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Etiquette for a Work or Interview Meal

March 31st, 2007 by Andrew

Your career will likely include lunches and dinners with coworkers, clients, or as a part of interviews. Thus, it is crucial that you understand basic etiquette. How can you impress people with your career skills and personality, if you make a fool of yourself over dinner?

There are entire books and courses on etiquette, so this post barely scratches the surface. However, this should provide good basic guidance.

Place settings

If you are at a more formal meal, there will be fair number of plates, glasses, and utensils on the table. It’s always a little nerve-racking to decide which things to use and when. Here are a couple quick rules of thumb:

Utensils are used starting from the outside of your place setting. For example, your salad fork is usually on the far left.
Your dessert utensil will be at the top of your place setting.
Your bread plate is on the left, and your glasses are on the right. Remember that your left hand makes a “b” for “bread” (index finger and thumb together), while your right hand makes a “d” for “drink.”

Wine selection

Once you are oriented at the table, wine might be an option. A good general rule of thumb is not to consume alcohol at lunch and only to drink a moderate amount with dinner if others are also partaking in alcohol.

If you are having wine and aren’t sure what to order, ask your waiter if he has a suggestion. Most will be able to recommend a couple moderately priced selections from the menu. You can also ask others in your party what they might suggest.

A final thing to remember about wine is that some choices can be very expensive. Pay attention to prices and do not order an extravagant wine, unless the occasion truly warrants it.

Meal timing

Even at a casual dining restaurant, timing is important for etiquette. You should consider others when you pick up your fork and begin to eat. A few tips:

Do not begin eating until everyone has their food.
The eldest female (or host) should be first to pick up her fork and begin eating.
The waiter should not remove plates for a course until everyone has finished that course. This ensures that people are not rushed. If the waiter asks to remove your plate early, kindly ask that he wait until everyone is finished.