Etiquette and Manners for Interview

With the anxious feelings about going to an interview, it can be easy to mess up by not having the best manners. Not manners like keeping your elbows off the table mind you, but good etiquette. In a job interview setting, it can be easy to make silly mistakes that might offend someone and in turn cost you the position. Here are a few good ideas to help you keep your interviewing manners in check.

Show up early. Being late to an interview will make a lasting impression, but not a good one. Especially if you are unsure of the location, it is best to leave with plenty of time to find the correct building and account for possible traffic jams. If you arrive more than 15 minutes early, just wait outside or in the car before entering the building. It could be terribly uncomfortable if someone has an interview before you do and is still waiting in the lobby. This is true for both you and the other person. Be early, not less than 5 minutes but not more than 15 minutes. Think of it this way: If you are late, it will signify to your potential employer that you may ALWAYS be late. In getting to work, and on deadlines.
Have a great handshake. You don't need to put on the vice grips, but don't "dead-fish" your potential boss either. Your handshake gives off a good first impression, so make it count. A firm, confident handshake is the way to go.
Everyone deserves respect. You need not only impress the person you are interviewing with. It could be very possible that the receptionist or someone sitting just off the waiting area is in on the decision making. Receptionists are often asked what their first impression was of you, so treat everyone kindly. You just really never know who is watching.
Never be a no-show. If you figure out you're really not interested, call to cancel. Don't waste everyone's time by just not showing up. You never know in your career whom you will have to work with down the line, so it's best to not make enemies before they even meet you.
Be prepared. Research and know something about the company you're interviewing with. If you know something about the company, it shows interest and gives you a great leg up. Don't waste their time interviewing if it truly isn't a company you can't work for. Also, bring along all of your reference information, resume and portfolio. Make that preparedness really work to your advantage.

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Fashion Etiquette for Men

Fashion is not exclusively for ladies. A good understanding of fashion is something that men should not easily take for granted. Having a good fashion sense will definitely benefit a man more than once in his lifetime. And what's more, it may already give him an edge over other men. In fact, knowing even the basics of men's fashion is already a man's asset as he can use it readily for his advantage.

Though fashion trends come and go, one should at least know dress etiquette - not just what looks good on you, but what is appropriate. What goes with that one, or what should you wear for this event or another. Fashion etiquette is applicable in many areas of a man's life. Whenever you need to dress up, you'll find a good fashion sense very handy. Also, if you're very familiar with this one, it's unlikely you'll commit dress code mistakes.
Sometimes being traditional is the way it is, where going out of norm is not a good idea. Being underdressed or overdressed for an occasion is not good either, so pay attention especially if a specific dress code is required. No matter what signature brands you are wearing, it rarely is enough to make up for this huge mistake. Anyway, nobody will care to find out what brand you're wearing, as to why you're wearing that in the first place.
There are general rules in fashion that you should keep in mind. Know what is acceptable, and what is standard. This is true with a man's personal and social life. Different occasions in life may require different dress codes too.
For example, formal occasions require formal attire. For example are weddings, balls, dances, dinners, formal parties, etc. White tie events are the most formal. Always refer to the dress code indicated to avoid fashion mishaps. For black tie events, which are most common, men's formal attire is composed of a black tuxedo with trousers, white dress shirt with tuxedo front, black bow tie, cummerbund, black socks and black, glossy, leather shoes. Black tie events can have variations at times, depending on the dress code stated. For example, you can wear colored shirts instead of white.

The familiar dark suit with tie is standard for professional attire that you wear to the office or business events. However, with this one you have more freedom to choose which ones you like - like which color would you wear today or which tie will go with that shirt. You can wear more than one color for your shirt and there are different designs of neck ties too. There are solid colored ties, and patterned ties. You can also mix and match colors and dominant designs.
For casual wear of course, shirts, shorts, and jeans are staples. But if you noticed, your choice largely depends on where you're going. Are you going for a stroll in the mall, or night-out, or on a big game? You can also wear hats or caps, but you should know when you to remove them - for example, when entering a building or establishment. It's proper etiquette to remove your head gear when indoors. For foot wear, there are different kinds of casual shoes to choose from. You can also wear flipflops in some occasions.

