Regarding table manners, I actually think this is very very important. Of course not everyone has great manners but many of the higher level executives have been to many formal dinners so chances are high that you may come across one that is a stickler. And I'll admit, although I'm not a high level exec at a major firm, I'm a bit of a stickler so watching someone make egregious errors makes me cringe a bit inside.
There are many nuances to table manners and you don't need to follow them all but here are some basics:
1) your bread plate is always to your left. don't grab the one on your right because you will screw things up (especially if the table is round). If you forget, just wait until you see other people use their plates.
2) don't put butter on the entire piece of bread and eat it like a sandwich. you need to tear off a bite sized piece, butter it, and then eat it...and repeat.
3) always offer the bread to others before you eat it yourself.
4) left hand is for the fork, right hand is for the knife...cut meat, then switch off so your right hand has the fork. eat. cut only one bite sized piece at a time. yes, if you are European, you do not need to switch and i know that but you may come across an executive who doesn't know that and ironically thinks you're the one who is misinformed so play it safe. if you are left handed, you can do everything with the opposite hand. when cutting, your left hand should hold the fork with your index finger pointed down. don't grab the fork with your fist. also, hold your fork right side up. i really dislike it when a person holds their fork backwards (the concave/convex part)...it's rare but i see mistakes in this sometimes. Also...utensils are outside in and the top ones are for dessert.
5) if you need to rest your utensils, put them on your plate so that the dirty part does not go back onto the tablecloth. when they take your plate, they will take your utensils for that course so you don't need them.
6) when leaving your table to go to a restroom, etc...move your napkin from your lap to your chair. Don't put your dirty napkin on the table.
7) Water glass goes on the right side. Don't order alcohol unless the executive offers it first.
8) Don't get too weird and picky about your food "e.g. I want my steak done medium rare but slightly on the rare side but the outside burnt and partially butterflied but not so that the butterflied opening is chared, etc.". If you are vegetarian, just order something that you can eat from the menu. If the menu does not have anything for vegetarians, ask the waiter and they will almost always make a "grilled vegetable" plate for you.
9) Don't order messy stuff like baby back ribs, spaghetti, pizza, etc...unless you're in that kind of restaurant where this is the main feature.
10) If you get wine, the executive will usually order but if he/she asks you to order and you really feel like ordering, find something midrange (in terms of taste and price). I generally stick with a pinot noir at $80 or so but sometimes will ask if the other person is more in the mood for a shirah or cabernet sauvignon. I usually don't order white (usually stick with chardonnay or sauvignon blanc) unless I know the other person prefers it.
RVD.