Missed Manners

It's time to file for graduation and you're double checking your classes. English 101? Took it. Science for Business Majors? Got an A+. Business Etiquette and Protocol? What? While it's not yet a required course at most colleges, many experts think that it should be. More importantly, taking an etiquette course might be even more important than some of the technical courses required for your major.

So what is a business etiquette course? A class where students learn to hold their pinkies in the air while they sip tea? Do students learn poise and grace by balancing their book on their head? Maybe they just study re-runs of Martha Stewart and practice looking down their noses at other people.

Actually, today's business etiquette courses, being offered at schools nationwide, focus mainly on creating positive first impressions, dressing for success, business netiquette and basic etiquette. These lessons are not a part of the average college student's curriculum, but they are very important after graduation. Many of the students here at Fullerton College taking Business Protocol and Ethics feel that mastering these skills will give them an edge when breaking into the job market as well as helping them accelerate their careers.

Evidence points to the advantages of having professional etiquette training. According to Fullerton College etiquette instructor Jackie Sanborn, "85% of success in business is personal skills; only 15% is technical skills". Fullerton College Workforce Center Coordinator Chrystal Van Beynen agrees that employers seek out candidates with "soft skills" because the technical aspects of the specific job will often have to be taught; regardless of prior field experience. First and foremost, employers want to hire individuals who they think will best fit in and represent the company and its image. That may mean hiring someone who may be less qualified in terms of education and experience but who projects a positive, professional image.

So, this means we should all drop out of college and work on our people skills right? Quit the internship and extracurricular activities to learn to dine Continental style? Slow down, not yet! Hate to disappoint you but you still need to finish school.

First impressions count

A woman ran into a group of students in downtown Fullerton or rather ran over and shoved herself past a group of students. They were shocked by the way she rolled over their toes with her bag to help herself to the refreshments that the students had provided for a private event. Too surprised to speak, the students listened horrified as what can only be described as verbal diarrhea spilled from her mouth. She gave a speech about what a horrible day she had had; why her rude party-crashing behavior was justified. She never quite apologized, but she did announce in a self-important tone that the reason she was so frantic was because she was a very busy teacher at Fullerton College and went on to mention the department she worked in. In that split 30 seconds, she managed to damage the reputation of her entire department by leaps and bounds. Her monologue also had the potential to taint her audience's opinions about the other 1,123 employees at FC. And don't forget about FC students, because she potentially made the nearly 20,000 students here look bad, when she identified herself as an instructor. Like the old woman who swallowed the fly, the consequences of poor etiquette skills and lack of professionalism can multiply out of control.

Sanborn notes that when you work for an organization, you are a representative of that organization. You are liable for your words and actions if you choose to identify yourself as a member of that organization when you are outside the workplace. As mentioned earlier, employers generally want to hire people who are professional and demonstrate proper manners both inside and outside of the office.

College students should start practicing professional etiquette early on. "I see students coming in here searching for jobs-talking on cell phones, using bad language-and acting rudely," stated Crystal Velazquez, the Workforce Center Assistant, "It makes you wonder how they would behave on a job interview!"

Some simple ways to create a positive first impression include using good manners, having a non-threatening appearance, a good sense of humor, smiling, using good eye contact and showing respect for others.

Dressing for Success

You can't talk about presentation and first impressions without mentioning physical appearance, so get ready to be judge by your cover. Like it or not, human beings make judgments about each other based on appearance all the time; it's just in our nature. What does your grooming and wardrobe say about you?