Design By: Xaviana Reece

You’ve polished your resume and practiced your interview answers.  

Then the hiring manager suggests continuing the conversation over a meal, and suddenly you’re wondering which bread plate is yours. 

That’s the kind of moment Johnson County Community College’s First Impressions Dinner is built for. 

The Career Development Center offers the dinner, which pairs fine dining with a lesson in business and dining etiquette. The goal is to help students build confidence, strengthen their networking skills and develop the professional presence they can carry into interviews and career fairs. 

This fall’s dinner is Monday, Nov. 2, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Regnier Center, RC 101 C&D. Registration closed Oct. 25, so if you signed up, here’s what to expect. If you missed it, here’s why it’s worth watching for next time. 

Who’s leading it 

Certified etiquette coach Mary Jean Billingsley leads the evening. Over the course of the meal, she walks attendees through how to introduce themselves and start a conversation before moving on to the harder part: conducting business over a meal. 

Answering an interview question is one thing. Starting a conversation when there’s no script and the silence starts to stretch is another. 

Business meals make it even trickier. You’re expected to be friendly but professional and relaxed but still aware you’re making an impression, all while figuring out what to order and where to put your napkin. 

It’s the kind of thing most classes never cover. Knowing how to talk about your goals is one skill. Doing it over a meal, with a full place setting and someone you’re trying to impress across the table, is another. 

What to wear 

The Career Development Center recommends business attire, so think of it as a test run for your interview outfit. If you’ve been meaning to find out whether that blazer still fits, now’s your chance. 

Why it’s worth it 

For students who haven’t attended a professional dinner before, the expectations can be difficult to figure out. Networking events and business meals come with their own unwritten rules, and nobody hands you a guide before your first one. The dinner gives students a chance to learn those rules alongside others doing the same thing. 

It’s also a low-pressure place to practice. The point is to learn the expectations before you encounter them in a professional setting where the stakes may be higher. 

Missed it this time? 

The dinner isn’t a one-time event. The center also held the dinner in spring 2025, so keep an eye on the Career Development Center’s events for the next one. 

In the meantime, the center offers other ways to prepare for the workplace. Career coaches can review resumes and cover letters, and students can practice interviewing before the real thing. The Emerging Professionals Program offers additional opportunities to develop networking and professional communication skills. 

Students can visit the Career Development Center in SC 252 or call 913-469-3870. Direct questions about the dinner itself to Jessica Leonard at 913-469-2001. 

And whether you attend this fall or next time, yes, you’ll probably learn which fork to use.