Don't Be THAT Guy at a Business Meal

I don’t know about you, but one thing that really scared me was the thought of having a business lunch or dinner with an employer.  I was always that person who would spill things, drop crumbs on the table and dig right into my dish.

Photo Credit: Tumblr

I will say one thing; working at Career Services this year has taught me a lot about dining etiquette and helped me understand why it is so important to everyone.  We have things like the Dining for Success event which is a way to practice and learn proper ways to eat tricky foods, presentations and so much more. 

Here is a video that quickly summarizes do’s and don’ts of dining:

Knowing dining etiquette is important.  According to “The Top Ten Etiquette Tips For The Business Dinner or Interview” by Hank Coleman, “Many of today’s business meetings, sales meetings, and job interviews take place over the dinner table. Sometimes these meetings are at a restaurant, and other times they are in a corporate dining hall. But, when the big deal or job is on the line that is not the time to realize you do not know which fork to eat your salad with.”

 

Here are some quick important tips you should remember:

·         Don’t start eating until you host or hostess has done so

·         Do not cut large sizes of food and try to shove it in your mouth, cut small bite size pieces instead

·         Place your napkin on your lap before you begin eating

·         Start on the outside and work your way in when using your silverware

 

You have all the resources you need for great dining etiquette. So make sure you drop by Career Services so you aren’t that guy at your business dinner.

Photo Credit: Jim Naughten/Getty Images

Ashley Salim

Career Educator

It's All About the Attitude!

I’m not sure about you, but when I was growing up my mom always told me, “Attitude is everything.”  Little did I know way back when; this statement is true for many aspects of life, even while on the job hunt.

The article “Attitude Makes a Huge Difference When You're Trying to Get a Job,” by Hank Stringer,  talks about how important being positive and having a good attitude is to employers.  You might think that you sound cheesy or corny, but without the “cheesiness” you might not sound like a go-getter or motivator which is important at most jobs.

Stringer writes, “many companies may find that attitude is more important than one having the specific skills needed, combined with a questionable attitude.”

You can always be trained in specific skills, but teaching an attitude or behavior is much more difficult to change.  If you want the job, make sure you have a positive attitude and it is much more likely it will be yours.  Everyone is likely to have a bad day every now and then, but thinking positively is an easy way to turn those days around.

Here are some things I like to do to stay positive:

1. If you sit down and think about it, there are always two sides to everything.  Look at the positives in your sticky situation.
2. Always remember, life goes on.
3. Tell yourself every experience is a learning experience, good or bad.
4. Challenge yourself and remind yourself you can do anything.
5. Surround yourself with positive people who encourage you.

Now I want to hear from you. Tell us what some of your attitude tips are or how you sell yourself to employers!


Ashley Salim
Career Educator

10 Great Jobs to Have in College That Look Good on a Résumé

You are a freshman or sophomore in college. Think you do not need to get a job yet? Wrong!
What if you are a junior or senior? Do you think your part time job is worthless? Wrong again!

There are several reasons you should start getting involved early and hold a part time job, no matter what year you are or how old you may be. According to US News and World Report’s“10 Paying College Jobs That Look Good on Your Résumé” by Alexis Grant, college students are expected to get professional experience as well as get good grades.
According to the article, here are the top 10 paying college jobs that look good on your résumé:

1. On-campus tour guide (a Southern Ambassador, here at GA Southern)

2. Brand ambassador

3. On-campus IT support

4. Social media consultant

5. Waiter or waitress

6. Writer

7. On-campus career services (Apply to be a Career Educator today! Visit employment.georgiasouthern.edu by February 29th, posting number 0606655 )

8. Bank teller

9. Working for yourself

10. On-campus alumni affairs

Not only do these jobs give you relevant experience in many fields, but if you are not sure about what you want to do yet, these jobs can help you figure it out. 

 
Grant wrote, “These 10 jobs are great choices for students because they look good on a résumé, work around class schedules, and offer decent pay. Keep in mind that if you work on campus, your boss may be more sympathetic when you need time off to study for a sociology exam or finish that chemistry lab.”

Do not stop with these jobs, though. Any job or volunteer experience can help you in some way or another, whether it is customer service experience, public speaking experience, perfecting your computer, or getting recommendations. 

 
So I challenge you this, get involved to start building your résumé. Get a part time job, join an organization or start volunteering.
What are you going to do or what have you already done? Let us know how you are building your resume!


Ashley Salim
Career Educator