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Advice on Calling Men in Your Life

Virtually every woman can benefit from advice on calling men. This is one aspect of a relationship that most of us struggle with. We want nothing more than to have the man we love pick up the phone once in a while to call us. If you are one of the many women guilty of waiting endlessly for your man to call, you're not alone. This happens to many of us and leaves us wondering what exactly we should be doing to change the dynamic of the relationship so he's the one picking up the phone and calling instead of us having to always do it. If you're tired of your man's nonchalant attitude towards phone calls, now is the time to change it.
One piece of advice on calling men that you may have overlooked is to stop calling him when he's late calling you. As women we have a habit of becoming a bit panicky if we haven't heard from our man when he said we would. A good example is if your boyfriend says he'll call you in the afternoon to make plans for that night, and it's now approaching evening. Instead of making your own plans since you haven't heard from him, you wait all evening and perhaps into the night for him to call. When he doesn't contact you, you're frustrated and angry and call him complaining about his lack of interest and respect. Doing this won't change anything. In fact, it only serves to show him that his lack of attention to you has really no consequences and even if he doesn't call, you eventually will.
If you find yourself in this situation the best advice on calling men is to not call him. Even if an entire day passes since he said he'd call, don't pick up the phone to track him down. Let as much time as needed pass before he calls you. Once he does call, act a little distant and disinterested. Don't be rude to him. Treat him more like a friend than a boyfriend. This is subtle, but if you can do it, you'll show him, through your actions, that he doesn't have you in the palm of his hand. If he senses that you're starting to lose interest in him, because of his behaviour, he'll smarten up quickly and before you know it he'll be the one always calling you.

You need to always remember that men and women view phone calls, emails and text in very different ways. If you make the mistake of calling too frequently, at the wrong time or before he's ready to hear from you, you can actually turn him off. Women unwittingly ruin their chances of a future with a man because they are too over eager to hear from him. Don't let this happen to you.

You need to always remember that men and women view phone calls, emails and text in very different ways. If you make the mistake of calling too frequently, at the wrong time or before he's ready to hear from you, you can actually turn him off. Women unwittingly ruin their chances of a future with a man because they are too over eager to hear from him. Don't let this happen to you.

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Dating Advice For Women

Dating isn't as easy as it used to be. There was a time, not that long ago, when a woman could spend an evening with a man then wait for him to call for that anticipated second date and not have to worry about phone call rules or when to text message him. It's not that easy anymore. Men and women are now being subjected to all types of advice regarding when to call each other and when not to call. Gone are the days when the phone was simply used as a tool of communication. It's now become an integral piece of the dating dynamic. When it comes to calling men, dating etiquette suggests you shouldn't be the one doing the calling at all.
The basis for this bit of dating advice is simple. Women are more independent now and with that independence come choices. Even if you had an incredible time with a man and you anticipate the date progressing into a relationship, you shouldn't be the one calling. By not calling men, dating women are silently getting a very important message across. That message is that they want to be pursued and aren't going to be the one begging for attention.
Men also use the telephone as a tool of manipulation at times. If a man isn't completely sure of how you feel about him, he may intentionally not contact you at all. If you track him down within days, he's going to feel that he has a firm hold on you. Once a man senses that, he instinctively doesn't feel he needs to try as hard to win your affection. A much better alternative when it comes to calling men, dating women should employ, is to simply wait to hear from him, regardless of how long that takes. It can be tough to be patient, but this is one instance, when patience will get you exactly what you want and that's the man you are interested in.

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Dating Manners

So many budding romances are killed off at the first fence because of our inability to contain our curiosity, keep our mouths shut or dress conservatively. The art of getting to know our fellow human beings is one rarely mastered easily and wrong impressions are often conveyed through nerves or simple impatience.
First dates are terrible. Nerves are understandable considering your chosen companion for the evening is naturally about to assess all your faults and virtues and no doubt find some of them unacceptable.

