Proper business etiquette is crucial to every working professional.  Whether you are working for a large corporation or a mom-and-pop shop, brand new to the working world, or a seasoned professional, proper etiquette can help advance your career and ensure your success.  Get ahead in your career by using these top 10 business etiquette tips for young professionals.

The term “business etiquette” can be an intimidating concept but, in reality, you probably have more natural skills in this area than you realize.  

I am going to outline my top 10 business etiquette tips for young professionals.

These tips are both common sense and behaviors you already use in the office and beyond.  You will find that behaving in line with popular business culture is easy and sets you up for success.

Work from anywhere:

Before we start a list, I want to add a note about business settings.  In today’s world, work can be done from a variety of places, including virtually.  Whether you are in an office, conference room, break room, at a conference or training, out to a meal with clients, or working from home the context of the setting may dictate some fluctuations in etiquette.  A good rule of thumb is to be personable but also professional.  

Many business dealings are done on the golf course, for example.  If you were to play golf with your childhood buddies, it would be a different set of behaviors than playing with your boss or a client.  Mind your manners and remember that even if you are playing a game, you are still working and your behavior should be kept as such.

Top 10 Business Etiquette Tips for Young Professionals:

Make a good first impression:  

I am putting this in the number 1 spot because well, you only get one chance to do this. This will usually happen in the interview stage but keep in mind that even if you’ve been put through several rounds of interviews, you probably didn’t meet most of the staff.  Depending on the size of your company or department, you may be meeting new people regularly throughout your first few weeks.   

When you are introduced to someone new, make a good first impression by smiling and shaking hands.  Give the person a genuine compliment and be open to hearing what “advice” they have for you in your new position.

Be On Time:

Being punctual is another tip that could qualify as common sense but its importance is often overlooked. Whether you are punching a clock to be paid by the hour or are just expected to be in the office around the start of business, getting to work early is vital.

To accomplish this, you must allow extra time for travel to avoid unforeseen delays.  If you take public transportation or drive to work, there are several incidents that could occur to make you late.  Give yourself time and you’ll arrive at work less stressed.  People will perceive you as motivated and capable when you arrive early.

Dress Appropriately: 

Again, this is another area where setting is important and so is knowing the workplace environment.  I once showed up for an interview at a homeless shelter in a suit (true story). Not only was I overdressed, but I also gave the impression of being less relatable to the clients. Conversely, be mindful not to underdress.  Even if it is the climax of the summer and your office doesn’t have air conditioning, dress light and casual but keep your body parts hidden.  Showing too much skin is a complete “no-no” in the office and an essential business etiquette tip for young professionals.

Communicate Effectively: 

Whether it is one-on-one or in a group, being mindful of how you communicate with others is vital.  Essentially, it comes down to not just what you say but how you say it.  Engaging in gossip or rumors about your colleagues or superiors would be disrespectful and detrimental to the workplace environment.  You don’t want to earn a reputation for being judgmental or untrustworthy. 

Understand Your Work Environment:

This business etiquette tip for young professionals boils down to working with emotional intelligence. One of the best ways to learn the acceptable policies and practices of your office is to carefully model the behavior of others.  Larger corporations may have a Human Resources liaison you can access for larger questions or they may provide training on their important policies.

Respect Shared Spaces:

You may be working in an open area or perhaps the shared space you encounter is just the break room fridge.  Regardless of what space you are sharing, taking care to be respectful of others by not using up a majority of the space, cleaning up after yourself, and talking at a volume that allows others to speak as well are good examples.

Proofread your emails:

You could be in a rush or simply distracted by other tasks you have waiting for you, but always, always proofread your emails.  An email is an electronic document.  The information you provide in this document can be used against you.  If you make a mistake, it cannot be taken back and will exist in cyberspace forever.  Misspellings and grammatical errors will also show a lack of effort and skill on your part. That is not how you should represent yourself or your company.

Respond in a timely manner:

Have you ever sent off an important email looking for an answer to a problem and were anxious for the reply?  Now imagine that the person who can give you the response was too lazy to reply and maybe check their social media instead of getting back to you. How would that feel? While every situation is not that dramatic, responding in a timely manner is simply a matter of respect.  

Mind your manners:

Good manners give the appearance of a polished and grateful person.  Always say “Please” and “Thank you”.  Using your manners in a professional context will convey a culture of respect and appreciation.

Table manners and meal etiquette: 

Occasionally, doing business may take place over a meal.  Proper etiquette in this setting is to remember some key elements of good restaurant behavior. Be sure to be kind to the wait staff, never talk with food in your mouth, elbows off the table and use your napkin.  Additionally, being a good conversationalist and asking your dining partner thoughtful questions will make the experience more enjoyable for both parties.

Most of these tips are a mix of common sense and business know-how.  The best advice is to be relatable and respectful.  Observe the climate of your office and emulate the behaviors of other workers you admire.  The occasional mistake or blunder may happen.  Address it with accountability and professionalism and you will get right back on track.  Ask yourself how you would want to be treated in the situation.

The “Golden Rule” applies to business as well as personal life and is the best metric to live by. 

Read more tips and useful tools from Life Happens Coffee Helps and remember to subscribe to our weekly newsletter, too! And when you are working hard, don’t forget to have fun too. Read this post on How to Have More Fun as an Adult.

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