The quality of your business etiquette reflects on your company as a whole.
Most young people learn business etiquette by watching parents, educators and other adults, or with on-the-job training. Preparing students in high school to use proper business etiquette will give them an advantage as they prepare to enter the work force. The most helpful activities begin with the resume writing and interview process, then teach business etiquette skills to use on the job.
Getting the Job
Ask each student to write his dream job on a piece of paper. Below the title, have them write the qualifications and requirements for that position. As a homework assignment, each student should create a resume that meets the requirements of the job. Once the teacher has reviewed these resumes, she interviews each student, doing about five interviews a day until each student has had an interview. Instruct students to dress and present themselves exactly as they would in a real-life interview situation. At the end of the process, the teacher critiques the resume writing, dress and interview etiquette.
Dress
To further communicate the importance of dress etiquette, hold a "Work Attire Fashion Show" for your high school students. Instruct students to come to school the next day dressed in their most professional work attire. Clear a long space in the classroom for a catwalk, play upbeat music and have each student walk as if she were a model for business attire. The teacher emcees the fashion show, providing witty but helpful comments on each student's attire and how it does or does not represent appropriate clothing for the workplace.
Communications
To prepare for this activity, develop a phone call, email correspondence or in-person scenario for each student in which he interacts with a customer. In these scenarios, the customer may be confused, angry or unsatisfied. Students must listen attentively and address the customer's question, complaint or concern. Hand out these scenarios to the students and have them role-play the scenario in front of the class.
Networking
Networking, such as at a staff lunch, is an important and often overlooked aspect of business etiquette at companies and corporations. Choose two major local corporations that work together or network. Split students into two equal groups and assign them to a corporation. Give each student a position in that corporation and have them do significant research on the company and positions they were assigned to so that they can make conversation at a pretend work lunch. Prepare a meal for students to share in class and set up the classroom like a fancy restaurant. Instruct students to dress well and exhibit proper etiquette in using utensils, ordering food, passing food, eating and making conversation.
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