The trick is to try not to care too much about the second date and concentrate on getting through the first one. Try to be yourself - up to a point - if 'being yourself' involves drinking to excess and then dancing on the table, it might be a good idea to exercise some constraint until you get to know your date a little better!
Before you agree to the date, ask about dress code. If you are going casual, make sure 'casual' does not include torn or grubby clothing. Make sure your hair is brushed and shining and your fingernails are clean and properly manicured. The casual approach is nice as long as there is still some attention paid to basic cleanliness and a nice waft of expensive perfume or after shave in the vicinity.
Formal wear can be a little more complicated but it is unlikely first daters will have to be troubled by formal attire. Low cut dresses are out of the question and pay some attention to wearing reasonable heels. Four inch heels will diminish all but the tallest of men and give the impression of dominance.

Having appeared at the designated time and place (don´t be late), take some time to assess your companion quietly rather than gushing all over the place without giving him (or her) a chance to say hello. If the restaurant is your companion's choice then be sure to politely allow them to ask for the menu, decide where to sit and generally be the one to communicate with the waiter, until such time as you are invited to make your own choices.
If you should decide you like your partner for the evening, remember to give them plenty of time to tell you about themselves rather than hogging the conversation. There should be plenty to say on first getting to know someone; if there isn´t then perhaps you have little in common. Should that be the case, try to enjoy the evening as a one off and not dwell too much on the disappointment of not meeting your dream soul mate. There are plenty more fish in the ocean.
Keep the conversation general rather than personal, unless private information is freely volunteered, and remember that personal information is a two way exchange; if you are not comfortable with imparting private facts about yourself then do not enquire about someone else's.

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Table Manners For Young Children

Having good table manners is important for young children. The table etiquette should be taught and cultivated as early as possible. It is not just about eating properly. It is about being thoughtful and respecting other people on the same table.
Let me share with you some practical tips which you can apply on your kids.
· What is the basic thing a kid should do before and after having his or her meals? It is important for the parents to fix one house rule, i.e. kids must wash their hands and faces before and after every meal. Cleanliness is the most important.
· Some young children like to bring along their toys or pets when they are having meals. It is not correct. Never ever allow your kids to bring along anything to the dining table.
· Having the right body posture is important. Kids must be reminded to sit up straight when they are at the dining table.
· If there are guests or other family members joining the meals, you should tell your kids to wait for everyone to be seated at the table before they can start having their meals.
· Tell your kids to chew their food with mouth closed. At the same time, you need to remind them not to talk when their mouth is full. It is impolite and they may have a choke. They must be reminded to cover their mouth if they sneeze at the dining table.
· When young children are dining outside, it is important for you to teach them not to give negative comments about any food served. Even if the food is bad, they should not be "too honest" as it may hurt someone's feeling.
· Saying "Thank you" after the meals is essential. We need to teach our young children to appreciate what they have. They should be grateful for having sufficient food to eat. At the same time, ask your children to thank the person who prepares the meals.
· It is rude to reach over someone's plate for something. Hence, you need to remind your kids to say "Excuse me" and "Please" when they want to ask for something.
As all of us are aware, young kids like to imitate the adults. As parents, you are the role models to your kids. Hence, you are reminded to show good examples when you are having meals with them. Start practicing good manners with your kids on the table from today onwards.

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Maintaining Cleanliness in Home

We start to realize how untidy & disorganized our home becomes when there is no daily cleaning maintenance. Some of us may have not have maids to keep our home constantly clean & tidy.
Dirty laundry, dishes, unfinished food etc left on its own can contribute to stress, harbor bacteria and create displeasing smells.
Children can easily contribute to the home looking like a mess. Teach our children how to clean up after themselves from a young age. Later on when they have their own homes, they will appreciate how important it is to have a clean home & not fall into the category of the domestically challenged (D.C.).
The most important rule to having a clean home, work space, living room, bedroom etc is to become organized. Organizing a cleaning routine is essential in maintaining a good & clean home environment.
A rule of thumb while maintaining home cleanliness is to make sure you are done with cleaning one room before going on to the next room. Have your children make up their own bed upon awakening so it can be less work for you. Firstly, remove all items that do not belong in the room & put them in a laundry basket. Now is a good chance to pick up & throw away garbage that is found in the room. Vacuum, sweep, mop & clean the floor, table & other surfaces as necessary. Consequently, you may consider the first room as cleaned.

