“Get Your Feet off the Table and Stop Slurping Your Soup!” Dining Etiquette in the Workplace May 23, 2007.

“Get Your Feet off the Table and Stop Slurping Your Soup!”

Dining Etiquette in the WorkplaceMay 23, 2007

Today’s Agenda Key Words Dining Etiquette Pre-Quiz Quote and Anecdote of the Day Video Vignette: “Get Your Feet off the

Table and Stop Slurping Your Soup! Dining Etiquette in the

Workplace” DOs and DON’Ts of Dining Etiquette Homework: What Should I do?

Worksheet

Key Words

1. Dining Etiquette

2. Manners

3. Dinner Interview

4. Belching

Dining Etiquette

Dine to eat the principal meal of the day; have

dinner; to take any meal. Dine out

to take a meal, esp. the principal or more formal meal of the day, away from home, as in a hotel or restaurant.

Etiquette The practices and forms prescribed by social

convention or by authority.

Manners

Ways of behaving with reference to polite standards; social comportment:

That child has good manners. A way of acting; behavior. The socially correct way of acting;

etiquette.

Dinner Interview

When a potential employer interviews an interviewee over a meal at a restaurant.

Belching

To expel gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth; burp.

Pre-Quiz!

1. Job interviews will rarely require you to dine with your interviewer.

True False

2. The best way to eat soup is to (Circle one):

a. Slurp it loudly in case it is hot

b. Test a small spoonful in case it is hot

c. Soak it up with bread in case it is hot

d. All of the above

f. Only A and C

3. In some countries, belching loudly at the table is a compliment to the chef, but not in the United States.

True False

4. While eating during a business meeting, you should NEVER (Circle one):

a. Tuck your napkin in your shirt

b. Stand up when a lady approaches or leaves your table

c. Order food that is sloppy or difficult to eat

d. Start eating if your food arrives first

e. Only A, C and D

5. Dinner interviews are supposed to be casual, a time for you to relax and enjoy the meal that the interviewer is buying for you.

True False

Quote 1

“God gives every bird his food, but he doesn’t throw it in the nest.”

- John Holland

Anecdote 1

“I’ll never forget my first dinner interview. I interviewed for a job while I was incollege. We were eating at a Thai restaurant and I wasn’t all that familiar withThai food. I ordered a dish I thought I would like, but it had these tiny black“things” sprinkled within the beef and the snow peas. Curious as I was, I took alittle black “thing” and popped it into my mouth. After 2 or 3 chews, my face andmouth felt like they were on fire. I felt like I was starting to sweat and my tonguebegan to burn beyond belief! My first instinct was to spit the hot pepper out, but Ihad to remember my table etiquette. At this point, my interviewer had not noticedmy near-death experience caused by the pepper. I took a quick drink of icewater and used all of my strength to say, “Please excuse me for a minute.” Ibarely got the words out. Then I casually strolled to the restrooms, and when Iwas out of his view, I RAN to the restroom! There, I was able to spit, gargle,rinse, and do whatever I needed to do in order to regain my composure and getthe feeling back in my mouth. I returned to the table and all was well. After that,I picked around the little black “things.” The lesson I learned: If you go to anunfamiliar restaurant and find yourself eating unfamiliar foods, ask your host toexplain the menu and what might be expected from the various dishes/foods.Chances are, if your interviewer or host has chosen the restaurant, she/he likesthat type of food and is quite familiar with it.”

- Career Counselor

Video Vignette: “Get Your Feet off the Table and Stop Slurping Your Soup! Dining Etiquette in the Workplace”

DOs of Dining Etiquette

Dress appropriately for the meal (suit for dinner, business casual for lunch). Learn how to use the various spoons, forks, and knives appropriately. Learn how to properly use and fold your napkin. Remember that your glass is always on the right side of your place

setting. Remember that your bread plate is always on the left side of your placesetting. Understand it is rude to order first and to eat first unless instructed to do

so. Order food that is inexpensive. Order food that is “easy” to eat. Place your napkin on your seat and push in your chair if you have to leave

the table. Keep your elbows off the table. Cut a piece of bread without grabbing the entire loaf with your hands. Butter each small piece of bread that you break off from your large piece.

DON’Ts of Dining Etiquette

Talk with food in your mouth. Eat with your hands/fingers. Soak your tie in your soup. Let your guard down and relax too much. Order the most expensive or the largest meal. Complain about the menu or the restaurant—even if you don’t like

it. Finish eating too soon or too late—pace yourself with your host’s

pace. Order dessert or coffee unless your host orders them first. Drink alcohol, regardless of whether your host does. Smoke or request a table in the smoking section. Pick your teeth. Slurp, chew with your mouth open, or lick your fingers.

Visit the following websites for helpful tips!

http://content.monstertrak.monster.com/resources/archive/jobhunt/etiquette/

http://www.bsu.edu/students/careers/students/interviewing/dining/

http://www.bremercommunications.com/Dining_Etiquette.htm

How are your Etiquette Skills? Which spoon would you use for your coffee or tea?

Tomorrow’s Agenda “Get You Feet OFF The Table and

Don’t Slurp Your Soup” Project!