Students can burnish social skills at annual etiquette dinner
Success in the workplace comes from a blend of technical skills and people skills.
At the 2018 Etiquette Dinner on Tuesday, Feb. 20, Radford University juniors and seniors can learn to project a professional image by exploring the fine points of business protocol, dining and social etiquette.
Presented by Kathleen Harshbarger and sponsored by Chartwells–RU Dining Services and the Office of Career and Talent Development (OCSTD), the annual career preparation event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Muse Banquet Hall.
“A person makes a powerful statement about their individual professional development in this kind of setting,” said Angela Joyner, executive director of the Center for Career and Talent Development. “This kind of training and experience is hard to find on your own and the confidence it inspires is invaluable.”
The two-hour tutorial by Harshbarger will include the "dos and don’ts” of a formal five-course meal and pointers about everything from exchanging business cards to making a toast. Topics will include host and guest duties, understanding the place setting, nuances of American and Continental styles of dining, handling “difficult” foods and the “silent service code” among other topics.
Harshbarger is a graduate of The Protocol School of Washington and operates the Kathleen Harvey Harshberger School of Protocol.
Radford juniors and seniors learn to project a professional image by exploring the fine points of business protocol, dining and social etiquette at the annual Office of Career Services and Talent Development professional development event.
“The Etiquette Dinner is one of the Center’s most popular events and is a longstanding Radford tradition,” said Joyner. “The event tends to fill quickly because its value remains lifelong."
Students will dine with other students and table hosts, volunteers from the University community, alumni and employer partners who will create a congenial experience, engage students in conversation, encourage questions, and share insights and tips from their experiences.
The dinner is free and students must wear professional attire. Space is limited, so students should register immediately by clicking on the Handshake icon on the MyRU portal.
For information on the dinner and other Center for Career and Talent Developmentevents, including the 2018 Spring Career and Internship Fair on Feb. 22, visit Russell 331, call 831-5373 or email csc@radford.edu.