Repeat the process when cleaning all other rooms. Bring & browse through the basket of misplaced items & place them where you think they belong as you go through cleaning all the rooms. Every item has its place and should remain at its place after usage. Keep on doing it until the basket is empty. Avoid placing the basket full of items in the closet. You may forget about them. Besides, the laundry basket is meant for laundry.
The sequential room cleaning process prevents you from becoming confused as to which room has been cleaned or requires cleaning. It can create more relaxing moments for you & save your energy too. Have a bucket of cleaning supplies on all levels of the home & perhaps for every bathroom. It can make the task of cleaning more convenient & efficient. Therefore, you can always be ready for a cleaning situation that requires your immediate attention. Stains do not look good on anything.
Teach your spouse & children the important aspects of home cleanliness. Have them practice good hygiene & home manners. For example, do not have them bring food & eat in their rooms. It can mean one less item of unfinished food, dinner plates or food stain for you to handle. Cooperation from other people living in the same abode can make maintaining home cleanliness easier & simpler to manage.

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Proper Etiquette at the Table

Have you ever looked at a formal dinner table and thought, Oh oh, which fork do I use? Which bread plate is mine? What do I do with my napkin? This article clears up the confusion, so you can display proper etiquette at the dining table.
Use the right fork for proper table manners
o First, locate your own place setting. It will be in the form of a square in front of you. Your bread plate is always on the left. Glasses are always on the right. How can you remember? Easy. The words Food and Left each have four letters. Drink and Right each have five letters.
o The utensils show the number of courses, and there is a maximum of three of any utensil at a time. Always pick up the utensils on the outside first. Then, just work your way in with each course.
o The spoon and fork above your plate are for dessert. Use the fork to eat your cake, and the spoon for ice cream or custard. Tip: A small cup of sorbet is often served to cleanse the palate between courses.
Proper napkin etiquette
o Place your napkin on your lap and use it frequently to wipe your fingers and dab your lips. If you leave the table during the meal, put your napkin on your chair. Never put a soiled napkin on the table until the end of the meal, where you place it, gently crumpled, to the left of your plate.
Table manners
o Don't eat bread or anything else at the table until everyone is seated.
o Don't reach across the table. The person closest to the bread basket begins by picking it up and offering it to the person on his left, then takes a roll, and passes the basket to the right.
o When you receive the bread basket, don't put it down. Keep passing it. It goes from left to right, just like reading a book. Put a dab of butter on your plate and pass it in the same way.
o Don't cut your roll in half, butter it and chomp into it. Instead, break off one bite-sized piece at a time, butter it and put it into your mouth.
o Sip your soup from the side of the spoon - silently. Don't blow on the soup to cool it. Move the spoon from the front to the back of the bowl. Rest your spoon in the soup plate, or on the saucer, wherever there is more room.
o Begin eating when everyone at your table is served. If three or more people at a large table are served, they can start eating so their meals won't get cold.
Bad manners to avoid
o Don't wrap your hands into fists around the knife and fork handles. Don't stab or saw your food.
o Cut one bite at a time and eat it. Don't cut all the food in your plate into little pieces.
o Never place cutlery that has been used, back on a clean tablecloth, or hang it off the plate like oars on a rowboat.
o Don't complain about the food. If there is something on your plate that you don't like, such as a vegetable or side dish, don't make a fuss about it. Eat a small portion, or just leave it on your plate.
Remember, having good table manners is about much more than using the right fork. But once you know your way around the table, you'll feel more relaxed, knowing that you are using proper table etiquette and good manners.

