SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Penn State Schuylkill students learned Thursday evening during the second Etiquette Dinner that it's best to keep their cellphones on silent in their pockets and that a first impression is everything.
Organized by the campus' business society and career services and the Penn State Schuylkill Alumni Society Board, the dinner gave students a chance to network with faculty, businesses and campus staff, all while learning how to act during a business dinner.
"Networking is the number one way for them to get a job," said Tina Rose, coordinator of career development at Penn State Schuylkill.
Rose said she organized the event since most business meetings for students seeking jobs and internships are held over dinner, and not many students have experience in those situations.
The last etiquette dinner was March 2011, which Rose said was not only fun, but helpful for students.
Michael True, director of internships at Messiah College, Grantham, hosted the event. He went through each course with the students, telling then what to do and what not to do, starting with a "mocktail" session.
"You need to know how to work those events well," he said.
When the students arrived at the event, they received a name tag. They learned that the tag belongs on the upper right side of the chest in order to make it visible to the person with whom they speak not only during a conversation, but while shaking hands.
During the "mocktail," each student received a non-alcoholic drink and a plate of cheese and crackers. They learned how to hold the plate and drink, shake hands and speak at the same time.
Some of the topics True covered during the mocktail included how first impressions are important, covering dress, handshake, speaking voice, eye contact and handling yourself with the food.
"You have to remember that it's not your last meal," True said. "It's not really about the food, but the people you are talking to."
Rose said some of the other things covered included what to do with your fork and knife when finished eating, how to pass the salt and how to eat a pitted olive.
Marwa Hassanein, a senior psychology major, said she participated in the event because she thought it would be "absolutely superb" for her since most business meetings are held over a meal and that she has no hand-eye coordination.
"I think nobody here really has that experience, unless you get that when you're growing up," she said. "I was just told not to put your elbows on the table and not to spill anything."
While Rose said she would love to hold the event more often, the hardest part is the cost. Business helped cover the cost as sponsors. The event's sponsors included Career Services, The Oak Hill Inn, Hess Catering Inc., Lewis News Agency, Catino Associates Inc., Olympus America Inc., Office of Student Affairs, Kiefer Investment Services, Penn State Schuylkill Chancellor Dr. Kelly M. Austin, Wegmans Retail Service Center and the Penn State Schuylkill Alumni Society Board.