First impressions are everything when you are striving to establish yourself as a new comer in the realm of business. The Canadian Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club that provides professional development opportunities to students at the University of Guelph hosted its Third Annual Etiquette Dinner this past week. It featured professional etiquette trainer and owner of Etiquette Advantage, Jodie Beach. Beach flew from Iowa to teach more than 30 guests how to dine properly in a business setting. The guests included students from the Ontario Agricultural College, alumni, and industry sponsors. Etiquette is essential in any social setting especially business. But it does not come naturally, as Beach puts it “no one was born with an etiquette gene,” and that is why it is good to learn.

Etiquette Tips:

• When you sit down to eat your meal, the first thing you should do is put the napkin in your lap
• If you order a drink and it comes with a straw, remove the straw
• If you are having trouble knowing whether a drink is yours or your neighbour’s, an easy tip is to put your index finger and your thumb together and see which letter of the alphabet they form. Your right hand should form the small letter (d), meaning drink, and your left hand should form the small letter (b), for bread
• When eating bread, you should put butter on the side of your plate, and then rip a bite size piece of bread, one at a time, and butter that piece
• When you have more than just one fork and knife at a table setting you always start from the inside out
• When holding a wine glass hold it by the stem, this helps keep the temperature of the wine just right -If you invite someone out to dinner-you pay!

Business Attire:

Men:

• Your socks should match the colour of your pants
• No clip on ties
• Your tie should end at the top of your belt line

Women:

• Top and bottom should be the same colour
• Long sleeves is the most empowering look
• Camisoles are a form of lingerie, and should not be worn underneath a business jacket