional.  If, at some point down the road, you develop a personal relationship with some of these people, the rules might change, but right now they are looking at EVERYTHING you do, and judging it in the context of professionalism.

2. Never offer to pay for your boss's lunch.  If someone asks for seperate tabs, then make sure you get your lunch on a seperate bill.  If not, be sure that you have cash, and can 'pitch in' accordingly.  Don't be surprised if your boss picks up the tab, though.  It's common in a bussiness lunch for the company to pay.

3.  Keep the conversation light and polite.  Do as much listening as you can without being a wallflower.  I'm betting that they will have plenty of questions for you, but don't feel as if you need to fill the gaps in conversation.  Remember, saying the wrong thing can hurt you alot worse than saying nothing at all.

4.  They probably know that you like working for the company.  This isn't the time to push the agenda.  Someone will probably ask you how you like working for the company, and what your impressions are.  If so, then simply say, "It's great.  I love it here."

Answer 3

do not offer to pay. It's probably on a corporate account, and they TOLD you to come to lunch, so it's not like a date. dress business casual, and let them lead the topics until you see where the conversation is headed. Do not order any alcohol. Come right out and say you'd love a job there... "I really like the way this place runs... I'd love to be a part of it when my internship is over' or something like that.. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Do not offer to pay since they invited you and it's probably going to be paid for by the company anyway.  Just be yourself and join in the general conversation.  Since you don't know whether this is a business or a social meeting you have to play it by ear about what to say concerning your wish to continue working with them after the internship is up, and how much you like your job.