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A Graduate's Introduction to Professional Etiquette and Manners in Business

Inside the world of business, etiquette is a necessary knowledge.

Thousands of college graduates will be flooding the job market in the coming months; however, many will lack the basic etiquette skills needed to successfully obtain employment. Research shows that only thirty-six percent of these graduates will send thank-you notes, yet seventy-six percent of business executives take into account post-interview thank-you notes when evaluating job candidates. Recent college graduates can stand head and shoulders over their competition with some basic etiquette knowledge. Regardless of how skilled you are in business, poor table manners can squelch a deal. To succeed in business in today’s competitive global economy, your skills at the dining table must be on par with your skills at the boardroom table. Companies are looking for employees who can travel well, and they are more and more concerned that many job candidates are not up to the task.

Eating etiquette is one of the most important tools inside business. In the near future, you could be at a job interview that contains a business lunch to test your manners as part of the hiring process. In a New York Times article by Joe Sharkey, written on May 5th 2006, accessed on September 12th 2009, Ms. Martin, who gives seminars on etiquette, states, “A lot of companies as part of the job interview will take someone out for lunch or dinner just to see if they talk and chew at the same time…If you have poor etiquette, it doesn’t matter how intelligent you are. You are going to be viewed as stupid.” “Corporate hiring attitudes sometime comes down to “who can we send abroad who’s not going to embarrass us?” she said.

- Avoid chewable challenges.

- Don’t talk with your mouth full.

- Don’t overindulge in alcoholic beverages.

- Avoid finger foods.

- Don’t order a drink unless offered, and even then remember the company’s alcohol policy and...