an overview of networking

1. Networking with
a Fork:
General Tips on Business
Networking & Dining Etiquette
Madison Morris

2. Four “F” benefits of Familiarity with the Proper Di
R
Familiarity breeds confidenc
Focus on the conversation
Fit in factor
First impressions manageme

3. More benefits :
Stand out in the crowd
Appear ‘well-rounded’

4. Basic starting points
Preparation + Practice = Confidence
It’s never about food
Etiquette is about putting people at ease

5. Ahead of business meal
Look signals to your lunch companions
(interviewers)
IF you made an effort
IF you respect them
IF you are familiar/comfortable w/ company’s
culture
Clean/ironed clothes >than fashion
Careful with perfume
Check weather for appropriate clothing

6. Ahead of business meal

8. Coming in
When escorted to a table by a maitre'd, walk
first, the interviewer will follow behind
If you are seated before the others arrival, be
sure to stand up and shake hands (both men
and women)

9. Seating down
Sit left, stand right.
When possible, you A properly trained
should be seated from waitperson will also
the left side of the chair serve your meal to
at the table and exit you from your left and
from the chair's right. pick up from your right

10. Ordering
Host’s
recommendation =
also price guide No more than two
courses
Generally guest’s
order will be taken
first Never the most
expensive thing on
the menu
Questions about
the dish ok , but
not too many
substitutions

11. Ordering
prix fixe/ table d'hôte – all included
Al La Carte – each item priced separately
dishes to void: spaghetti, ribs, messy
sandwiches - ease of consumption > your
appetite
In the end, it is NOT about food

12. Start of a business
meal
Napkin: the first thing off the table and the last thing
on.
As soon as you're seated, place your napkin in your lap
with the folded edge facing you.
When you excuse place your napkin in the chair seat/on
the chair’s arm.
Only place your napkin on the table when leaving to the
left of your plate.

13. Start of a
business meal
Silverware
lined up in the order in which a person will use them,
going from the outside in

14. Start of a
Bread Plate
Butter Knife
business meal
Dessert /Coffee Water
Red
Wine
White
Wine
Coffee Cup
and Saucer
Plate/Napkin
Soup seafood
Salad Meat Meat Salad

15. Start of a
BMW method business meal
Water always on the right
Bread plate always on the left
B=bread W=water
M=meal

16. Start of a
business meal
Right is spelled r-i-g-h-t.
That’s 5 letters.
Just like k-n-i-f-e and s-p-o-o-n.
So your knife and spoon are always
on the right side.
Left is spelled l-e-f-t.
That’s 4 letters.
Just like f-o-r-k.
So it’s always on the left.

17. Elements of Business Lunch
Appetizers
(bread and butter)
Do not bite in – Tear into pieces, butter and eat. Repeat.

18. Elements of Business Lunch
Salads
Cherry tomatoes: cut in halves
Croutons: spear few leaves,
crouton last
Chew well to avoid
leaves stuck between teeth

19. Elements of Business Lunch
Soup
Spoon your soup away from
you. Don’t drink from the bowl
unless in an Asian restaurant.
Sip from the side of the
spoon.
Leave the spoon in the cup or
soup bowl when resting.
Tilt the bowl or cup of soup
away from you as you eat.
If soup is too hot, wait for it
to cool; do not blow on it.

20. Elements of Business Lunch
Main course
Never cut more than three
bites at a time
Time your meal dish with a
conversation

21. During business meal
Any paper (e.g. empty sugar
packets ) shouldn’t be placed
on the table, but instead on
the edge of butter plate/cup
saucer.
Chew quietly with mouth
closed.
Do not talk with your mouth
full.
Bring food to mouth, not mouth
to food. Straight posture
throughout the meal.

22. During Business meal
Remember to:
Maintain Eye Contact
Continue conversation,
giving all equal time
Refrain from joking
Keep your elbows off the
table at all times.
Rest your wrists on the
table

23. During business meal
Never serve yourself first even if a dish is
placed in front of you

24. During business meal
Turn your head away from the table and cover your mouth
when you sneeze or cough with your elbow nook.
Don't blow your nose at the table. Excuse yourself and use
the restroom.
When leaving the table, always push your chair back to the
table.

