Charm School Featured Workshop 12:00 PM-1:00 PM 

Elite Social Graces

Elite Etiquette will provide the information needed to feel comfortable within various elite cultures. Your understanding of these refinements and customs is respectful and will give you confidence while putting others at ease with your new cultural competence.

SESSION I 1PM-2:10PM 

Wedding Show Stoppers

"Two to the right, two to the left, now everybody clap your hands ::clap clap clap clap::" Are you ready to take the dance floor at the Wedding you were invited to? Do you get nervous when you don't know popular line dances such as the Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide or the Wobble? Do you like to have fun? We will offer you the cliff notes version of socially acceptable dance moves that will enable you to have the confidence to conquer the dance floor at your next big social dance event.

Networking with Older Alums

The aim of this session is to give students knowledge, confidence, ideas and some common interests in engaging with and networking with older MIT alums – like former MIT Corporation Member Jorge Rodriguez '60 and Bob Ferrara ‘67 Class President.

The Bostonian’s Guide to Slang and American Idioms

Slang and idioms are considered an informal part of the language - not necessarily the stuff of traditional courses in English as a Second Language (ESL). Through group discussions, role-playing, real life experiences, and handouts this class will be informative, fun, productive and have lasting significance in your daily live within MIT and beyond.

Interview Do’s and Don’ts

Your actions, words and attitudes often influence the way other people think about you. What you do or don’t do in the interview can make the difference in getting the job. Learn tips that can be used in the job search. 

How to tell someone something they rather not hear (1-2:10PM)

Simple non-threatning communication techniques

Respectful Disagreement

On a date, in a job interview or when pulled over for a traffic infringement, the way you present your viewpoint can either set the stage for a positive outcome or escalate the disagreement. In this class, we'll look at ways to lower the heat in fraught exchanges while still being clear.

How to be Sm(Art): Visiting Contemporary Art Museums

Perplexed by Pollock? Dumbstruck by Dadaism? Confused by contemporary art? Take this class to learn tips and tricks for making sense of artwork in the List Visual Arts Center’s collection, and practice how to communicate with others effectively in any museum or gallery setting. You’ll be schmoozing at an exhibition opening before you know it!

Appropriate Drinking Etiquette

Learn tips about drinking in the working world and how to conduct yourself when alcohol is present in business situations. 

You better work it: Dressing professionally for work (Women)

Students will learn how to shop for a professional wardrobe on a budget as well as how to coordinate outfits for any kind of business occasion. Tips included packing for conferences, the proper way to tailor a suite, appropriate accessorizing, and walking in heels.

Maximize your networking potential: How to work a room and make a great first impression

This presentation will present quick tips on how to successfully work a room with poise, charm and composure while effective networking with other professionals and colleagues. Examples of networking events will include career fairs, conferences, panel and company presentations. After this session, students will be ready to network anywhere and anytime and learn how to deliver an effective 30-second elevator pitch.

How to Tie a Bow Tie

Learn the elements of tying a bow-tie. 

Speed Friending

Students will get a feel of what speed dating is like. Tips and dos and don'ts will be given and also on how to make a good first impression.

Note- First session of this course will be “Queer Speed Friending”

Session II 2:15PM-3:25PM 

How to dress for work: A primer for Men

How should your suit fit you? What are the 10 essential elements of a business wardrobe?  This class won't tell you what to wear, but it will help you develop your own approach to looking professional and looking your best. We'll talk about topics such as buying a suit, when to use a tailor, and the difference between blazers and suits, as well as review a variety of tips and ideas for selecting, buying, and wearing clothes for work.

How to make a charming first impression

Making a great first impression can be the first step in what it means to show off your charming self! This class will cover several tips in what it means to have great eye contact, a strong handshake, to introduce yourself with confidence and dress for the occasion. We will also talk briefly about how to effectively engage in "small talk", making good conversation with strangers and/or how a good first impression can land you that ideal job!

How to be a Charming Student Leader

At MIT, countless student leadership opportunities are at your fingertips. But how can students lead with grace and charm? In this session, learn what characteristics comprise a “charming” student leader: someone who can get things done, motivate others, and communicate with many different constituents. The instructors of this session will draw from their experience working with MIT student leaders and help you develop skills you can use at MIT and beyond!

Requesting Recommendation Letters

Need a letter of recommendation for a job application or for application to graduate or professional school?  This session will provide instruction on how to request letters of recommendation. 

