Professionalism

Common Courtesy  
Professional Appearance  
   Six Sloppy Speech Habits   

Common Courtesy

It's amazing and somewhat sad, but in today's world, if you use common courtesy when dealing with prospective employers, you'll more than likely give yourself an edge over the many other candidates who fail to do so.  I realize this seemingly obvious concept is somewhat hard to believe, but it's true.  So as you deal with prospective employers, do the right thing--and make yourself stand out from the crowd--by demonstrating your class.

• Thank Employers for Their Interest
  According to one estimate, only about 10 percent of job seekers bother to send thank-you notes to prospective employers after the interview.  You've asked for and received someone's time and energy, so the least you can do is say "thank you". When you do, you'll be seen as one of the few candidates who shows care for others--not a bad message to send.

• Be Respectful to Everyone You Meet
  The administrative assistant you see when you first show up for an interview is just as important and deserving of your respect as the CEO and everyone else in between.  So be polite.  Make small talk with the assistant and be genuine about it.  If he asks you if you want a cup of coffee, say "Yes, please."  Impress the assistant with your uncommon graciousness, and your stock will rise in the company's eyes.

• Respect People's Time
  Most everyone has too much to do and too little time.  So if you've scheduled an interview, be on time.  Arrive exactly five minutes ahead of time.  Meanwhile, if you call an employer, ask, "Do you have a moment to talk right now?" before launching into what you want to say.  Give the person a chance to reschedule the conversation if he's in the middle of something more important.  He'll appreciate that you honor his time.

• Be Flexible
  Most things in life don't go exactly according to plan, especially in the work world.  The interviewer who shows up 10 minutes late your your interview, for example, probably had to "put out a fire" and didn't intend to keep you waiting.  So demonstrate that you're willing to cut people some slack.  If the plan changes at the last minute, roll with it.  Employers know that the people who succeed in business are the ones who are flexible and can deal with the daily curve balls life tends to throw.

(from Common Courtesy Often Exceeds Employer's Expectations by Peter Vogt MonsterTRAK Career Coach)

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Professional Appearance

Often job seekers are unsure about what appropriate professional appearance is, yet many of our employers listed it as an important factor in getting hired.  "In an interview situation, you're marketing yourself as a product, and so you want and need to have the best image possible", says Amy Glass, an expert on presentation skills, business etiquette and professional presence.  Keep in mind that projecting a professional appearance doesn't just mean on the interview.  If you pick up the application in your dirty gym clothes you may still be remembered as the smelly gym guy by the employer.  You never know when you could be offered a job on the spot, it could even be here at the Workforce Center! Present yourself in a professional manner during your entire job search and even after you get hired. 

• Do I need to wear a suit and tie?
  Maybe.  That all depends on the job.  Regardless, you should dress appropriately for the position you are interested in.   This usually means at least a dress shirt and slacks for men and a nice skirt or slacks with a blouse for women.  Take note of how employees seem to dress.  When in doubt, stay on the conservative side.  That being said, remember that your appearance, like your resume, is a way of marketing yourself.  For example, if you are applying at a hip clothing store, then your showing off your trendy sense of style may be acceptable.  But wearing a miniskirt to your interview at a law office may show that you are unprofessional and will project the wrong image to clients.  Use good judgment and remember that it's better to be overdressed than underdressed.
  ***(Don't know how to tie that tie? click here)

• Neat and clean!
  One of the most important things to remember about creating a professional image is cleanliness.  This means clean, unwrinkled clothing in good condition (no frayed hems or stains).  Shoes and purses should also be clean and in good condition. Make sure you bathe well and use a good deodorant.  Check your fingernails for any dirt and grime.  Lastly, make sure hair is clean and neatly styled.  Men, remember to shave or trim facial hair.

• Our Big List of Professional Image DON'TS
  There are a few things that almost always read as unprofessional.  While there are always exceptions to the rules, these are a few things to avoid.  You can flaunt your personal style outside of work!

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Six Sloppy Speech Habits

You may look good on paper or in your suit, but if you're looking to nail your big interview, looks aren't everything.  How you sound is often more important.  But many job seekers let careless speech habits sink their chances of landing that great job.  Here are six common language mistakes and how to keep them from sabotaging your interview.

• Non words:  Filler words such as "um," "ah," "you know," "OK," or "like" tell the interviewer you're not prepared and make you sound like a Valley Girl (or Boy).  A better strategy is to think before you speak, taking pauses and breaths when you lose your train of thought.  Everybody utters and occasional "um, " but don't let it start every sentence.

• "Up-talk": A singsong or rising inflection at the end of every sentence creates a tentative impression and makes it sound as though you're asking a question instead of making a definitive statement.  You need to speak with conviction when selling yourself in an interview.  Bring your intonation down when ending a sentence to avoid talking up.

• Grammatical Errors:  The interviewer may question your education when you use incorrect grammar or slang.  Expression such as "ain't," "she don't," "me and my friend," and "so I go," aren't appropriate.  Be sure you speak in complete sentences and that tenses agree.  The interview is not the venue for regional  expression or informality.

• Sloppy Speech: Slurring words together or dropping their endings impairs the clarity of your message.  To avoid slurring and increase understanding, speak slowly during an interview.  Make a list of commonly mispronounced words and practice saying them into a tape recorder before the interview.  Some common incorrect pronunciations include "aks" for "ask," "ath-a-lete" for "athlete," "wif" for with," and "dree" for "three".

• Speed talking:  While everybody is a bit anxious during an interview, you don't want your information to fly like a speeding bullet.  A rapid speaking rate is difficult to follow, and speed talkers are seen as nervous.  Slow down your racing heart by doing some breathing exercises before the interview.  To avoid rushing, listen to the question, and then count two beats in your head before continuing.  Don't be afraid of silence.  Pausing is an effective communication technique.  The interviewer needs a few seconds to process what you just said anyway.

• Weak speak:  Wimpy words modify or water down your conviction and in the end, your position.  When you pepper a conversation with "hopefully," "perhaps," "I feel," "kind of," and "sort of," the message you convey is a lack of confidence.  Use power words such as "I'm confident that," "My track record shows," "I take the position that," I recommend," or "my goal is".  The language you use gives the listener an impression about your level of confidence and conviction.

• The Bottom Line:  You don't have to study elocution to speak well.  Simply slow down, take time to pronounce all the syllables and leave slang at home.  Companies want job candidates who are well spoken and articulate, and recruiters won't represent a job candidate if they don't match the client's profile. 
   (from Six Sloppy Speech Habits by Diane Diresta, President of DiResta Communications and Monster.com Contributing Writer)

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