Using the right fork at dinner may not matter anymore, but good old-fashioned manners might just be your most important asset in landing that dream job.
“Really, etiquette is at the core of good relationships,” said Cindy Post Senning, Ed.D., co-director of the Emily Post Institute in Burlington and great-granddaughter of famed manners expert Emily Post. “Not only do I think it’s important, I think it’s essential in the workplace.”
So do many local business owners.
“It makes the difference between whether we hire someone or not, and whether they maintain their position here,” said Roberta Hipes, who co-owns the Williston branch of Plato’s Closet, a popular secondhand clothing store.
Lisa Letourneau, human resources generalist at the New England Federal Credit Union, said good etiquette is definitely something she looks for among the many applicants vying for relatively few jobs.
“Professionalism in this type of business is going to be key,” she said. “Maybe the perception is that the business world has become more relaxed, but the bottom line is first impressions are always the ones that settle with you.”
So what is good etiquette, anyway?
Senning defines etiquette as a combination of manners and three fundamental principles: respect, consideration, and honesty. Manners, which vary depending on time period and culture, are the tools used to express the fundamental principles.
Every piece of proper etiquette – whether it’s the way you dress or the way you talk to a customer – relates back to one of the three principles, she said.
“The principles give us a ground from which all the manners arise,” Senning said. “They also tell us what to do … if you don’t know the manners. If you just act in a way that’s respectful, you’re going to be O.K.”
Hipes said there are many simple ways to show good manners, and most of them boil down to being polite and respectful.
“It’s rare that you find (good etiquette), and it’s too bad, because a lot of these kids are brilliant,” she said.
During interviews, she said, you should be 100 percent focused on the interviewer; make eye contact, give a firm handshake, and be on time. Hipes said to remember that the interviewer is giving you an opportunity in a time when jobs are scarce.
Letourneau said she looks for applicants to come into an interview on time, clean, professionally dressed, and well-spoken – and if they don’t, they don’t have a chance.
Letourneau also suggested following up an interview with a thank you note, whether it is a written note, e-mail, or a phone call. She said she always gives those people another look, even if she wasn’t sure about their interviews.
Most employers also agreed that clothing may be a major stumbling block for people new to the work force. They suggested avoiding jeans, flip-flops, and anything too revealing or casual.
“The way you dress and act is what makes up your image, and you can choose how you are going to be perceived,” Senning said.
In the end, showing proper workplace etiquette can give you an edge over the hordes of other young people applying for the job you want.
Quick etiquette tips:
Here are Cindy Post Senning’s recommendations on some main issues:
-Cell phones: Don’t use your cell phone so that it impairs other people’s work. In most cases, just turn it off or put it on silent until your break. Never answer your phone while you are dealing with a customer or client.
-Texting: Just don’t do it. People assume that you are having a social conversation when you text, even if you are just checking a message. Texting is not discreet: everyone knows exactly what you are doing when you open your cell phone. No matter how quick it is, you are interrupting your task at work, and employers notice.
-Work attire: Work clothes should be consistent with the culture of your workplace, whether it is casual or formal. In addition, they should be clean, neat, and not torn or ragged. Do not wear jeans until it’s clear that it is the culture of your workplace. Your outfit should not be the main focus: your work should be.
-Interview attire: Check out the culture of the place ahead of time, and dress up one notch. Most employers would rather see you overdressed than underdressed. Avoid jeans, flip-flops, and anything too revealing for girls or baggy for guys.
-Punctuality: Punctuality is especially important in the workplace and in our culture, and essential on an interview. Making people wait can be seen either as controlling behavior or a sign that you just don’t care. If you are going to be late, call as soon as possible to explain the situation.
-Interaction with coworkers: When you get a job, you are thrown in with a random group of people, many of whom you may not necessarily choose as your friends. While you don’t have to hang out with them socially, you do have to make an effort to treat them with respect and consideration. This is often as simple as a greeting.
-Visiting friend or family: Give coworkers a head’s up whenever possible, and keep it to five or 10 minutes. Do not bring them to an interview.
-Time off: Figure out the policy for asking for time off, and follow it. When calling in sick, remember that, unlike in school, people are counting on you to be there.
-Email: Just because it is electronic, does not mean you shouldn’t use the same format you would in a written letter. Use greetings and proper spelling, grammar, and capitalization.
-Quitting: Always give two weeks notice if you plan to put this job on your resume or use them as a reference. Never just stop showing up for work.
