Anybody in a business situation has 30 seconds to make a first impression, said Kristine McCarty, an etiquette consultant for the Airis Group company.
Fifty-five students attended her etiquette lunch Wednesday.
"You never have a second chance to make a first impression," she said.
She said 55 percent of a person's influence comes from body language, eye contact, personal space and appearance. She said only 7 percent of what a person says during those 30 seconds will have any influence, which is why it's so important to know the rules of etiquette.
McCarty took students though etiquette rules while they ate in the SUB.
She said in a restaurant setting there could be up to three forks and knives at the table. She said to start from the outside and work in.
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Graduate student Ryan Weiss said he interviewed for a job last week. He had attended one of McCarty's dinner etiquette talks and said he felt more comfortable during his interview because of it.
He said coming to the lunch Wednesday helped reinforce his etiquette skills.
It helped ease fears that he had screwed up the interview, he said.
The point of the lunch was to make students comfortable with the dining rules in business interviews and networking situations.
The first thing she covered was putting the napkin on the table. She said lunch napkins are smaller than dinner ones, so dinner napkins should be folded in half on a person's lap.
Then she told people not to slouch. Tables of students straightened their backs. She added students should be comfortable, not stiff.
She said business dinners are not the time to try new foods or order saucy things.
"Keep it simple," McCarty said. "Try not to order saucy foods that could get your suit dirty."
She said if you don't want something just say, "No, thank you." Leave out the excuses.
If the host is drinking from the bar, she said you should too, even if you don't drink.
"Your goal is to make everyone feel comfortable," she said.
McCarty covered everything from elbows on the table - allowable if there is not a main course on the table - to how to keep hands from getting wet - hold the glass in the left hand to keep the right hand dry to be able to shake hands.
Students had multiple questions, from who pays - the host - to when can a person start eating. If there are eight people or less, wait for them to be served, otherwise begin eating.
McCarty said students should practice introducing themselves because introductions are important.
"We live in a 30-second culture," she said. "Our attention span only lasts that long. You have 30 seconds to do it in."
McCarty went around the room shaking everyone's hand and critiquing their handshakes.
Career Services puts on about four of these lunches a year. They are free to students.
Table Etiquette
* Elbows are allowed on the table if there is not a main course on the table
* Business occasions are gender neutral
* Follow the host's lead
* Don't slouch
* Place the napkin to the side of the plate if you get up
* Start out with forks or knives and work inward
* Once a utensil has been used, do not put it back on the table
* Always turn cell phones off
* Don't order a more expensive meal than your host
* Don't order foods that can be messy or get stuck in your teeth
