After the suit is chosen, the resume and portfolio is prepared, everything is set for the interview, except how to act for the final step -- dinner.
Wednesday evening's Professional Etiquette Dinner, sponsored by the Career Center, prepared students who attended with the proper tools to use during a business interview over lunch or dinner.
"We were told by students who had prepared their resume that when they were taken to lunch or dinner, it was unexpected and they felt uncomfortable," said Sheila Spisak, associate director of the Career Center.
Spisak said the 60 plus students who attended should gain the knowledge of interacting and networking, exchanging information, and simple techniques to use during a business dinner.
"They should feel comfortable at a proper place setting," Spisak said.
Senior Twyla Hough said she recalls a brunch she attended her senior year of high school as class president where it would have been helpful to know the proper eating techniques to use in a formal setting.
"When you are in the business world, networking is everything," Hough said. "You don't want to offend someone while eating."
During the brief informative session before the dinner, Nicole Feldhues, assistant director of the Career Center, instructed students to meet three new people and carry on conversation in a professional manner.
Have a positive mental attitude, set goals and achieve them, get rid of the traditional definition of a stranger and find commonalities among others who are participating. Feldhues gave these suggestion when preparing for a large business setting to be put in to practice during the networking reception.
Joe Goodwin, assistant director of the Career Center said the professional etiquette program can help students polish skills for interviews and dinners.
"It is crucial to have proper etiquette in a professional dinner setting," Goodwin said. "If students can't handle themselves properly, it hurts their chances of getting a job."
The hour-long dinner offered many helpful tips and many important techniques to remember while dinning in a professional setting. For example, the table is set with liquids to the right and solids to the left, so don't take someone else's water.
Always pass to the right, but never serve yourself first. Excuse yourself before leaving the table but do not give the reason for leaving. Never place elbows on the table while dining.
A commonly-used tactic used during interviews was also reveal. Feldhues explained some employers look for the way the interviewee seasons their food.
"Taste your food before you season." Feldhues said. "It's a courtesy to the preparer and it is used as an evaluation tool. (It is) used to see if the interviewee is impulsive, or jumps to conclusions and makes hasty decisions."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
