When was the last time someone invited you to a business dinner, and you found yourself seated at a fancy table with satin napkins, crystal glasses, fine china and more forks than you knew what to do with?
As key speaker at the University Career Center’s business etiquette seminar, Michelle Pollard Patrick, founder and director of consulting firm National Protocol Ltd., defined the six steps in using the proper etiquette at a lunch or dinner.
“No matter how many forks appear in a place setting,” Patrick advised students to “work from the outside of the plate inward.”
She also outlined the four steps to a proper handshake and numerous other guidelines for social and business-etiquette ranging from conversational techniques to the amount of food a person should place on a plate while dining at a business buffet.
When students forget names, she suggested they be honest and admit they forgot the person’s name.
“Be apologetic,” Patrick said. “Say something like, ‘I apologize, but I seem to have forgotten your name,’ however, let them know you didn’t want to miss the opportunity to say hello to them.”
“Relationship management is the buzz of the business world,” Patrick told the students. “The bottom line: Good social strategies make more effective individuals in the business world.”
Joshua Grinnan, a computer engineering major, said he hopes to improve his conversational and introductory skills he learned at the seminar.
“It was great as a student to have a good practice ground,” he said. “It’s better to do this here at school and get the experience before trying it on a professional level.”
Following the business etiquette seminar, students used their newly acquired skills during the career-networking reception with employers. Students interacted with the industry leaders in a social atmosphere to discuss internships and full-time job opportunities during lunch.
“I was much more aware of what I was doing and I felt more confident,” Grinnan said, referring to how many pumps a proper handshake entailed and how to execute a strong introduction. “Just as we learned in the etiquette seminar, you have 30 seconds to make an impression on someone so you better know what you’re doing.”
Mark Clark, human resources expert with American Management Systems, discussed strategies with students during the last of the three-day workshop on the proper preparation and execution of the perfect job-search strategy.
Susan Story, the career center’s director, said the job search seminar was especially vital to students beginning their searches for the right career.
“When it comes to finding jobs, students are really too dependent on computers. They fill out online resumes and expect to see immediate results,” she said. “Only 20 percent of people actually get jobs electronically.
“This seminar was really about the dos and don’ts of career searching. Students have to network – they have to just get out there and do the work. As Mark Clark said during the seminar, employers are looking for those students who can distinguish themselves above the rest. They’re looking for leadership skills and good attitudes.”
Sixty-five to 70 students attended the business-etiquette seminar, and about 200 attended the career-networking reception, while 70 students attended the job search seminar.
“The students really seemed to enjoy themselves,” Story said. “Half of them at the career-networking reception were planning to attend all three events and were still chatting about the previous day’s business etiquette seminar.”
Grinnan called the conferences a great concept.
“There was a good overall atmosphere,” he said. “We got to practice our networking, and I’m just very appreciative for the experience.”
Upcoming events coordinated by the Career Center include a March 7, 8 and 9 Behavioral-Mock Interview workshop when students can sit individually via mock interviews with Richmond area employers.
“It’s more behavioral questions about previous experiences such as explaining a time when you’ve had a difficult customer or situation and how you dealt with it,” Story said.