Career and Employment Services hosted a dining etiquette banquet in order to teach students the proper way to conduct themselves at a business dinner.

"CES has put on this dinner for a number of years and is held every semester," said Ruth Huning, graduate research assistant for CES. "These skills are important during an interview, or first date, or really anytime you want to make a good impression in a dining situation. It's important to use these skills correctly to show yourself in the best possible light or even just to know how to act in a social situation."

Pat Pecsi, program director for hotel, restaurant, institutional management and dietetics, was the banquet's host and gave instructions throughout the meal.

"The whole basis of this thing is to give you more confidence," Pecsi said. "We want you to leave here with some social skills. We'd like to believe that K-State students are different and will be prepared."

The students gathered in the Derby Dining Center lobby and were instructed to treat the entire meal as if they were going to an interview before they were led to the Gold Room where the banquet took place.

Before even entering the banquet room, Pecsi gave instructions that women were to go first, and everyone was to stand behind their chair until their table was filled. Once all six people were at the table, the students were allowed to sit down, but not touch their plates or water glasses until they made proper introductions.

The rules and tips continued through the salad and bread basket. Pecsi, in addition to giving instructions, walked throughout the room answering questions and "what if" situations. The first answer was, "If you don't like salads, fake it."

Pecsi also gave "deal maker" advice. This advice included asking the server's name in order to show proper respect if you needed their services throughout the rest of the night. Also, if the interviewee is left-handed, they should acknowledge that to the recruiter and ask to sit where they would not bump elbows with someone during the meal.

Rules for ordering entrees and alcohol were: order within the same price range as others at the table and to only have one alcoholic beverage. Alcohol should only be ordered if it is an evening meal and others are also drinking.

"You can ruin your chances at a job in only two hours," Pecsi said. "You just spent the last four years taking classes, probably a year and a half finding a parking spot on campus. Your resumè is great, and you feel prepared. But you'll blow it all at one interview by having too much to drink.

"If you act like a fool in front of a recruiter, there is no way he's going to give you a salary, a company car and trust you on out-of-town business when you can't even handle yourself for two hours at a reception," Pesci said.

Students at the dinner had various reasons for attending. Amanda Hogue, junior in hotel and restaurant management, said she was required to attend the event for her Survey of Hospitality class.

Others, such as Devi Shravanthi Kallem, graduate student in computer science, came to the meal after seeing advertisements and hearing about the program through CES.

"I've been at K-State for a year and thought that coming to these types of programs is important while I'm in the country," Kallem said.

Pecsi also addressed universal dining issues. He said people from Asia and Europe keep their knife and fork in their hands throughout the entire meal, whereas people from North America set down their knife after they finish cutting. Both are correct, but it is proper to place the knife on the plate when it is not in use.

The universal sign to signal the wait staff that you are finished with a course is to place the knife and fork across the plate pointing in the four o'clock position, said Pesci.

Huning said CES is planning on hosting another dining etiquette banquet sometime next semester.