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Professional Social Etiquette Tutorial
You've perfected your resume. Your cover letters are persuasive. Your interview skills are polished. You are ready to pursue career opportunities. However before you do, make sure you understand the importance of social ettiquette. Your behavior during meals and receptions can advance, or halt your candidacy for a job. Take a look at the following common sense steps that will serve you well in your job search and life.
An Employer Invites You to an Event
- Be on time
- RSVP whether you are able to attend or not
- Do not cancel without a good reason
- Dress with care; clarify appropriate attire
- The person who invites, pays the bill
- Place your nametag on the upper right side of your clothing
- Avoid foul language
- Learn to discuss any topic including those that do not interest you
- Tell jokes only if they are appropriate
- Always send a thank you note within 2-3 days
You are at an Employer Reception and Don't Know Anyone
- Go first; be the first one to start the conversation
- Look for a shared or common interest
- Be a good listener; ask open-ended questions
- Avoid controversial or unsuitable subjects
- Make sure that your cell phone or pager will not interrupt the conversation
- Don't gossip
- Smile
- Don't repeat, don't ramble
- Don't preach
- If all else fails, bring up the weather
Starting a Conversation with a Stranger
- Great new restaurant, movie or book
- Success stories
- Interesting cases
- Hobbies
- Sports events
- What you'll do with your vacation break
How to Introduce People
- When making introductions... remember this rule: Look at and say the name of the most "important" person first. For example, "Mr. CEO, I would like you to meet Mr. Junior Executive." The order of the most important person is as follows: clients/customers, senior executives, junior executives. If you are at an employer sponsered social event and you're introducing a friend/student that you know to the hiring manager of an organization, you would treat the hiring manager as the VIP.
- Introducing yourself: If you are not immediately introduced, you should introduce yourself as promptly as is decently appropriate. When you are giving your title or describing a major, do it in a way that makes sense, don't abbreviate. For instance, people off campus don't know what "OMIS" stands for.
- Responding to introductions: If seated, rise and be prepared to shake hands. Make eye contact with a handshake. Make some brief and friendly statement like how you know them or "Hello" or "Nice to meet you."
Dining with Success
- Place your napkin into your lap immediately as you are seated; if you need to rise during the meal, place your napkin onto your chair - not onto the table.
- Silverware is used from the outside, in.
- Once a utensil is used it should not rest on the table again.
- When resting a knife on the table, the blade should always face you.
- If you drop a utensil on the floor, ignore it; if it is obstructing a walkway, use your foot to move it out of the way.
- Keep purses, briefcases, cell phones, keys, etc., off the table.
- The bread and butter plate is placed to the left the dinner plate and beverages are placed to the right.
- Break bread into 2 pieces and then into bite-sized pieces; each piece should be buttered, then eaten individually.
- Sugar packets should be opened and remain in one piece.
- Fold the empty sugar packet in half and place it undernath the service plate or the bread plate.
- Food, condiments, etc., are always passed in a counter-clockwise direction around the table.
- Salt and pepper shakers always travel in a pair; do not salt and/or pepper your food prior to tasting as it is considered rude.
- If you spill a drink, use your napkin to protect yourself then ask the waitstaff for assistance.
- Do not start to eat before your host/hostess begins, unless you are told to do so.
Special thanks to Debbie Kubena from the University of Texas at Austin's Communication
Career Services for her contributions.