I'll start by saying this: Smoking is a bad thing, and you should never start doing it. It kills you, and is in no situation good or healthy. Having said that, I would request to refrain from answering 'Just quit smoking.', I would quit if I could. Believe me, I have tried to quit several times.
I'm going into my last year of my study, for which we are required to follow an internship. I have my first 'interview' with this company, so they can get to know me and I get to know the company.
I'm afraid of leaving a bad impression because I smoke. Society keeps getting more 'anti-smoking' (Which is a good thing!), and I'm afraid the company will prefer someone else, who doesn't smoke. The company I had my last internship with, didn't mind me smoking, and almost embraced it. I had fun with my colleagues in my smoke breaks, and I didn't feel 'different' because I smoked.
Is it possible that a company will think differently of me because I smoke, or is it possible that they would prefer someone else who doesn't smoke? I understand that this differs per company, but is there a general distaste for people who smoke during work?
For my interview, should I refrain from smoking, so they won't account me smoking into their decision for hiring me as an intern? I don't want to leave a false impression.
Edit: I live in the Netherlands. I feel like smoking isn't regarded very negative, but society keeps getting more 'anti-smoking' due to advertisements on tv and such.