
BUSINESS DINING ETIQUETTE WORKSHOPS
Interviews are always nerve-racking - even for experienced applicants who have interviewed many times in the past. And regardless of how skilled or poised you are -- interviewing can be even more challenging when you are expected to eat and talk at the same time. Nothing is more revealing about a person’s background and values than his or her dining manners!
Your potential employer might choose to take you to lunch to see how you handle pressure – graceful dining and simultaneous business chat are for the pros!
To be successful in the business, your business dining skills during a business meal must be on par with your professional skills.
Table manners do matter a great deal! Good manners show not only respect and consideration for fellow diners, but also one’s level of refinement. They may even give you the edge over another candidate, so take a few moments to review our tips on business dining etiquette and table manners.

Do's and Dont's of Dining:
- Do not order difficult-to-eat foods (pasta, ribs, lobster, etc.)
- Follow the lead of your interviewer and mirror his/her body language.
- Do not order alcohol to calm your nerves – control your emotions.
- Order the same number of dishes as your interviewer.
- Use proper “Continental Dining Style” – no switching fork back and forth.
- Always work from the outside-in when choosing your utensils.
- Keep your liquids on the right-hand side.
- Don’t move your bread-and-butter plate closer to you.
- Learn the difference between a soup bowl and a finger bowl.
- Pass salt and pepper shakers together.
- Place your napkin on the left when your meal is finished. Do not refold it.
- Keep your personal items off the dining table (keys, phone, etc.)
- Don’t forget to turn off your cell phone.
- Ask for the interviewer’s business card only after your meal is finished.
- Give a firm handshake at the end of your business meal and ask for the job.
- Offer one closing statement about why you are the best candidate for this position.
- Write a thank-you note immediately after your meeting.
- Send your note by mail and follow up via e-mail
- Be creative and do something special in order to be “memorable” when sending your final note.