How to Eat

On Thursday, October 20^th, I attended the Dinning Etiquette Workshop hosted by Terri Thompson as a part of the Starr Career Development Center.  I found out about the workshop when I had glance at a flyer posted on a bulletin board.  Not only do I enjoy free food, I also know that dinning plays a significant role in the world of business, where there are many lunch and dinner interviews as well as networking sessions and deal arrangements.  When I applied to college, two of my school required me to have interviews, and both scheduled them in cafes.  I had thoroughly prepared for the interview by preparing answers to frequently asked questions as well as visiting my college counselors and having mock interviews with them.  However, the one aspect that bothered me when I arrived for my interview was the food aspect.  I had not considered what I was going to do about food, so in both my interviews I just ordered a coffee to drink, not wanting to order something that I had to eat because I was afraid my table manners would be judged and criticized or that I would make a mess and reflect poorly of myself.  After attending this workshop, I am much more confident going into any future interactions where food plays a part.  Mrs. Thompson had us get up and take food from the buffet bar as she explained the basics of eating in a banquet style with a buffet.  After sitting down and starting to eat our food, she introduced to us all the steps that need to be taken when we first sit down at the table.  What amazed me was the fact that despite it only should take three seconds for us to get comfortable at the table, it took Mrs. Thompson nearly ten minutes to explain all the steps between approaching the table and getting ready for the food.  Much of the workshop was really just common sense but there were some counter-intuitive/inefficient aspects of dinning such as always passing common items to the right even if the person asking for them is sitting directly left of you.  After completing the wonderful workshop, I definitely will be visiting the Starr Career website more often to see what other workshops and programs they offer.