80% of second interviews involve a business meal. Dining etiquette can be critical to career and job search success.
Do Employers Even Notice?
Yes! Employers want to observe your conduct during meals and social situations, particularly for jobs requiring a certain demeanor with clients and superiors. You could be closely scrutinized on your table manners and behavior.
On a practical level, interviews can last several hours or all day; the employer is gracious to host you for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. The meal is a time to visit and interact; this is always more important than the function of eating.
Why Attend?
Professional development is critical for your future success. Training in areas such as etiquette and professionalism are no longer just considered an advantage, but a requirement for today’s competitive job market. In addition to the plethora of skills needed to navigate the dining experience, you'll learn how to:
Registration Details
Who is Invited?
Register early, as there is limited seating! The event is only for finance majors.
What’s the Cost?
The cost is free, as Northwestern Mutual is the premier sponsor.
Registration Deadlines
Event Details
Courtesy Clause
Managing Your Time Is Managing Your Reputation
Signing up for this event constitutes your commitment to attend. The purpose of this event is to help you learn to conduct yourself professionally in the workplace and for job interviews.
We would be remiss in our duties to you as students if we did not let you know that failing to attend any meal or other business (or social) appointment to which you commit, without calling or emailing to cancel, is considered extremely discourteous to other individuals.
Please recall that for this event, significant expense is made by others: 100% of your dinner expense is funded by our generous sponsor, SunTrust.
Individuals who work for the sponsoring organization travel to campus and extend their work day to host you at the dinner. Tables are set and dinner is prepared. When students no-show, this impacts and is a discourtesy to hosts, planners, sponsors, and the other students assigned to be seated at the same table.
If for any reason you realize you can’t attend, up to the day of the event, contact Dr. Cole at lscole@utk.edu immediately.
What to Wear
Yes! Employers want to observe your conduct during meals and social situations, particularly for jobs requiring a certain demeanor with clients and superiors. You could be closely scrutinized on your table manners and behavior.
On a practical level, interviews can last several hours or all day; the employer is gracious to host you for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. The meal is a time to visit and interact; this is always more important than the function of eating.
Why Attend?
Professional development is critical for your future success. Training in areas such as etiquette and professionalism are no longer just considered an advantage, but a requirement for today’s competitive job market. In addition to the plethora of skills needed to navigate the dining experience, you'll learn how to:
- Master formal introductions
- Navigate through appropriate topics for mealtime discussion
- Elevate fine-dining table manners
- Polish networking skills
Registration Details
Who is Invited?
Register early, as there is limited seating! The event is only for finance majors.
What’s the Cost?
The cost is free, as Northwestern Mutual is the premier sponsor.
Registration Deadlines
- Registration deadline: Wednesday, October 16, by 5 PM EST
- Registration will close early if fully booked
- Register online through Handshake: https://utk.joinhandshake.com/events/342699/share_preview
Event Details
- Thursday, October 24
- Student Union Executive Dining Room (SU 377A)
- Check-in starts at 5:15 PM
- Networking begins at 5:30 PM
- Dinner is served at 6:00 PM
- Dress is Business Professional
Courtesy Clause
- Cancellation Deadline: Tuesday, October 22, by 5 PM EST
- You will be billed for the full price of the dinner ($75) if you RSVP but fail to attend or cancel your RSVP prior to the deadline.
- Mandatory: A Courtesy Contract will be emailed directly to you. You will need to print, sign, and hand in the signed contract to the Masters ILC (HBB 237) no later than 5 PM EST on Tuesday, October 22.
- Penalty: Failure to sign and submit the Courtesy Contract by the deadline will result in forfeiture of your seat at the event, and prohibition from future Career Events.
Managing Your Time Is Managing Your Reputation
Signing up for this event constitutes your commitment to attend. The purpose of this event is to help you learn to conduct yourself professionally in the workplace and for job interviews.
We would be remiss in our duties to you as students if we did not let you know that failing to attend any meal or other business (or social) appointment to which you commit, without calling or emailing to cancel, is considered extremely discourteous to other individuals.
Please recall that for this event, significant expense is made by others: 100% of your dinner expense is funded by our generous sponsor, SunTrust.
Individuals who work for the sponsoring organization travel to campus and extend their work day to host you at the dinner. Tables are set and dinner is prepared. When students no-show, this impacts and is a discourtesy to hosts, planners, sponsors, and the other students assigned to be seated at the same table.
If for any reason you realize you can’t attend, up to the day of the event, contact Dr. Cole at lscole@utk.edu immediately.
What to Wear
- Dress is Business Professional
- YouTube (4:19) " Global Image Group's Men's Guide to Professional Dress for an Interview"
- YouTube (4:19) "Global Image Group's Women's Guide to Professional Dress for an Interview"