Dear Chinese People: Please Note

Do You Know These Workplace Etiquette Essentials?

Snacking

"Dining etiquette can be critical to your career growth," Persia says. "Employers want to see you in social situations to see how you conduct yourself, particularly if the job you want requires a certain standard of conduct with clients and superiors."

Persia offers a few dos and don'ts for business lunches, dinners and cocktail parties:

NEVER talk with your mouth full and NEVER point at anyone with your utensils.

Always wait for your host to sit down first before taking your seat.

No grooming of any kind should be done at the table. Excuse yourself.

Sit up straight and keep your feet flat on the floor or cross your legs at the ankle. Crossing your legs during the meal causes you to slouch and looks too sloppy and casual.

NEVER drink too much. You'll loose your tact, sharpness and ability to conduct yourself in a businesslike manner.

When eating soup, dip your spoon away from yourself to fill your spoon with soup. Rest your spoon periodically.

Let me add a few more bullet points here: no slurping, no smoking at the table, no arguing with the waiter over the bill in front of guests, no hacking at the table.

Social taboos

There are some tried and true taboos in our society, as well as several that have become socially unacceptable over time, Persia says.

Taboos include:

Smoking

Drug use

Obnoxious cell phone usage

Taking off your shoes in public

Foul language

Flatulence

Nose and/or teeth picking

Drug use doesn't really apply here. But hacking, spitting and blowing your nose on the sidewalk or in the airport, or the kitchenette at work should be on the list.