Susan Richardson
Sometimes employers bring possible employees to a dinner as a part of the interview. To better teach students about etiquette when attending a dinner with employers, CALS will be hosting an Etiquette Dinner this Thursday. It is already full, but if you did not get signed up in time or could not make it, here are some tips for you.
These tips come from Susan Richardson who is the owner of Etiquette Essentials LLC. She is the speaker for the event and is a professional when it comes to etiquette.
Here are some of her tips for a dining interview. Make sure you have the telephone number for the person you are meeting and/or the restaurant to contact if you will be late. You should arrive on time or preferably five minutes early and appropriately dressed. Always be respectful and courteous by saying “thank you” to your server. Remember that the conversation is much more important than the actual meal. Order user friendly food that will not be hard to eat, staying away from hard-to-eat food and food with garlic or onions.
As far as dining tips, the most common questions arise with the napkins and silverware. You should wait for your host or the rest of the table to place your napkin on your lap. If you need to leave at any time during the meal, you should place your napkin on your chair. After the meal you can then place your napkin on the table. Your utensils should match the number of courses you will be served. The furthest fork from your plate should be the first utensil you use. When cutting you should have the knife in your left hand and the fork in your right hand.
Even as a guest, you still have responsibilities before and after the meal. You should accept the invitation within 24 hours. While ordering food, unless stated otherwise by your host, do not order the most expensive thing on the menu or the least expensive. You should also extend a “thank you” when they are paying the bill, when you are leaving the restaurant and a thank-you note should be sent within 24-48 hours.