25. During business meal
Never state the reasons e.g.
‘restroom break’, ‘I have food stuck
in my teeth’, ‘Have to take my pills’
etc.
Say “Excuse me” only
Tough food (spit it out discretely)
Stains (approach with humor;
proceed as above to excuse
yourself and clean up

26. During business meal
Always pass the salt and pepper together
to place them on the table/ not directly
into the person’s hand.
If you are asked to pass something, don't
use it/or take some first before passing-
unless the person requesting it invites
you to.
Pass items ALWAYS to the right.
The person closest to the bread basket,
butter, salad dressing, etc., should begin
passing.

27. During business meal
Swallow completely/ wipe you hands &
mouth before taking a drink.
If you do not want wine or coffee DON”T :
turn the glass or mug over; place your hand
over the glass or mug.
Simply tell your server “no thank you.”
It is called STEMware - always hold the
glass by the stem.
A water goblet is the only glass you do not
have to hold by the stem.

28. During business meal
Think of your plate as a clock.
The utensils should signalize 6PM if you are still eating
If you are done: put your fork and knife akew in the 10 and 4
o'clock.

29. Questions – other
‘Tricks’
issues
Tipping
Offering to pay for the meal/splitting the check
Toasting

30. CONVERSATION
aspect

31. Art of conversation
As anything worthy,
it takes preparation and
practice

32. Preparation
Check Google News/Scan headlines of major newspapers
If possible, learn about people
you will be interviewing
Find common ground

33. Preparation
Practice with your American peers (that’s why it’s
important not to stick only with friends from your
home country)
It’s better to practice now w/ colleagues than do it
for the 1st time at the interview
Observe what’s expected

34. Introductions
Insure that people are comfortable
addressing you:
Use ‘easy’ form of Make an easy
your name e.g. connection in their
‘Abhinandan’ can be mind e.g.
Pronounce your name
‘Abhi’ • reveal the meaning behind
very clearly
• (or even, if you choose, the name
even more Americanized • offer a word that rhymes
version such as ‘Abe’ ) with your name

35. Introductions
You want to introduce someone
Say the name of the key person.
Mention the name of the other person and say something about him or her
Come back to the key person and say something about him/her.
Here is an example where the recruiter is Mr.
John Packman and your friend is Aneesha
Patel:
“John, I would like to introduce my friend, Aneesha
Patel. Annesha is student in Kellogg’s MMM program.
Josh Packman is with Johnson and Johnson."

36. Hand shaking
Business is generally gender
neutral.
A man does not have to wait for
a woman in business to extend
her hand for a handshake
Americans expect the
handshake to convey strength
and confidence

37. Business card exchange
In US, you should first
establish rapport with a
person in a chat BEFORE
exchanging cards.
Thus, you can expect to
exchange business cards
AT THE END OF THE
CONVERSATION
When you receive a card,
you can look at it and at
If you aren't asked for yours, ask for theirs first. State why the person, and then thank
e.g. ‘I’d love you to see the results of the projects we’ve them.
been discussing. May I have your information?” When alone, feel free to
If they don’t offer their card, simply ask, "May I offer you write any comments at the
my card?“ other side of the business
card

38. Small talk
Discuss what constitutes Mika and Peppe hadn't seen each other for
ages, so they decided to get together for "one"
small talk in your culture beer. At the end of the first pint Peppe says
and your experiences "How have you been?" Mika just grunts in
with small talk in the US reply.
At the end of the second pint Peppe asks
"So how's your family?" Again, Mika just grunts
in reply.
After three pints Peppe asks
"How's work going?" Mika turns in fury and
yells
"Perkele! Did we come here to talk or
drink?!“
Finnish Joke

39. Basic starting points
It’s never really about specific topics
Small talk is about making other people
comfortable through finding a common
ground

40. Small talk
ANYTHING OBSERVABLE/ QUANTIFIABLE:
Weather
Area around
Recent fun activities (plans for the weekend/ recent
vacation/trip)
Hobbies ESPECIALLY sports that can be shared by others
(current matches/games/favorite teams)
TIP: Ask for suggestions e.g. for dining/visiting places or
explaining American/ local customs (e.g. unmerited love for
Cubs)

41. Small talk topics
to avoid
Politics/controversial
topics
Intimate relationships
Religion
Death
Financial issues
Age
When in doubt, ALWAYS ask questions about the
other person. People of virtually every culture
LOVE talking about themselves .