As bachelor’s degrees become more and more common, Grand Valley State University’s Career Services department has a plan to make GVSU graduates more marketable.

GVSU has recently increased its focus on early awareness of employability skills to help set
students apart from their completion. Among other initiatives, Career Services offers an etiquette dinner biannually.

Tonight’s program includes a dinner that will allow students to learn firsthand how to
handle themselves in a formal dinner setting. Topics such as formal dress, manners and
conversation will be talked about as well.

“I find that a lot of GVSU students have never been exposed to a formal dinner,” said Troy
Farley, director of the Career Services department.

During his years working in the private sector, Farley said applicants for jobs would show
up with piercings and tattoos showing, among other undesired attributes that employers
look for.

Although the expression “Don’t judge a book by its cover” has its place, when it
comes to the job search, the content, as well as the cover, are taken into consideration.

“The etiquette dinner does an outstanding job of preparing them, should it be required of
an interview or with a customer/client once employed,” Farley said.

It serves as a networking night for students to become more aware about Career Services
and etiquette.

“It comes back to raising the awareness of these students,” said Megan Riksen, one of the
architects behind Career Services’ increased efforts.

Although this year’s dinner has been sold out, the program will be returning in the fall.

jcampbell@lanthorn.com