Have you ever wondered what to wear, drink, or do at a holiday work party? If so, you’re in the right place.
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While you want to make yourself memorable to the higher-ups and colleagues that you meet at social events, you want to be memorable for the right reasons. You don’t want to be the person that is talked about when the ‘remember when…’ stories come up. Here are 4 things to remember when it comes to holiday work parties:
Show up
This might sound like the bare minimum, but the first step to making a good impression is to show up well. I’ve been to holiday work events where one person is in charge of coordinating 10 employees and their guests, and I’ve been to events in which a committee plans an event meant for hundreds of people. Regardless of the size of the event, you want to RSVP in advance to help people plan accordingly, and you’ll want to be respectful by showing up on time. Additionally, be sure to thank the organizers following the event!
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Be careful about alcohol
We’ve been over this before. The bottom line: Just because happy hour is free doesn’t mean it comes without a cost. Don’t be the person that comes up during the ‘remember when…’ conversations years from now.
A few other tips:
- Start off with a glass of water when everyone else is having their first alcoholic beverage. The term, “I’ll start with water.” implies that you’ll be drinking with everyone else soon, so if you’re worried about someone calling you out for not drinking, this term should have you covered. Plus, it keeps you one drink behind everyone else, which leads to…
- Don’t ever be the drunkest person at the party. If the CEO is sloshed, that’s one thing. If you are, that’s bad news bears.
- Take an Uber if you need to. Even if you can handle your booze at the party, a DUI will come back to haunt you.
Dress to impress
Not sure what to wear? The invitation should make some indication of what the attire for the event is. I’ve put together a few Pinterest boards for you if your invitation states Casual Attire, Business Professional Attire, or Black Tie/Cocktail/Formal Attire, so you can look to those for inspiration. If it’s an ugly sweater party then you’re on your own, goofball!
If the invitation doesn’t have information on what to wear, ask someone who has been to the event in the past. If you don’t have anyone that you can ask, reach out to the person organizing the event or the person whose information is listed on the RSVP. A simple note that says, “I am so looking forward to this year’s holiday party! I noticed that the invitation does not have a dress code listed and I’d hate to assume. Can you please let me know what is expected?” should do the trick.
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
Eat with etiquette
Nobody expects you to be a debutante, but there are some simple rules to follow:
If the invitation indicates ‘light hors d’oeuvres’, do not expect to be served a full meal. There will likely be canapés passed around by servers or a buffet with small plates available to serve yourself. The rules of thumb here are:
- Do not pile up your plate.
- Throw your plate away and get a new one if you go back for more.
- Pre-plan a little bit here. If it’s going to be hard to bite in half, avoid it.
- If it’s going to leave you with dirty fingers, avoid it. NEVER lick your hands.
If you are served a meal:
- Put your napkin in your lap before you start eating or drinking.
- Start with the outside fork first.
- Elbows off the table.
- Don’t talk with your mouth full.
- Your phone will not make an appearance.
This sounds basic, but let me PROMISE you: if you are stuck standing with half a finger sandwich in one hand and spilling your red wine with your right, there’s a 100% chance that this is when the director that you’ve been trying to network with forever will take notice of you.
BONUS TIP:
Remember, you’re at work. While ‘party’ is in the name, your office holiday party is a work function, and it’s mildly mandatory. Although you may be in a bar or other venue, the same rules apply as if you were in the office.
The holiday party is your employer’s gift to you. Have fun, mingle with colleagues, and dance the night away!
Happy Holidays, y’all!
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