Dining Etiquette for Business…Beyond the Fork
Believe it or not, your dining etiquette skills, or lack of them, say a great deal about you. They can be an indicator of many things; where you came from, how you make decisions,whether you are respectful of all people and possibly,whether you get a job or not.

Many people think “dining etiquette” is all about the fork, but in truth, it is way beyond the fork. Here is a list of some dining etiquette skills and what message they send if you ignore them:

• Wait until everyone is seated  before picking up your napkin and placing it on your lap. The host should pick up their napkin first to signify the start of the meal.  (This step shows that you are aware and considerate of everyone at the table.)
• Don’t start eating until everyone is served. (Launching into your meal before others are served is rude and can be perceived as “self-centered”)
• Taste your food before adding salt & pepper. (Reaching for the salt and pepper shaker before tasting can suggest to some that you make hasty decisions.)
• Eating in the Continental style or American style is acceptable in the U.S. today. (The American culture is the only culture that uses the “American” style or the “zig zag” style of eating. Therefore, Americans can be picked out in a crowd just by the way they eat.)
• Be polite to the wait staff. ( Being rude to the wait staff or people who are in service positions can be an indicator of your true character. Courtesy should be extended to all people.)
• Don’t talk about your food likes and dislikes at the table. Try tasting everything on your plate unless you are allergic to it. (Saying “yuck” when served a certain food item is very offensive to the host and can suggest a lack of flexibility in trying new things in any arena.)
• Avoid taking cell phone calls and checking messages at the table. Put your phone on silent mode. (Being glued to your phone during a meal says the people you are with are not as important as your messages.)
• Pace your eating, whether you are fast or slow, so everyone at the table finishes at the same time. ( Racing through your meal and having your plate cleared while others are still eating can put undue pressure on slow eaters to finish. Being too slow with your eating can be annoying and hold up each course being served.)
• Don’t order the most expensive item on the menu unless your host encourages it. Choose something somewhere in the middle. (Ordering market price lobster or something equally expensive can be viewed as taking advantage when someone else is picking up the tab.)
• Monitor your alcohol intake. (Overindulging can lead to unprofessional behavior and suggest a lack of self-control.)
• Don’t drink to yourself if someone offers a toast to you. (Drinking to yourself is tantamount to patting yourself on the back.)

Many companies do interviews over a meal to see how prospective employees handle themselves in social situations. Your lack of good table manners can be a real liability. If you are not comfortable in fine dining situations then you might consider brushing up on your dining skills.