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Topic: Do I pay for the coffee?? And what to wear?
| Author | Message |
| peyton | Posted – 4/1/2008 11:53:18 AM | show profile I've been going on some informational interviews recently and they have been really great. I have one coming up, however, that has me a bit stumped. I'm meeting with an editor at a big deal publication (think Vanity Fair). He suggested we meet for coffee. Do I pay for our coffee? Does he treat? It seems like he is doing me the favor so I should buy, right? And do I wear jeans and a smart blazer? Or go more formal even though we aren't meeting in an office? Thoughts most appreciated. |
| GGG | Posted – 4/1/2008 12:31:54 PM | show profile I think it would be a nice gesture to offer to pay. Consider just phrasing it as a question: "I appreciate this opportunity and would like to get your coffee, if that's alright." As far as what to wear, I'd probably avoid jeans (unless this is a sleek mag geared primarily toward fashion, in which case you might want to mimic the overall feel of the publication). Personally, I'd suggest the "safe" approach of slacks and a nice button down shirt. Good luck! ------ Check out the blog! www.girlgoesglobal.com |
| recovering_jersey_girl | Posted – 4/1/2008 12:34:06 PM | show profile I would pay. And I wouldn't go suit-formal, but I also wouldn't do jeans. Nice slacks or a skirt (if you're female) and a blazer should be fine. |
| recovering_jersey_girl | Posted – 4/1/2008 12:36:39 PM | show profile Oh, and if you're unsure how to phrase the possibly-awkward "let me pay" moment, here's what to do: Get there early enough (maybe 15 min, depending on how crowded the venue usually is) to secure a table. When Ed. gets there, say hello, thanks for coming, etc. and then you say, "Do you mind holding down the table while I grab us coffee? What would you like?" Obvs this is only if you're in a self serve place like Starbucks. If it's a place with waitstaff, just grab the check when it comes. |
| peyton | Posted – 4/1/2008 1:37:47 PM | show profile thanks! this was all very helpful. |
| SPF 30 | Posted – 4/2/2008 1:03:41 AM | show profile Recovering Jersey Girl, that's an awesome idea! I'm going to use that one the next time I'm in an uncomfortable "who pays?" situation. |
| snappiness | Posted – 4/2/2008 9:35:29 PM | show profile I never seem to pay Not informational interviews, but whenever I meet with editors in NY (either mine or ones I'm pitching) they get the coffee. We're standing in line, or the check comes or whatever, and they always say "Oh, I'll get this." I figure I'm the poor freelancer and they're the ritzy staffer so I let them get it. I figured they're expensing it. |
| Printingman | Posted – 4/2/2008 10:18:44 PM | show profile | email poster Is this like a real protocol question or is it tough for you to shell out a few bucks for skim mocha grande.... I mean what kind of question is this? |
| InsomniacNOT | Posted – 4/3/2008 12:45:43 PM | show profile I'm with Snappiness. The person with the expense account pays. Sure, it's nice to offer to pay since you're the one being done the favour, but, really, the other persor should turn down your offer and insist on payine as s/he is the higher earner and probably can expense it any way. I've been on both sides of these equation and I would never expect a freelancer/job candidate to pay for me. |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 4/3/2008 2:04:08 PM | show profile common courtesy Take the above advice and casually offer to pay. If they insist, don't haggle. Just politely say thank you. To answer the above question, I'm sure it's about protocol, not money. |
| peyton | Posted – 4/3/2008 2:13:14 PM | show profile yes, it was about protocol. my inclination was to offer to pay. that just seemed like the appropriate thing to do since he was being nice to speak with me in the first place. but since he asked me to coffee i wanted to see what others thought about how i should handle it. they nicely confirmed my feeling that i should still pay. thanks for the advice. |
| InsomniacNOT | Posted – 4/3/2008 2:35:55 PM | show profile You should offer to pay, but the protocol is that she who has the big job pays not the poor starving freelancer or college grad. |
| snappiness | Posted – 4/3/2008 8:29:10 PM | show profile Yeah, it's totally about the expense account. In fact, when I'm with other professionals, we often just say, "Who can expense this?" Or I'll say, "Can you expense this or should I get it?" so they know I'm not expensing it. Sometimes (when I'm on assignment), I get to say "don't worry, I can expense this." I wouldn't be that casual with the editor you're meeting though. But just know that's the underlying transaction that's happening. |