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Giving Executive Gifts

In any situation, giving executive gifts should be guided accordingly. If you are planning to give executive gifts, make sure to keep your recipients in mind. It is sure that you have reasons why you need to give such gifts, but it is important to consider proper etiquette when giving. To name some, here is executive gift-giving etiquette you need to keep in mind:
* Consider your company gift-giving policy, as well as the company policy of your recipient. Be reminded that some companies set limitations when it comes to receiving gifts from other firms, including limited dollar-amount values. What you will need to do is to call your recipient's company and ask anyone who knows about their gifting policy.
* Make sure that your chosen gift won't look like a bribe. Be reasonable when selecting a gift so that there will be no bad impression. As much as possible, avoid large gifts as they often seen as bribe presents. This is also one good reason why you need to consult your recipient's company policy in case there are restrictions on the value of gifts they only accept.
* If you are planning to give your employer a gift, keep in mind that he/she may not expect something from you. Therefore, although less expensive, but baked goodies, bottle of wine, or flowers are more appropriate than other expensive choices.
* It would be more proper to hand over your gift to your co-worker, who may also be your friend, secretly or outside. This is one way to avoid awkwardness between you and other co-workers. Also, don't feel obliged to buy something expensive, or else your recipient will feel that he/she will also need to buy you an expensive gift in return.
* Monetary gift is always a big NO.
* Giving executive gifts to employees is a thoughtful idea, as long as it is a group gift. You can think of a group gift such as inviting them all to a holiday lunch or Christmas party. But if you really need to do a bit more effort to acknowledge an employee's performance, sending them a nice card would be appropriate
* Do not send a card to someone who happens to be the recipient of one of your gifts. It could only be one; either the card or the gift but not both.
These are some important things you need to keep in mind before giving executive gifts. For the recipients, they don't have to feel obliged to give one in return. Instead, they have to accept the gifts gracefully and thank the give either verbally or sending a thank you card. They have to be courteous even if the gift they received is not something that they really like.
You can easily find and purchase executive gifts and other business gifts online. There are plenty of websites that carry a wide selections of retirement gifts, client gifts, employee recognition gifts, promotional gifts and other items that would really make a good sense to corporate wold.

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Wedding Gift Etiquette

Wedding etiquette can be a wonderful tool to help a bride and groom plan a wedding that is tasteful, thoughtful, and a pleasure for everyone. Unfortunately, there are also some people who spread misinformation about weddings, claiming that it is proper etiquette. For those who do not have the time to sit down and read Emily Post from cover to cover, take a moment to get the facts straight about these wedding gift etiquette myths.
You have a year to send a thank you note. This one just kills me! Think about it - do you really think that people want to spend the next year wondering if their package got lost in the mail or if you hated their gift so much you could not even write a note of appreciation? Thank you notes should always be sent out promptly; within two to three weeks is ideal. If you keep up with the notes as gifts arrive, it is not all that daunting a task. The origin of the myth, by the way, stems from the fact that etiquette allows a guest up to a year after the wedding to send out a gift.
It is not necessary to send notes for bridal shower gifts. Just because you thanked someone in person at your shower does not get you off the hook for dropping a proper thank you note in the mail to them after the event. To make the job easy, designate one person to take notes on which gift was from which guest. A simple note like "Aunt Edna - bridal jewelry) should be all that is needed to jog the bride's memory when she sits down to write her thank you notes for shower gifts. ("Dear Aunt Edna, Thank you so much for the beautiful bridal jewelry! I cannot wait to wear it on my wedding day...etc, etc")
Writing "No gifts" on the wedding invitations is thoughtful. While the intentions behind a "no gift" request are always thoughtful, it is actually considered to be in poor taste to make any mention of gifts on the wedding invitation. The reason is that it is implied that without the "no gifts" notation, your guests would have been obligated to provide a wedding gift, which technically, they are not. Of course, it is in even worse taste to include bridal registry details on or with the wedding invitation, because it makes it look like a gift is the price of admission to the event. Don't worry - anyone who is interested in purchasing from a bridal registry will ask where you are registered, and the information will get passed around by word of mouth.
Bridesmaids are obligated to throw a bridal shower. While it is certainly customary for one or more of the bridesmaids to decide to host a bridal shower in honor of their friend, it is never mandatory. The bride is never to ask her attendants when they will be having a shower for her! If they want to, they will, and if they do not want to or cannot afford to throw a shower, that is their prerogative. Besides, for all the bride knows, her friends could be conspiring to throw her a fabulous surprise shower, which would be ruined if the secret was revealed.
The cost of the wedding gift should be the same as the cost per head of the reception. First of all, who beyond immediate family even knows what the bride is paying the caterer per person? Second of all, wedding guests should give what they can afford and what they wish to give. A young couple paying their own way might have a very modest celebration in a church basement, but a generous relative might wish to give them a substantial gift for their new home. Conversely, the guest at a very lavish wedding might be living on a tighter budget than the hosts of the wedding. Under no circumstances would that person be obligated to spend beyond their means. A gift should be chosen with care that it will please the recipient, not based on some imaginary equation.

