SAGU Career Services Hosts Etiquette Dinner

Waxahachie, TX – March 17, 2011 – Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Career Services and Aramark food services hosted a career etiquette dinner on February 28, 2011. The purpose of the event was to provide students training in etiquette and fine dining for the workplace.

Director of SAGU Career Services Beverly Robinson states that, according to The Etiquette Institute, 85 percent of professional success is due to people skills; and 15 percent is due to education, technical skills or training. “While students improve their hard skills in the classroom, our focus is to help students improve their soft skills, like dinner etiquette, dress appearance, and communication, to land the job they want and be successful in any career.” The department’s future etiquette seminars will address communication, lasting impressions, meetings, travel, job interviews, co-worker courtesy, appearance and socializing.

SAGU Career Services had the largest etiquette dinner to date with 98 students, faculty and administration in attendance. Robinson presented dining etiquette from a client’s and an employer’s perspective and addressed professional expectations. The dinner was conducted in a question and answer format. Topics discussed were the importance of RSVPs, negative eating habits to avoid, and technological courtesy.

One hundred percent of students who were surveyed found the dinner prepared them for future dinner interviews. Of those students, 97 percent would refer others to attend future dinners.

Robinson recently returned from St. Louis, MO where she trained with Maria Everding, president and founder of The Etiquette Institute. As a member of The Etiquette Institute, she joins more than 125 etiquette consultants who teach business and social etiquette programs throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Mexico.