They Don't Teach Corporate in College by Alexandra Levit Page B

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    Kim, 29, Washington
    Happy hour, team lunches, holiday parties, you name it—there are plenty of opportunities to socialize in the corporate world. Partaking in these outings gets you out of sterile “Cube City” and allows you to pretend you actually have a life. The thought of free food alone is enough to put you in a good mood. So by all means, go to these events and have a blast. Just keep a couple of things in the back of your mind.
    It’s tempting to let loose with your colleagues, especially when you’re out of the office. However, you should never let alcohol (or drugs) get the best of you. Remember how your college roommate said you were the biggest blabbermouth on campus after you’d had a few? Just think of what you might have to say about your job, your boss, and your coworkers if you get smashed with them. When your boss waves his corporate credit card, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of free rounds on the company, so you should prepare for this situation in advance.
    A few hours before you go out to the restaurant or bar, eat a hefty meal and drink plenty of water. Once you’re there, do not get drunk. It’s tough enough to maintain your professional persona when you’re perfectly sober, but when alcohol steals your inhibition, you might find yourself saying and doing things you’d ordinarily consider big no-no’s. I’m not going to say you can’t consume alcohol, because we’re all adults. In fact, if you repeatedly shun drinking in your colleagues’ company, you might be perceived as weird or a loser. The key is to find the middle ground. No matter how much peer pressure comes your way, you should stick to one drink (two if you have a high tolerance). Pretend it’s Pepto-Bismol, sip it super slow, and it will last the whole evening. Take heart—you can still party with the best of them; just save it for your best friend’s tapas party or your Friday night poker game.
    The good news is that drinking is not typically the focus when the boss takes the team out for lunch. The bad news is that you have to watch more closely what you say and do, because people are actually paying attention. When the group arrives at the restaurant, don’t sit next to your manager at the big table. You’ll look like a brown-noser to your coworkers. Plus, if conversations split off, guess who you’ll be stuck talking to? Also, don’t be the first one to order. Note the price of your colleagues’ entrées and whether they are ordering drinks, and then follow suit with a selection that is perfectly in line with what everyone else is having. And, roll your eyes if you must, but I have to put it out there: Watch the table manners. Remember the dating rules your mother told you when you were getting dressed for your prom? Avoid talking while you’re chewing, don’t fix your hair at the table, and don’t order anythingyou have to eat with your hands or is a stain waiting to happen. If the group is sharing dishes, don’t hog, and put your smartphone away even if everyone else has theirs out. Eating out with the team is different from eating out with your friends. Relax, tell jokes, have fun—but don’t forget that business is business, and you’re still on the clock.
    And finally, there comes a time each year when the professional world becomes a symbol of cheesy sentiment and material excess. Yes, it’s the holiday season. And while your coworkers are turning your floor into a red and green monstrosity, and the mailroom guys are lugging a 10-foot-tall menorah into the lobby, you are probably deciding whether to go to the company’s annual holiday party. For the sake of your career, you should make an appearance. And because your company is going to spend your raise on a dancing Christmas tree whether you enjoy it or not, you might as well make the best of the situation. Mind your