How to tell someone something they rather not hear

The idea is to use the experiential cycle of learning and a conversational formula to educate students on how to tell somebody something they'd rather not hear and how to say something they’d rather not say, that is, how to express feelings, be more empathetic, offer help, or ask for help.

Respectful Disagreement

On a date, in a job interview or when pulled over for a traffic infringement, the way you present your viewpoint can either set the stage for a positive outcome or escalate the disagreement. In this class, we'll look at ways to lower the heat in fraught exchanges while still being clear.

How to be Sm(Art): Visiting Contemporary Art Museums

Perplexed by Pollock? Dumbstruck by Dadaism? Confused by contemporary art? Take this class to learn tips and tricks for making sense of artwork in the List Visual Arts Center’s collection, and practice how to communicate with others effectively in any museum or gallery setting. You’ll be schmoozing at an exhibition opening before you know it!

Business Social Situations

Gym Etiquette

Perform role-play skits that demonstrate proper etiquette on the fitness floor and at the pool.

Tweet it Right the First Time

Twitter has grown beyond its 140 character limitation, and is now an extremely powerful force across the professional and academic world, opening up unique and awesome networking opportunities. But are you tweets going to limit your ability to land that internship, or will it jeopardize that awesome contact you just made with someone at the company you want to join? Together, we'll discuss some Twitter etiquette that will serve you well both personally and professionally, and will help you create a digital identity that mirrors and benefits the great work you are already doing.

How to Tie a Bow Tie

Learn the elements of tying a bow-tie. 

Networking with Grace and Charm

Networking is the key to finding internships and jobs. But what does networking really mean, and how can you go about building connections in a professional way? In this session, you'll learn what networking is, as well as proper networking etiquette, including the top do's and don'ts, to ensure that you will leave a charming impression!

Session III 3:30PM-4:15PM 

How to dress for work: A primer for Men

How should your suit fit you? What are the 10 essential elements of a business wardrobe?  This class won't tell you what to wear, but it will help you develop your own approach to looking professional and looking your best. We'll talk about topics such as buying a suit, when to use a tailor, and the difference between blazers and suits, as well as review a variety of tips and ideas for selecting, buying, and wearing clothes for work.

How to be a guest

10 tips on being a good guest at hosted parties, weddings, and weekend stays, RSVPs, appropriate gifts for the occasion, behavior, consumption (food & alcohol), thank you’s, and sensitivity to social media uploads.

The Art of Handshake

This class will review the basics of the handshake and will put this skill into practice.

How to tell someone something they rather not hear

The idea is to use the experiential cycle of learning and a conversational formula to educate students on how to tell somebody something they'd rather not hear and how to say something they’d rather not say, that is, how to express feelings, be more empathetic, offer help, or ask for help.

Finding yourself in a cross cultural workplace

Do you anticipate working in a multi-cultural or cross-cultural environment? This Charm Class will help you understand your own cultural perspective and how to respond when you encounter other cultural perspectives, including conflicts that may occur.

Discovering Dispositions: A closer look at the Introversion/Extroversion spectrum

Ever wondered how your interpersonal tendencies affect your working life and personal relationships? In this class we will assess our own dispositions on the Introversion/Extroversion scale and then explore some techniques for how to leverage that information in our every day interactions.

Appropriate Drinking Etiquette

Learn tips about drinking in the working world and how to conduct yourself when alcohol is present in business situations. 

Gym Etiquette

Perform role-play skits that demonstrate proper etiquette on the fitness floor and at the pool.

Finding Alumni Career Advisors

Networking is one of the most important skills to finding internships and jobs. The MIT Alumni Association's Institute Career Assistance Network (ICAN) is an essential tool for students to build their career network. Alumni are happy to connect with students and offer advice, support, recommendations and connections. Learn how to search the network of over 125,000 alumni to find internships and jobs and investigate industries and career paths, how to write that initial email or make that initial call to introduce yourself, and how to prepare for a meeting with an alumnus/a.

Diff EQ to GQ: Transitioning from MIT to the workplace

So you're graduating in May and you've landed your dream job! Although you'll be a rookie to the team, no need to dress like one. Come learn some quick tips for sprucing up your professional wardrobe on a budget.

Finger Paint your Stress Away- Crystal Eusebio

This class will discuss the factors of stress and how it affects the college students. In order to remedy the stress, art therapy will be discussed along with finger-painting activity.