It's not that anyone cares if you have the skill to memorize the rules of the table. Emily Post is not quizzing you. But the fact is that table manners were designed to keep us from offending one another with unappetizing behavior. For example, you may think that it's better to pick food out of your front teeth with that handy matchbook cover than to have spinach stuck between your choppers. But your potential employer may not want to shake your hand after it's been digging in the recesses of your mouth.
The rules of table etiquette can be very involved. But as already stated, you won't be sitting for an exam on the subject. This is a basic list of American rules for the table to keep you out of trouble and, hopefully, land that job or contract.
Place Setting Rules
Your water glass is the one on your right.
The bread dish to the left is yours.
Put butter on your bread dish. Break off bite-size pieces of bread to butter and eat one at a time.
Use the utensils from the outside in.
If right-handed, hold the knife in that hand while cutting and the fork in your left. Put the knife down on your plate and switch the fork to your right hand to eat the piece that has been cut.
If you drop a utensil, leave it where it fell on the floor and ask the waiter to bring you a new one. Once you've used a utensil, do not place it down on the table cloth. It should be put on your plate. This ensures that the table linens will stay clean.
When you finish eating, your knife and fork should be placed across your plate pointing to 11:00.
Personal Habits
Don't talk with food in your mouth. It makes it difficult to understand what you're saying, and it's not pleasant to see your food being masticated. Further, you don't want to risk a torpedo flying out of your mouth onto your companion's plate.
Chew with your mouth closed. See above.
Don't order messy foods that are difficult to eat. You will feel self-conscious as you try to keep the greasy sandwich from dripping on your new silk tie or dress. Or think about the vision of yourself with barbecue sauce smeared across your cheeks after slobbering over a rack of ribs. Not a pretty sight, is it?
Don't burp. It's not cute and it's not a compliment in most parts of the world, no matter what your father told you. If a burp or hiccup escapes, just quietly say, "excuse me."
Keep your elbows off the table while eating. It can interfere with the person seated next to you. After the meal has been cleared, you may put your elbows on the table in order to lean forward to join in conversation.
Head for the rest rooms if you must remove something stuck between your teeth.
Don't gobble your food in a rush. Give your mouth some space to converse.
Never lift your soup bowl to drink the final drops. Tilt it away from you and scoop the final amount with the spoon pushing away from you. Don't try to get every last drop.
