Mind My Manners

Last Thursday all seniors of Westminster College were invited to Dine 'n Shine. The dinner was sponsored by the Career Center and included a guest speaker as well as a brief fashion show. Our capstone class decided that we would all sit together at a table which was a great bonding experience as we enjoyed our meals and got some helpful tips on proper etiquette in a business setting.

The guest speaker for the night was Dr. Cary Horvath, who spoke while we ate our meals. She discussed the importance of manners and gave us some great tips for etiquette whenever we have a lunch or dinner job interview. My first thoughts were that I had pretty good dining etiquette and knew the "rules" of eating properly in a public setting. However, to my surprise I learned a great deal that I will carry with me in the future.

Most of the tips Horvath gave us are simple ideas, but can make a great impression on a future employer. For example, when shaking a person's hand, you should not look down. Instead, you should look directly at the person. I'm assuming that this is to make you appear friendly and social, yet confident. Another tip that I never really thought about is that you should be careful what you order. Try to avoid messy foods such as spaghetti. This is something I will always remember because it's not easy to eat these kinds of foods without either looking awkward or making a mess. By the end of the meal I realized my dinner etiquette wasn't as good as I thought, but I learned from my mistakes. I used my dinner fork to eat my salad, and my salad fork to eat my dinner, I took a piece of bread when I should have passed the basket first, I didn't place my napkin on my lap until I got my meal, and I passed the salt without the pepper.

After we were finished with dinner, the Career Center had put together a fashion show in order to show us the difference between business casual and business formal. I thought that all the students and faculty involved in the fashion show did a great job. Through the fashion show we were able to visually see what's appropriate for a normal day at the office or a job interview. Once the show was finished several students asked questions. I learned that slacks or a skirt are equally appropriate for a job interview, women can wear flats or heels, and when in doubt dress conservatively!

Overall, I greatly enjoyed Dine 'n Shine. Not only did I get a delicious meal out of it, but I also got some valuable tips that will help me in the future.