Basic Business Etiquette You Must Know

Doing internship while thinking your coworkers will understand you since you’re still an intern is totally wrong. When you’re doing internship, you have to know the basic business etiquette. When it comes to business etiquette, there are rules that shouldn’t be broken. Some of them may seem like common sense, but some people still make a mistake without even noticing it. Here are some basic business etiquette you need to know!

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Arrive on Time

Punctuality is critical whether it is arriving to work, a meeting, or making a deadline. In the business world, time is a commodity. When you are late, you are being disrespectful and inconsiderate of another person’s time and commitments. The whole team is affected and may have to cover for you. If you are running behind schedule, contact them as soon as you realize that you won’t make it on time. Allow yourself enough time to arrive promptly and settle in a bit. Arriving between 5 to 10 minutes before your appointment is ideal. By being punctual, you show you respect others.

Show genuine interest

When talking with someone, show you are truly engaged. It is important to nod or smile, and maintain friendly eye contact. This shows that you are interested and actively listening. It tells them that you care about what they say and value their thoughts. Don’t play on your phone or computer, and if you have to answer a communication say, “Excuse me one moment; I'm so sorry.” People will remember how you make them feel, and nobody wants to feel as if they are ignored.

Greet everyone

You never know who the people that you greeted could be, so it is important to greet everyone with the same degree of kindness. A simple “Hi, how are you?” or even a smile and nod is enough. However, adding more could make them remember you and view you as friendly and pleasant. It can also strike up conversation. You can try to compliment something that they are wearing and ask where they found it or remark on your surroundinds. The key is to ask open-ended questions that will require more than a “yes” or “no” and move the conversation along.

Say “please” and “thank you”

Taking care to greet your coworkers and remembering to say “please” and “thank you” make a tremendous difference in the way they perceive you. Your good manners show that you acknowledge those around you and are considerate of their presence.

Dress appropriately

Just because there is no rule that says you can’t show up for work in a hoodie, sweatpants and flip flops, it doesn’t mean that you should. As much as we like to tell ourselves not to “judge a book by its cover,” our immediate reaction is to do just that. In fact, studies have shown that the first thing that people notice about others is their appearance. It is the primary influence on first impressions. Dressing smart will show that you put effort into your appearance and are more likely to put the same enthusiasm into your work.