Students have the opportunity to learn exactly why it is necessary to have more than three utensils at a meal at Career Services’ dining etiquette workshop today.

Deborah Endsley, a career adviser, said the dining etiquette workshop has been held for at least the last 10 years at the Charleston Country Club.

At the workshop, Linda Moore, director of Career Services, will go over place settings and dining etiquette tips, such as what to do with a napkin, what is smart to order and what specific utensils are used for.

“It’s important to learn the basics of dining etiquette and interacting with employers,” Endsley said. “It’s more than just using the right forks.”

Some of the tips may seem like common sense, but not everyone has the same experiences in formal dining, Endsley said.

“Taboo things to order are spaghetti or a plate of barbeque ribs,” Endsley said.

For the last few years, employers and recruiters attended the workshop and sat at the tables with the students.

“Students will learn professional interaction so that it’s more than just a meal,” Endsley said.

Participants have to wear business attire for the workshop, so they become comfortable with the clothing, as well as representing Eastern on a professional level.

“We never turn anyone down if they aren’t dressed in at least business casual, but we send out e-mail reminders to participants,” Endsley said.

There will be a set menu for the participants; in the registration form, there was a question about any dietary issues for participants.

The evening will begin at 4:45 p.m. Participants are to meet at Career Services to depart to the Charleston Country Club by 5 p.m.

From 5:10-6:00 p.m., there will be etiquette training, followed by 15 minutes of mingling before dinner. Participants will return to campus at 8 p.m., according to the itinerary on the Career Services website.

“A lot of career centers do this workshop,” Endsley said. “It’s like a mock interview with food.”

Paul Mejdrich, clubhouse manager of the Charleston Country Club, said the country club has held at least one dining etiquette workshop a year for Eastern.

“We have about two or three Eastern events a year here,” Mejdrich said. “Things like staff retreats, retirement dinners and holiday parties.”

Ashley Holstrom can be reached at 581-7942 or alholstrom@eiu.edu.