It is time for the annual holiday party, and people everywhere are wondering if they are going to be required to attend them. And while most offices don't make the parties mandatory, for the sake of your career and your professional reputation, the answer is yes. You should attend and do your best to enjoy the festivities.
If you aren't sure how to navigate the social and political mine-field that is the corporate holiday party, here are some tips that can help you survive it and end up actually having a good time.
- Arrive within an hour of the start – Fashionably late is one thing, but don't show up an hour before the party is over. If you are unavoidably delayed, it may be better for your reputation if you didn't attend at all. When you show up just as the party is winding down, you give everyone the impression that you don't care about the party and came only as an afterthought.
- Don't stay too late – Plan to leave in the hour before the official end time of the party. This isn't a club, and staying until they have to ask you to leave shows a lack of class. Instead, wait until the appropriate time, thank your hosts and make a gracious exit.
- Dress appropriately – At most holiday parties, it is appropriate to wear a cocktail dress or a suit. Unless your company specifically states that the party will have a casual dress code, don't show up in jeans and a t-shirt.
- To bring a date or not – If you are in a long term relationship or are married, bring your spouse and enjoy a night out. But, if you are single, this isn't the time to bring someone you don't know very well. Consider going solo.
- Remember, you are still at work – Even though it is a party, don't forget where you are. This isn't the time or place to discuss controversial subjects or to engage in office gossip. You can never be sure who might overhear you and be offended. And the last thing you want is to cause a scene at the office party.
- Lay off the alcohol – More and more employers lately have stopped providing alcohol at holiday parties altogether. But, if yours does, make your limit one or two drinks. You don't want to get the reputation of being a drunk or having tales of you dancing on the table at the party haunting you for years to come. Or worse, the unedited video footage on YouTube.
- Find out about gift giving – If you work for a small company or have small departmental parties, make sure you find out ahead of time what the policy is on gift giving. Many companies do a “bring a gift – get a gift” event. If yours does, choose a small, tasteful gift in the specified price range to bring along with you.
- Have fun and network – This is really what the party is all about. You have an opportunity to get to know your co-workers in a more social setting. This is the perfect time to get some face time with your higher up and network with employees in different departments.
Holiday parties can be a lot of fun. By avoiding some of the more common mistakes, you can make your office get-together a night of fun and networking.
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By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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