Adventures in career seeking

When interviewing for a job, you might not have the opportunity to meet with a prospective employer over a meal—then again, you might. At some point in your career, you are likely to share a meal with people you want/need to impress. Brush up on your table etiquette. I’ve read the books and attended the workshops, but I attended such an occasion the other day (under dressed mind you) and I had to stop and remember the rules. It had been awhile so I was rusty.

As you know, formal meals aren’t about eating. They’re about appearance and behavior and you need to be at the top of your game with both. Especially if you’re in the presence of people who might one day sign your paycheck. Do not stuff yourself. After the meal you can go get a cheeseburger. You don’t cut lettuce even if it means wedging a piece the size of a bulletin board into your mouth. You don’t eat soup like it was ice cream. In fact, pray that they don’t even serve soup. It’s a difficult item to consume without dripping it all down the front of you or sounding like you’re trying suck up the few remaining drops of a beverage through a soda straw. There are so many things to remember about mealtime etiquette so I recommend studying up on it before attending any formal or semi-formal event.