Could Etiquette Have an Effect on Your Child’s Future Income?

Will your child’s lack of manners keep him/her from attending the college of your choice? In this day and age, dining out may be done from a paper bag, but many colleges and universities are now evaluating the social skills of potential students.

Not all schools require personal interviews as part of evaluating a student for acceptance, but there is a trend in this direction. Often the student is asked to attend a luncheon and his/her dining skills are monitored and assessed. Schools do not want people who are going to be uncouth alumni.

I was recently privileged to be the keynote speaker at a Chicago university which sponsors a program for high school girls who are juniors and seniors. These girls are introduced to the possibility of choosing a career in the fields of technology, and have a chance to explore whether or not a career in the technological fields would be appropriate for their college major.

As a professional in the field of teaching etiquette, I was asked to address these girls at a luncheon given in their honor. My mission at that luncheon was to teach the girls how to dress and present themselves for an interview, and how to exhibit proper dining skills while at the table.

By the time we had worked our way through five courses including instructions; the students were well informed competent diners, and often amazed by what they had learned.

Next, we addressed the issue that our personal income may be at least partially determined by how well we mind our manners and our attitudes. Our ability to be promoted may depend on our people skills as well as our technical skills. Three separate studies conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and the Stanford Research Institute agree that “Success in getting, keeping, and advancing in a job depends 85% on people skills and only 15% on technical skills”. So proper social skills including courtesy and respect may be the bottom line in determining a profitable future.

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