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So, over the years I've heard a couple of comments from 'The Dark Mark' about the inadvisibility of putting your briefcase on a table or chair. And this has been bugging me for, oh, say 2 years now.
I must own up - I have no idea why this is a bad thing. OK, I understand you don't leave your bag on a desk between you and someone else, nor would you leave your briefcase on the meeting table during a meeting. But I have never seen either of these things happen during my 20 years of work, so my guess is this isn't what The DM is referring to.
But when you arrive at a meeting/interview/clients office/whatever and you've done the introductions, you then need to get your stuff out... and at this point, the bag DOES indeed go onto the desk or nearby chair. Once your stuff is ready, the bag goes somewhere out of the way - it really doesn't matter where, often on the floor by your chair but could be left on a side table or a side chair if they were free. To me, the location of the bag is pretty much a non-issue.
So help me get rid of this bugging concern - what am I missing here? The DM suggests 'bag location' can sometimes be a mistake, so I have I spent 20 years committing a terrible faux-pas by putting my bag on a desk or chair to get my stuff out, or are there perhaps some people who sit in meetings BEHIND their bag on the table in front of them, and I have just never met anyone like this?
I know, this isn't exactly a major global issue of the day. But it's been bugging me and I heard it again on the podcast on the way in this morning and I'd really appreciate some help scratching this itch.
Thanks in advance
MK
It's a dirt and germs issue
The issue is that the bag or briefcase has also likely been on the floor, so you don't want to transfer dirt to where it will come into contact with people's expensive clothing (if resting on the chair), or clean papers or food (if resting on the table). When you are ready to remove things from the bag/briefcase, it goes on the table, but it's on it's side, which has not been in contact with the floor.
Thank you
Ahhh....Yup, makes sense.
Thanks for the clear explanation.
MK
Like shoes then...
Makes sense when explained! Few people would put their outdoor shoes on the chair or table, I guess a work bag can be as dirty.
I guess if you have to you sit down and put the bag on your lap while you get your things out - then its your dry cleaning bill!
I used to carry one of those rigid attache cases, but it had the disadvantage that , unless you laid it on its side on the floor, it would topple over with a loud noise at some point- usually the worst possible moment. So I gave it to my kids to play secret agents with. Laptop bags can do similar - maybe there is some wisdom in the old style bellow- like briefcase (wide at the bottom, to give an obvious resting-on-the-floor surface).
To the same degree, you
To the same degree, you likely can't add value to the hiring manager's network. Since there is no real biz reason for the LinkedIn connection you'll likely leave the hiring manager wondering why you would send the invitation. -Mercy Ministries