The hiring manager doesn’t care if you have bad table manners, but they may worry that your possible clients (or other big wigs) will be disturbed that you eat like an absent-minded caveman.

So even if you don’t practice precise table manners at home, you should know how to act for those important occasions.

Today we’re going to talk about some simple ground rule that will help keep your table manners on-point throughout an entire meal.

Sitting down at the table:

When you’re just about to sit down at the table, that’s a good time to silence your phone —you don’t want to be THAT GUY whose phone is going off throughout the meal. You should also wait until everyone is gathered at the table before sitting down. The first thing you do when you sit down usually is to put your napkin on your lap.

Body Language:

When you’re sitting down, your posture should be upright and attentive, no slouching or leaning back in your chair.

Starting the Meal:

As much as you might want to just tear into your food when it comes…wait until everyone else is served before starting. If it’s a very formal dinner, you should also wait until the host or hostess indicates to start eating. But usually, you’re safe to start if everyone’s grub has arrived.

Handling your Silverware:

In the Western world, there are two vital ways to hold your fork and knife: the American style and the Continental style.

American Style: Hold fork like a pencil. Switch hands to cut just one bite. Switch back to eat.

Continental Style: Knife in the dominant hand, fork in other hands. Cut just one bite. Don’t switch back just eat.

Finger Foods:

Finger foods like chicken drumsticks, corn on the cob, tacos, pizza… All of these are fine to eat with your hands but use your judgment. If it’s too chaotic, maybe try using a fork.

Chewing and Talking:

You probably already know that you shouldn’t talk with your mouth full of food. Try to avoid smacking and chewing loudly, and keep your mouth shut while chewing.

The easiest way to do this is to just take smaller bites—especially if you know you’re going to be in and out of conversation throughout the meal.

Taking a Drink:

 It’s not technically a crime to take a drink with food in your mouth. But if you do, you shouldn’t be obvious about it. It’s better to wait until you’re finished chewing and to wipe your mouth first. Otherwise, your glass may end up looking like a crime scene.

Excusing yourself from Table:

If you need to go to the bathroom or get up from the table during the meal, you don’t need to ask for permission. Simply say “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” 

Being part of the Group:

Dinner is meant to be social. Make sure you take part in the dinner conversation, and also take note if it seems like you’re eating much faster or much slower than everyone else.

Checking your Phone:

Checking your phone at the table is fine if you’re a really important person who’s better than everyone else, right? Hopefully, this goes without saying, but your phone should never be seen during a formal meal. If you get a legitimately URGENT call or text, you should excuse yourself from the table and quietly take care of it without bothering everyone else.

Ending the Meal:

Once the meal is finished, place your napkin to the left of your plate or if it’s cleared, where your plate was.

I know sometimes manners and etiquette seem arbitrary. But at the end of the day, these guidelines were established to simply be a universal set of understood behavior—so we can all behave civilly around each other.