By Josh Woodward
IV Leader Staff

IVCC hosted its annual Business Etiquette Dinner Nov. 10 for students in business classes and student government.
Students who attended the night’s dinner were also accompanied by IVCC faculty and local Illinois Valley employers.
This provided a chance for students to ask questions and see what potential employers are looking for in future prospects for their industries. These pieces of advice were great for the students for their future job interviews.
When the students checked in, the cocktail and hors d’oeuvres hour started, where students and others could network.
The presenters, Professor of Business Administration Bob Reese and Professor of Communication Cory Tommason, taught students the proper ways to interact in these settings. There are so many minute things that people tend to look past in professional settings, such as the placement of an identification sticker or how one is holding their appetizer plate and drinkware.
From there, students were seated at their tables and went step by step through a four-course meal catered by DeMilio’s. This is when the presenters went into great detail and showed students the proper ways of eating and utensil use.
Once again, students learned new habits and ways to eat in a business environment. Students learned so much that they would have never thought of, such as how to butter bread, how to eat soup, and even the correct way to pass the salt and pepper.
At each table, students sat by faculty and business representatives. This was an opportunity to hear the dos and don’ts to interviews. It also helped break down a barrier of nervousness that students may have with talking to authority figures.