On Fri. Nov. 5, the Concordia Rho Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Pi and the Career Center collaborated for a dinner, catered by Bon Appetit, to discuss business etiquette in various situations. 

Marienz Malig, President of the Rho Phi chapter helped to host the dinner alongside Mariah Lucas ’15, Director of Career Development and Vocation at the Career Center. The evening was centered around etiquette training, including manners, table set up and body language at a dinner event. Malig said, “I worked with Mariah for the past month as we planned the whole dinner and we worked with Bon Appetit to get all the food catered.”

Further discussion revolved around the acceptable use of alcohol at a business event. Lucas presented several scenarios in which alcohol could be served, and implored students to consider their action in each circumstance. Lucas also introduced the topic of prayer at the table, especially between parties of differing religious beliefs. 

Lucas stated,”The Career Center supports the mission of Concordia University Irvine by helping undergraduate students discover their calling and vocation, create a roadmap toward career readiness, and live out their calling. Our vocation to serve and connect with others can start with breaking bread. Jesus did most of his ministry around food and so I love that we got to mirror that tonight.”

Malig recalled, “I think my favorite part of the evening was getting to go over all of the specific rules of proper etiquette, such as entering your chair from the left and leaving from the right. [It] was cool to learn stuff like that.” Lucas stated she most enjoyed, “Watching the students engage in conversation and dive deeper into the ethical questions we posed.”

Lucas added, “Students realized that etiquette makes a bigger impact than they realized. That first impression or continuing impressions really have an impact on whether or not you get hired. I was very impressed by the students and the club. I think they were very professional and did a good job of engaging and making the night a success.”

Delta Sigma Pi is a professional business fraternity “organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce, and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community,” according to the national fraternity website.

While Delta Sigma Pi hosts events on campus for all students to attend, the fraternity is for School of Business and Economics majors alone. Malig stated, “We will be initiating our new pledges in the coming weeks, so that is exciting. Once our pledges are initiated, we will have a lot of new brothers and be planning new events. Business students can get involved next semester by checking out our club at the Involvement Fair in January. If they are interested they can begin the pledge process to become a brother.”

The Career Center focuses on professional development for students. Lucas stated, “I do one-on-one coaching, mock interviews, grad school exploration and resume review. I really tailor it to the student and where they’re at developmentally and help push them to become a more professional well-rounded individual. It’s very customized. If a student has a question about their career or their future, I take a holistic approach, so we evaluate everything, not just your future career.”

While Delta Sigma Pi and the Career Center hosted the first etiquette dinner on campus, Lucas will look to host more. “I would love to do separate etiquette dinners and would love to do it with other departments by tailoring it to specific career fields.” 

The basics are all the same in terms of professionalism, according to Lucas. However, Lucas stated that there are differences in accepted standards of etiquette across fields. “Every business and organization has a culture that as a new employee you are stepping into. How do you connect with the work culture and incorporate your values into it? Our work satisfaction is connected to our values being represented at work. This is where personal life and work life connect. It is why I take a holistic development approach with students."

To learn more about Delta Sigma Pi and the Rho Phi chapter, visit https://www.deltasigmapi.org/ and https://www.cui.edu/studentlife/student-leadership/clubs-and-organizations/delta-sigma-pi/rho-phi-chapter

To get assistance in your professional development, contact mariah.lucas@cui.edu or visit the Career Center at https://www.cui.edu/studentlife/career-services/students.

Tags: clubs, event

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About Owen Milligan

Owen Milligan is Editor-in-Chief of the student-run Concordia Courier, campus newspaper for Concordia University Irvine. Owen is from Riverside, CA, currently completing a BA in Business Administration. Owen’s emphasis of study is in Finance and Business Data Analytics. He also completed a minor in Communication Studies.

In his current role, Owen oversees four coverage areas for the newspaper - campus life, sports, arts, and local and global news coverage. He also works closely with design editor, Ryann Beveridge. Owen and the Courier staff write and edit using AP Style. Owen’s role allows him to interact with community pillars, both students and faculty, in live interviews and communications with the newspaper readership upon publication.

Owen believes in both critical analysis in business, applying data to the newspaper and examining articles closely when editing. Owen also works as a Power Analyst for the community choice aggregate Silicon Valley Clean Energy.

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