Your office’s potluck is the perfect place to demonstrate your skills and present yourself as a professional who’s knowledgeable in things outside of your job description. Potlucks give you the chance to make a great impression on both your co-workers and your higher-ups, so you should take care to make the most of the opportunity.

Bring These 4 Things With You to a Potluck

The aim of an office potluck is to network and have fun with your co-workers! You’ll want to contribute, of course, but if you don’t have faith in your culinary skills, you can still bring something to the table that will impress everyone in attendance.

1. Your Signature Dish

First, you should determine the theme of the potluck. Will it be served closer to brunch, or does it call for more dinner-like foods? Is there a theme you need to follow? Once you know the answer, start working on a dish that can be called entirely your own.

Food can create memories of fond times and leave people talking about it for years to come. If you want to make great memories with your co-workers, bringing an unusual dish that will stand out can help you. Check on everyone’s allergies ahead of time to make sure you account for them.

2. Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board is a perfect appetizer for a get-together. You can use almost anything for the board itself, but if you believe the potluck will be more formal, you should look into purchasing a large, quality board made for sharing.

Charcuterie boards involve a variety of meats and cheeses and other components like sweet fruits and salty pickles and olives. Charcuterie celebrates an explosion of flavor, offering something equally pleasing to people’s eyes and their tastebuds.

Take care when determining your charcuterie selections, as different items may pair well with other options and suit certain occasions and taste better. You should also think about the location of your potluck. If it is outdoors, make sure there will be a place to keep your board in the shade for the sake of the colder items.

3. Chips and Dip

If you don’t fancy yourself much of a chef, you can’t go wrong with making dip for the potluck. The fantastic thing about chips and dip is that they don’t require you to cook much. If you have to cook something for a dip, it’s typically just a simple task like browning ground beef for a hamburger flavor.

You can try a flavorful and unique recipe like one for loaded baked potato dip, which can give your co-workers a taste of their favorite part of the side dish. You can easily keep people’s dietary restrictions in mind with this recipe — simply add bacon to the side instead of in the main dish for those who don’t eat it, or you could make a second dip with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for those who can’t have dairy. Just remember to bring something to eat the dip with!

4. Your A-Game

While you may have already planned on bringing yourself, you must look your best and professionally present yourself while allowing yourself to enjoy the party with your friends at work. For example, while you may be able to dress down, you should still keep your shirt tucked in so you still look professional and can impress your superiors.

To look your best, you also have to feel your best. The night before the potluck, you can take care of any undereye puffiness with a cool compress you have on hand — even using teabags can help. When you wake up, your eyes will be less puffy, leading you to look brighter and more energized. You should also remember to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, both before and during the potluck.

Have Fun and Impress Others

When the day of the potluck comes, you’ll be so prepared that nothing will make you nervous! Just remember to be yourself when conversing with people who are above you on the ladder. Don’t come across as inauthentic — your genuine self is enough! You’ll make a splash at the potluck, whether you bring something simple or complex, as long as you have the right attitude.