Skip to main content

Basic Etiquette

By
What is Etiquette?  Etiquette is a set of social codes and manners determined by society. In order to socialize in a proper way we, as individuals within the society must abide to the set of codes that is being dictated to us. Based on our environment we tend to develop our unique set of manners and etiquette. Places such as our home, school and workplace may serve as a major factor in influencing the etiquette we acquire as adults.
How to create a positive impression in the business world? The way you present yourself to others in the business world speaks volumes. People tend to form their first impression about others within seconds of their first meeting. Therefore it is crucial to ensure you are properly prepared to present yourself as a professional. Here are some important tips towards making a good impression.

In the office:
  • Posture – Stand up straight, make eye contact, turn towards people when they are speaking, and genuinely smile at people.
  • Dress code - Make sure you are in proper dress code, perhaps dressing a step above the norm.
  • Portable Portfolio - Your briefcase or bag and the things you carry in them say something about you. Messy items may detract from the image you would like to present.
  • Greeting - When meeting someone for the first time, be sure to shake hands palm to palm with a gentle firmness.
  • Language - Your colleagues deserve the same respect as clients. Keep the language in emails and other communication grammatically correct.
  • Noise/Smells - Don’t forget that sound and smells travel. In an open office, chomping and chewing or reheated lunches can easily grate coworkers’ nerves.
  • Help Yourself – Although many co-working spaces value collaboration and debate, near all expect you to be self-sufficient.
  • Punctual - Arrive early!


Business lunch etiquette reminders:
  • Don’t rush - Don't dig into business immediately, wait until after you've ordered lunch will prevent you from getting interrupted in mid-thought.
  • Know what to order - Before you order something, think about how you will look eating it, Avoid foods that are complicated to eat, like spaghetti with a red sauce, barbeque ribs, oversized sandwiches, or lobster in the shell.
  • Put your cellphone away - Place your cell phone on the table and then glance down at it every time it pings or vibrates. Silence your device and keep it out of sight until you leave the restaurant.
Pay with card - If you're paying the bill, do it with a credit card, not cash. You will have a record for your expense account and it looks more professional.

                                                                        Amina Adalat
                                                                       Nathalie Jean-Elie

Comments

Post a Comment

Leave us a comment! We love hearing from our readers.

Popular posts from this blog

DEI & The Workplace

By
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), is a broad term that covers the issues of equality in the United States. It existed throughout the years, trying to advocate for equality amongst individuals regardless of their race, sex, or religion. Thi helps foster respect and equality in every sector of the society, ensuring that as long as a person is a citizen of the United States, they are allowed to receive the same benefits as others. In the workplace, DEI is very essential as it ensures that people are hired based on the fact that they meet the qualifications of the position they applied for, and not discriminated against by not qualifying them for unknown reasons even if they reach all other qualifications. Below are a few important reasons for DEI in the workplace:  1. The Workplace Should Reflect Today’s Emerging Workforce: Social change has historically often led to backlash, but that isn’t necessarily a good reason to retreat or pivot away from one’s DEI mandate. Today’s emerg...
Post a Comment
Read more

To Wear or Not To Wear?: Tips on dressing for success

By
So, the first step is over. You finished filling out the application for the job; listing all of your work experience, answering numerous questions about your work ethic on an online questionnaire, and you even polished up your hand dandy resume! After restless nights of worrying, you finally get a call saying they would love to have you come in for an interview: now what? First, don't panic ! Finding an appropriate outfit can be intimidating, but with the help of Google it is possible. Second, the outfit you should wear is based on what type of position you are going for or what your potential company is. If it's a store like Macy's, for example, it would make sense for you to wear all black since that's the kind of uniform the employees wear.  If you're working in an office setting, then you should go either business casual or professional. When in doubt of what to wear, go with business casual! Here are a few images of what business casual and professional ou...
3 comments
Read more

The Elements of a Resume

By
There are  many formats and designs for a resume, but there are essential components that EVERY resume MUST have, no matter what the layout is. HEADER Should contain  your name, full address, phone numbers where you can be reached and a PROFESSIONAL email address. EDUCATION Include the name of your college ( in bold ), location (city and state without zip code), major, and expected graduation date.  If you have any major achievements, such as being on the Dean's List, you can include it here. **Your GPA should be included ONLY if it is a 3.0 or above. EXPERIENCE Include the name of company ( in bold ), location (city and state without zip code), position title, dates of employment (month & year) and, starting with action verbs, list your responsibilities using bullets. Be sure to list your experiences is chronological order starting with the most recent position. SKILLS List computer programs you are familiar with and your skill level ...
Post a Comment
Read more