Dining Etiquette Career Counseling and Support Services 1640 Neil Avenue, 2nd Floor Younkin Success Center (614) 688-3898 ccss.osu.edu

Career Counseling and Support Services Objectives To outline appropriate table manners before, during, and after a meal To describe the general “do’s” and “don’ts” of dining etiquette To present power dining results

An Informal Place Setting Career Counseling and Support Services An Informal Place Setting

Career Counseling and Support Services A Formal Place Setting

Before the Meal Dress Professionally Career Counseling and Support Services Before the Meal Dress Professionally Place your napkin on your lap after everyone is seated and after your host has moved his/her napkin Review the menu and decide what you want to order quickly Let the host take the lead in ordering, this will give you an idea of what to eat If the recruiter is not first in line to order, ask him/her “what do you recommend”

Career Counseling and Support Services During the Meal If your place is set with more than one fork, begin from the outside and work your way in This is the time for both of you to relax and get to know one another better Hold your knife and fork with the thumb and three fingers keeping the index finger extender on the handle When cutting meat, the fork prongs should be pointed down, not up

Career Counseling and Support Services During the Meal Cut your meat or meal one piece at a time; avoid dicing it into bite-sized pieces all at once With dinner rolls, break off and butter one small piece of bread at a time; avoid making a sandwich When sharing sauce with others, spoon some of it on to your plate; don’t dip your food into it Strive to come across as relaxed, friendly, and interested in the conversation; stay positive

Career Counseling and Support Services During the Meal Stay away from too much personal information as well as controversial topics Use this opportunity to gather more information about the career Put your silverware on your plate in the “rest position” when you speak, not on the table

Career Counseling and Support Services During the Meal Rest position means: knife and fork are at 5 and 7 o’clock respectively If you need to leave the table temporarily, place your napkin on your seat Maintain good eye contact throughout the meal and avoid dominating the conversation

Career Counseling and Support Services After the Meal Place the knife and fork prongs down side by side on the plate with handles at 4 o’clock If your host insists the waiter bring the dessert menu, he/she wants you to have one When you are done with the meal, place you napkin to the left of your plate

After the Meal Make sure you thank your host for providing the meal Career Counseling and Support Services After the Meal Make sure you thank your host for providing the meal Shake hands with the recruiter before you leave and maintain good eye contact

General “DO’s” and “DON’Ts” Career Counseling and Support Services General “DO’s” and “DON’Ts” Do’s Do sit up straight Do keep your elbows out off the table Do say “please” and “thank you” Do take your time eating, talking, and listening Do drink from your glass of water, it’s to your right Don’ts Don’t ask the waiter to explain everything on the menu Don’t order the most expensive item Don’t order any sloppy or hard to eat food Don’t order any food that requires the use of your fingers Avoid slurping your soup(spoon forward)

General “Don’ts” Don’t speak with your mouth full Career Counseling and Support Services General “Don’ts” Don’t speak with your mouth full Don’t dip food into a bowl others have to use Don’t forgo the meal and don’t eat the garnish Don’t drink alcohol, if you choose to drink, limit to one beer or glass of wine Don’t argue over the check or offer to pay the tip, the host who invited you must take care of both Don’t use toothpicks in the presence of the recruiter Don’t smoke unless your companion lights up first If you are a non-smoker and your partner asks for a table in the smoking section, grin and bear it

Career Counseling and Support Services Power Dining Results The main issue is deciding whether you and the employer would be a good match Employers look for excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a meal is a good place to show such qualities It is a time to judge how the candidate interacts with others Someone who is good at one-on-one situations might not be great in a group setting The meal shows the candidate’s potential as a team player and his/her ability to move from one setting to another

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Career Counseling and Support Services

Career Counseling and Support Services

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