Etiquette Dinner
teaches students
about networking,
formal dining,
and job search process
John Francis, Business Banking Manager (far left) hosts a table for
his employer Wells Fargo Bank.
It's a fact: Style matters.
That's the idea behind the Fort Lewis Career Services Office’s annual Etiquette Dinner. The event is a night of professional networking, instruction in formal dining, and insights into the professional job search process.
"All students are welcome to come," says Allyn Talg, director of the Career Services Office, and creator and coordinator of the Etiquette Dinner. "And all students should."
Students should come to the event, Talg says, because "this is a chance to practice networking in a safe environment. These are friendly, outgoing representatives of companies who have supported Fort Lewis by hiring students. They love these students, so it's an easy environment for students to get information."
Yes, at the event, students receive training in the basics -- the purpose of table settings, when to use which fork and why, and so on. But, in addition, throughout the dinner representatives of various sponsoring businesses give information about who they hire, what's important in the interview process, and what they look for in prospective employees.
But that unique networking opportunity should not overshadow the importance of the style-training part of event, warns Talg. "Employers value these skills. They value employees who know professional etiquette, how to introduce people, what happens on a business lunch. These are skills applicable in all occupational fields where students want to be professionals, especially in managerial roles."
Even businesses that are casual in their approach expect their employees to be able to be professional, says Talg. That's why etiquette is the theme of this career-networking event. "Knowing good skills in terms of basic meal etiquette, as well as professional courtesy skills and networking skills, can make a difference," she says.
This year marks the 9th Etiquette Dinner, and will be held the night of Tuesday, Oct. 6. The idea for the annual event, Talg says, was brainstormed at a professional conference several years ago.
"I was chatting with some of my colleagues, both professionals and career services colleagues, and we were commenting that the area where students are really lacking ability is not just in networking, but in overall professionalism. In being able to step outside of being students and step into who they want to be in their professional lives."
"We talked about various ways to teach that," she says, "and one of the ideas we came up with was an etiquette dinner."
The rest, as they say, is history. Talg returned to Fort Lewis and, with the help of Dr. Roy Cook, at the time the Assistant Dean of the School of Business Administration, started the Etiquette Dinner, with 10 sponsored tables the first year.
How many seats are available at the dinner depends upon how many tables are sponsored by companies that wish to be represented. Faculty and staff donate to sponsor tables as well. In the past, there have been as many as 20 tables, Talg says, but generally there are 12 or 13, which she says seems to create the best atmosphere. So far this year there are nearly a dozen tables sponsored, creating space for about 72 students to participate.
Even though it's meant to be a comfortable educational experience, Talg says it can challenge students who aren't used to formal settings. "It's somewhat intimidating because we ask them to dress up, and then mingle with people they maybe don't know," she says. "But that's why I invite some faculty and staff, too. President Bartel and his wife attend, as well."
The Etiquette Dinner is usually held in the Ballroom in the Student Union, but this year it will be at the Henry Strater Hotel, in downtown Durango, because of the renovation work in the Student Union. This year's schedule begins at 5 p.m. with socializing around punch and hors d'oeuvres, "so you learn how to talk and balance all the accoutrements, the food and name tags and shaking hands," says Talg.
After 45 minutes or so, it's on to dinner. "We start with a toast. And then we talk people through how to make a toast," says Talg. "Then, as each course of the dinner is being served, we talk about how to approach the eating of each item."
Between courses, says, Talg, "The talk at the tables is focused on the interviewing process, what's important to the employers, what skills they look for, and so on."
Even if students enter the evening nervous, Talg says, "The one thing I observe is that at the end of the evening, most students are so excited and pleased that they came. They often don't get the chance to figure these things out because this kind of instruction is not offered much any more."
Students will also have a chance to practice their networking skills the day after the Etiquette Dinner, at Career Day, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the Student Union. There, prospective employers will have spaces set up to discuss jobs, and Career Services will have a table where students can discuss potential career ideas for each major.
Students are asked to RSVP (which means, for those practicing their etiquette, to "repondez, s’il vous plait" -- French for "please respond") by reserving their space in advance. The Etiquette Dinner costs $10 to register, but students are reimbursed if they attend the event. To sign up, go to the Career Services office on the third floor of Reed Library.
For more information, email talg_a@fortlewis.edu or call (970) 247-7562.
Learn more about Career Services here.
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