Now Serving: Professionalism and Etiquette

Smith student Philip Peker ’18 writes about the networking and etiquette dinner on Oct. 5, 2016, at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Newly admitted external transfer students were treated to a nice dinner, networking night, and a subtle lesson on the importance of professional etiquette. Etiquette seems to be common sense, something that is not worth spending time on, yet when Evan Riddle, director and academic advisor at Smith, kicked off the evening and dove into the dos and don’ts at the table, many students were surprised to find out how much they did not know. This etiquette workshop is a part of a larger class called BMGT398T, a specially designed course for external transfer students to give them that extra boost so they can compete and succeed in Smith, and eventually in their careers. “We don’t want to just throw them in the deep end; we’re trying to teach them to swim.”

Alongside Evan Riddle, who curated the event, were three representatives from Target, serving as the actual professionals for the evening. It transformed the event from being just a practice etiquette dinner to a real-life networking opportunity for the students. So while Evan focused on the bread and butter of professional etiquette, such as knowing your way around the dinner table and how to smartly engage in conversation with employers, Target representative Stephanie Colvin alongside her two associates talked about their professional experience at Target and how to get involved with the company through internships and full time positions.

Stephanie Colvin is the Executive Team Leader of Human Resources. She started at Target as an intern while still a student at UNC at Charlotte. Through her experience, she learned how vital it is to act as a professional, even when you’re just getting started. “You get one opportunity to make a great impression, and it takes 10 times as long to gain that back,” said Stephanie. “Once you set a precedent of who you are in your professionalism, that is how people will perceive you,” she added. Professional etiquette helps build a strong, impactful personal brand, making you stand out in the crowd of people who are also looking for jobs. You may have a stellar resume, even internship experience, but if you can’t hold a conversation or if an employer feels awkward talking to you… you guessed it, someone else will be getting that job. Employers, above all else, want reasonable, good-natured, and professional human beings.

I had the chance to talk to a few students and get their feedback on the event. Most were pleasantly surprised at how informative and useful the information was. “Not only was the food good and I learned a lot, but I actually got the chance to engage with business professionals like Stephanie. I practiced what I learned, all in one day,” says student Matthew Hortopan.

For more information about the undergraduate program at Smith, visit www.rhsmith.umd.edu/undergrad.