Wine and Dine like a Pro: The Competitive Edge Dinner Experience (old story)

The knowledge you take away from a Fairfield education can open the door to a host of employment opportunities in the business world, but the way you carry yourself can slam that door shut right in your face.

Ann Marie Sabath, an expert on business protocol and etiquette, gave a number of helpful tips to help students walk through that threshold at last night's Competitive Edge Dinner. At the event, sponsored by the Dolan School of Business, the veteran etiquette coach informed students that their campus conduct will not suffice in the business arena.

A prime example would be students bringing their morning coffee to class. Sabath cautions against carrying over this practice to the business world, claiming that “it's extremely tacky for people to bring in their beverages.” She noted that the general rule to follow is “enough for everyone or not at all.”

Sabath also spoke about the importance of mixing, mingling, and working to expand one's social network. “You make your network for you,” she said. Deviating from the social cliques of high school and college life can help to increase your potential for future opportunities. She said that “the four people you spend the most time with, you will become,” so it is important to talk to many different types of people and bring out “the book inside of them.” This will help you to grow as a social entity.

Sabath recognizes that “as we continue with more innovative technology, there are new rules on etiquette.” However, she sees no valid excuse for a cellphone interrupting your potentially life-changing employment opportunity. She made it clear to “shut that darn cellphone off before you enter the building” on the big day of the interview.

The “everyday-is-game-day” mentality Sabath spoke of was just as important. “When you're off-duty, you're really on-duty,” she said. It is vital for students to keep this in mind when thinking about drinking on campus, candidly posting comments on Facebook, or partaking in any other less than honorable endeavors.

Sabath spoke with a well-versed, engaging demeanor during her presentation, and for good reason. She is the president and founder of At Ease Inc., a business and social etiquette training firm that operates out of New York City. Since she founded the organization in 1987, Sabath has trained more than 90,000 professionals, students, and clients. She has also authored 8 books on business etiquette, the most recent being One Minute Manners: Quick Solutions to the Most Awkward Situations You'll Ever Face at Work.

Aside from appearing on television programs such as “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and being featured in publications such as Forbes, Sabath has spoken at Fairfield University several times in recent years.

It was Sabath's goal “to be able to give students that confidence and savoir faire” necessary to succeed in business, but also in life. From the conventional consensus of the audience, she met her expectations. Enerida Ademi '13 said it best when she noted how Sabath's instructions on etiquette “could give you that boost to go out and meet new people.”