I decided to register for the career and placement fair as I wanted to get the opportunity to learn about the companies I am considering and also learn more about the application process

I began by attending the Professional Etiquette Practice – Are you ready to meet your employer? virtual session as I wanted to be better informed when meeting with the speakers of the different companies.

Professional Etiquette Practice – Are you ready to meet your employer?

This session students will be advised how to be prepare yourself professionally to meet prospective employers.

Speaker – Donna Caldwell

Business etiquette refers to the professional manners and rules required and enforced in a professional environment. Having clear expectations of conduct contributes to a professional, productive, communicative and respectful workplace for both employees and management (Indeed, 2021). This basically mean having consideration for the basic rules and values of the employer

Professional situations in which you should practice good business etiquette:

• Network etiquette
• Interview etiquette
• Post-interview etiquette
• Introduction etiquette 
• Workplace etiquette

Networking etiquette

• To build a solid network, consider what you can do for other people and what they can do for you. You should be able to help your network when they need it, and they may be more likely to offer help for you.
• Have your “elevator pitch” ready—a summary of what you do, your experience and your goals. It’s called an elevator pitch because it should be no longer than what you could share with someone during an elevator ride.
• When engaged in a group conversation, be sure to include everyone. Make sure each person has an opportunity to speak and share their experiences.
• Follow up with the people you meet within two days. Try to offer them something of value instead of asking for a favor or introduction, such as a link to an interesting article they might like to read. Sample: Networking opportunity (Careers Fairs 11-14 Oct)

Interview etiquette

A good understanding of etiquette guidelines during an interview can help you make a positive impression. Here are a few etiquette tips to remember for an interview

•  Be prepared by researching the company and the interviewer if possible.
• Turn off your phone or don’t bring it to the interview.
• Greet your interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake (pre-Covid).
• Make eye contact with the interviewer, speak clearly and sit up straight.
• Take notes and ask questions if you do not understand something. example ” excuse me, sorry could you repeat that please?”
• Speak positively about your previous employer and anyone who works there.
• Let the interviewer ask about salary first. One could say “Looking at the average salary for placement students in Northern Ireland £18000”

Following up with interviewers is one more way you can stand out from your competition and make a good impression. Depending on the situation, you may follow up with an email or a handwritten, mailed note. A handwritten note is more formal, but the email approach has the benefit of being much faster. Try to send any follow-up communication within 24 hours of the interview. Here are some tips you can follow when creating a thank-you note:

• Be brief, conversational and professional.
• Reiterate your interest in the position and why you are a perfect fit.
• Thank the interviewer for their time.
• If you forgot to give the interviewer relevant information about yourself and your abilities, you can explain in the follow-up note.
• You should send a thank you note to the hiring manager even if you did not get the job. In the email, you can thank them for their time and express interest in any future roles that match your skills and abilities

Introduction etiquette

It is polite to introduce people to one another when they meet for the first time. Here is the proper way todo it:

• If face-to-face, stand up if you’re sitting down.
• If you’re giving the introduction, say “I would like to introduce,” “this is” or a similar phrase, followed by their name.
• Offer some information about each person. The idea is to encourage a conversation between the two of them, so try to find a topic of common interest.
• If face-to-face (pre-Covid, typically you would shake hands), using a firm grip and don’t extend the handshake past two seconds. Presently, elbow touching is permitted.
• If virtual, a warm smile (non-verbal) action should be used.

Workplace etiquette

You too can practice good etiquette in the workplace. Here are some examples of good work place etiquette, you need to consider after securing that placement or graduate role:

• Dress to your workplace’s standards. For example, you may need to wear casual, business casual or professional apparel. If you wear a uniform, make sure it follows the guidelines.
• Arrive on time to work or meetings every day. Not only does this express your positive attitude toward your job, but it is also considerate to anyone who may be waiting for you.
• Learn names as quickly as you can. This communicates respect and assures them you value your acquaintance with them.• Return phone calls within 24 hours, even if you do not have an immediate answer. Let the caller know that you’ll follow up as soon as you have an answer.• Keep your work area clean and tidy, especially if it is in a central, visible space or faces the public.
• Be considerate when using break room facilities, such as microwaves and refrigerators.

