The word “etiquette” conjures up visions of tea parties, frilly lace, and social gatherings of the upper class…in the 18th century. Does etiquette still matter today—in the 21st century? The argument could be made that etiquette is more important now than it was 200 years ago. In today’s “connected” world, the rules of what’s acceptable in normal behavior have gone by the wayside. We’ve created comfort zones for ourselves, and in these comfort zones—consisting of family and close friends—saying “please” and “thank you”, or sending a thank-you note after receiving a gift from someone you know seems old-fashioned. These sorts of things are taken for granted.
However, there will come a time when you’re in a situation where everyone in the room is a total stranger. In these cases, first impressions mean everything. It seems extremely shallow—and it probably is—but others do judge you by how you dress, and how you conduct yourself. Therefore, most people have a preconceived notion of who you are before a single word comes out of your mouth. So etiquette matters to a certain extent. For example, sending a hand-written thank you note after a job interview is often said to be an important part of the process, but how many people actually do so? To many, such a thing is considered an outdated practice.
Proper etiquette on a job interview is vitally important since the entire process is supposed to be about putting yourself in the best light possible in order to get the job. Therefore, such things as dressing professionally, being punctual, making solid eye-contact with the interviewer, toeing that fine line between selling yourself and bragging, and yes—sending the oft-forgotten thank you note are all ingredients that make up a successful potential job candidate.
So, etiquette doesn’t have to be completely stuffy and formal, but it’s all about knowing what to do and how to do it in the right situation. It’s all in how it’s used and when. Most times we use etiquette without even thinking about it. You’d talk to someone you just met for the first time differently than someone you’ve been friends with for years. You’d talk to your parents differently than a significant other. You’d probably refrain from eating messy food on a first date, whereas slurping spaghetti is perfectly fine around your wife or husband. Therefore, when figuring out which etiquette is the proper one to use, it’s best to keep in mind the audience and the surroundings.
For custom advice on how to use etiquette to your advantage in any occasion, contact us today.
