16 dining etiquette rules every professional should know

Show up to the meal with confidence.Washington Post/Getty

If your worst nightmare is going to lunch with a recruiter and eliminating yourself from the running when you fold your napkin the wrong way, we get it.

And while that particular scenario is unlikely, if you're so nervous about looking unsophisticated, that may end up hurting your chances.

Below, we've rounded up a bunch of key rules to keep in mind when you're doing business over a meal, so you can show up with confidence.

The ideas are drawn from "The Essentials Of Business Etiquette" by Barbara Pachter and "Don't Burp in the Boardroom" by Rosalinda Randall.

Here's what every professional needs to know about dining etiquette.