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Gift Giving Etiquette

Everyone loves getting presents of course, but not all presents are created equal. This refers not to the cost of the gift, but to the appropriateness of the gift for the occasion. In particular, the relationship between the gift giver and the recipient should be foremost when shopping for the right present. Before you purchase your next holiday gifts, wedding gift, or birthday present, be sure to learn about the etiquette of gift giving.
What could be bad about giving a present? Well, when it is so inappropriate that it makes the recipient uncomfortable. One of the biggest etiquette blunders that people make is to give a present which does not reflect the relationship between the two parties. In particular, extreme care should be taken to avoid giving a gift which is too personal to a business associate. The boss who gives his secretary a bottle of romantic perfume (or heaven forbid, a sexy nightgown) for her holiday gifts is sending the entirely wrong message, even if his intentions are purely innocent. Office gifts should be thoughtful, but never intimate.
The other way in which business-related presents should reflect the relationship between people is in value; a boss should give a more costly gift to an employee, while the employee should give more modest gifts in return. There are several reasons for this. For one thing, the boss who gives a nice gift not only says "Happy Birthday" or "Merry Christmas", but shows their employee that he or she is valued. On the other hand, an employee who showers his or her boss with lavish gifts may be seen as trying to suck up or curry favor. Not only that, but the supervisor may start to wonder if he is paying you too well!
By the same token, a husband who gives his wife a new day planner for her birthday may find his wife upset to receive such a business-like gift, as it is not personal enough. A gift between intimates should show above all that the donor knows the recipient well, and has taken pains to listen to what he or she would like. Presents which are related to the other person's favorite hobbies or interests are always good, as they show that you care about what they are into. Romantic gifts from a husband to a wife, such as gifts of jewelry, perfume, cashmere sweaters or other luxury goods are always a great idea. That sort of gift shows a woman that she is cherished.
Weddings are a big gift-giving occasion, and there are some special rules of etiquette surrounding them. First of all, receiving a wedding invitation does not obligate a person to give a wedding present, although most people who care enough to actually attend the wedding will want to give something to the bride and groom. Traditionally, etiquette states that guests have up to a year to give a wedding gift, although practically speaking, it is better to send it off closer to the event than that. By the way, the bride and groom do not have a year to send out thank you notes, as some people incorrectly believe. Notes of appreciation should go out promptly (within a few weeks at the most).
Then there is the value of the wedding gift. Some people go by the rule of thumb that the wedding present should cost about as much as the price per head for the reception dinner. That is a slightly bizarre notion; first of all, how does anyone even know what the reception cost? A better idea is to base the wedding gift on how close you are to the bride and groom, and your budget. A small thoughtful gift will be more appreciated than a costly one which shows no knowledge of the couple's life or interests. (Can't you just hear the bride saying, "Why on earth did he send us this three foot tall ceramic dog sculpture and do you think we can exchange it?".) Anyone who is unsure what the bride and groom would enjoy can feel free to shop from the registry; however another rule of etiquette is that the couple cannot demand that guests purchase gifts only from their pre-approved wish list. With a little thought, every gift given and received can be a pleasure for both parties.

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