November 13th, 2011 
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Even though current unemployment numbers are at an all-time high, there are jobs to be had – and those jobs go to candidates who are prepared and present themselves to their best advantage. Whether or not you’re presently employed or in professional transition, with the proper approach you can get the job you want even in the current job marketplace.
A powerful tool at your disposal is your professional appearance, both in individual and on the web. These days, employers and hiring managers are still interviewing potential employees, but they’re now using the Web and social media as a approach of researching job candidates. So both kinds of 1st impressions are crucial in today’s competitive and tech-savvy job marketplace. You will need to focus on presenting your self as a consummate professional anywhere you’ll make that initial impression. From the interview room, to the networking event, to your on the web persona, be prepared to take charge of your own personal brand and sell your self with confidence.
The old saying “You only get 1 chance to make a initial impression” is so frequently heard simply because it’s accurate. It’s common understanding among image consultants, that the way you present yourself in job interviews and the workplace is a critical key to impressing those in hiring positions. If you’re contemplating either a new job, or a promotion at your current business, dressing professionally enables decision makers to see you in the role you’d like to have.
Look at colleagues who impress or inspire you: How do they dress? Those who hold positions that you aspire to are likely dressing a level up from their own position and are very good examples to understand from. Even in a firm with a relaxed dress policy, opportunities exist to take your appearance to the next level. Even though numerous employees dress at the lower acceptable levels of a casual policy, hold your self to a higher standard that reflects discernment and professional awareness. Dressing to impress your employer or possible employer isn’t just about looking nice. If you dress professionally, as though you already possess the job you want, your appearance carries the message that you are severe, careful, observant, and willing to work for advancement.
If you do select to look for job opportunities outside your present organization or are presently in transition, the networking circuit is an perfect place to start building your personal brand. Networking events present an environment to make contact with people who may possibly know about open positions or can put you in touch with those who do (gatekeepers). Use these occasions to promote yourself with confident body language and a successful appearance. Some techniques to do this:
1. Dress as if you are attending a job interview. Don’t wear your best interview suit if the environment does not call for it, but do dress with the same level of attention to detail and grooming. Neat, clean hair and clothes with a minimal quantity of tasteful jewelry or makeup allows you to present your self at your very best, even if the event is casual.
2. Shake hands with everybody you meet using a firm web-to-internet handshake and maintain direct eye contact, all of which is body language demonstrating self-confidence and sincerity.
three. Introduce your self with your first and last name and repeat the other person’s name to cement it in your memory. Introducing a new contact to the next individual you meet is a great way to show confidence, friendliness, and helps you remember everyone.
4. Prepare a “mini resume” calling card that features your contact info on the front, and a list of your key competencies on the back. This helps those you meet bear in mind your objective and region of specialty. Give this card the exact same attention to appearance and accuracy as you do your traditional resume.
5. At these events, remember that you are not the only person shopping for a job. Can you support an individual else in his or her search? Chances are they will be willing to support you, too (and it doesn’t hurt your karma). Notice too, that the people YOU are most likely to suggest for a position are those that have taken care to present themselves well.
6. Keep your conversations professional and positive. Your disappointments in your current or previous position really should be kept private. Speaking well of a current or former employer makes prospective employers and colleagues really feel that you are professional and trustworthy.
7. Follow up with the contacts you’ve made in a carefully written email or LinkedIn invitation within the week.
8. Thank the host via email or LinkedIn. Take into account a “public” thank you via LinkedIn recommendation or posting on their Facebook wall. This is excellent advertisement for them, and an opportunity to increase your public presence.
Social media websites are another forum in which to promote a professional personal brand in your job search. According to a recent survey by recruitment solutions provider, Jobvite, 80% of firms plan to use social networking to discover and attract candidates this year. If the majority of your photos on Facebook feature behavior or activities that you wouldn’t display at a job interview, they’re unlikely to make a favorable impression upon a hiring manager who searches your name.
Just like networking and presenting your self daily at your company, you’ll want to “dress to impress” on the web too. Recruiters are utilizing social media web sites for study — even third place Twitter is tapped by 42% of recruiters according to Jobvite (LinkedIn leads in recruiting study activity; Facebook is second) — findings can be a deciding factor in competitive hiring environments.
Present your on the web image tastefully and professionally. Practice prudence in your online postings: Remember that your posts grow to be public and can remain on the internet on an additional internet site, attributed to you, lengthy after you have removed them from your own pages. Offensive jokes and lewd remarks won’t reflect positively on you. Also think about grammar and word choice when portraying your professional brand on the web. Lolspeak is cute in a note to a close friend, but is off-putting to an employer searching for a well-spoken employee who communicates professionally with other people.
The Kelly Services’ Global Workforce Index showed in January 2008 that 32% of survey respondents found their most recent job online (which includes social media websites), and 21% discovered work via ‘word of mouth,’ like that which outcomes from networking events. Conduct your search with savvy by putting your greatest self forward —both in person and on the Internet.
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