How to improve your workplace etiquette:

1. Maintain professionalism: while you’re working, it’s important to stay professional. Make sure your appearance is neat and that your apparel fits the situation. When speaking with coworkers, it’s acceptable to use a conversational tone, then use a formal tone when working with clients. Make sure you make eye contact during conversations and smile when appropriate.
2. Respect others: you should always respect others, including their opinions and actions. During meetings, consider ideas from everyone, even if they’re different from your own. Be polite when communicating with others. Treat everyone with  show your business etiquette.
3. Develop a skills set: there are certain skills you can practice to improve your etiquette:

• Communication: Improving your verbal and written communication skills can make a positive impact on your etiquette. When conversing with others, speak slowly and clearly so others can understand you. Use non-technical terms when speaking with those outside of your industry. Actively listen to others during conversation. Before emailing or sending a letter, review the document for possible grammatical errors.
•  Emotional intelligence: This skill refers to the ability to understand the emotions of others. To develop emotional intelligence skills,observe the actions and words of others to see how they react to different situations. Watch for nonverbalcommunication actions, such as smiling or raised eyebrows to determine how a person feels about an actionor statement. You should react accordingly.
• Time management: A large portion of etiquette is arriving on time or meeting deadlines. You may need to arrive early or on time fora work shift or submit your part of a project for coworkers to complete the next step. To manage your time, create a calendar that details meeting information, project timelines and your work schedule. Consider usingan electronic calendar that sends you notifications for each event.

    4.   Ask for feedback: If you’re unsure of how you present yourself to others, ask for constructive feedback from yourcolleagues or manager. Gathering an outside perspective of your workplace etiquette can helpyou realize actions you may not have noticed before. Try to incorporate their notes into yourdaily routine to improve your etiquette. If they offer you positive feedback, continue improving in that area.

Handshake profile

• My journey – mention what you study, achievements, and a wide range example of your journey to date.
• Education
• Work and volunteering experience
• Organizations and extra curriculars
• Classes – include EDGE activities you have completed
• Projects
• Skills – 4 or 5 is more than sufficient, anything you put down you must be able to talk freely if an employer asks you about it.

Plan of action for the career fair day

• You’ll need to be more direct and have a plan of action, but still be open-minded if you encounter an employer you haven’t heard of before. You never know!
• Look at which employers are attending (before the event) and research the ones who you’d like to have a conversation with and what questions you’d like to ask.
• Check your tech is working
• When attending networking events, it is key to know your professional pitch: how you’ll introduce yourself to an employer when you approach them.
• Think short and snappy. A few sentences summing up who you are, your academic and work background and why you want to talk to them.

Getting into  the right mindset

• • Give the virtual event your undivided attention – if you’re half-heartedly browsing while also juggling TikTok or Netflix, you won’tachieve much.
• Set yourself up for the day – have a few questions prepared.
• Make sure your background is tidy.
• Dress professionally. Employers won’t love your dressing gownas much as you do.

Prefessional communication

• First impressions count so make sure your communication with employers are professional.
• Ensure your CV is complete and reviewed via Vmock and finally by an Employability Adviser.
• Don’t use text speak or casual slang that you would use with your friends.
• Be courteous and, once you’ve finished talking, thank them fort heir time and advice.

Preparing questions

• How did you get involved in this role/company?
• How would you describe the culture within this company?• What are the most important skills required within your job?• What kind of projects are you working on currently?• What’s your favorite part of the job?• What are your main responsibilities?• What is a typical day (or week) like for you?• What do you like least about your work?• What kinds of problems do you deal with?• What kinds of decisions do you make?

Employability advisor support

https://ulster.joinhandshake.co.uk/appointments

Donna has kindly agreed to review my prepared questions for my 1:1 sessions with employers – d.caldwel@ulster.ac.uk