Looking the Part And Making The Right First Impression

Looking the part is an essential aspect of winning a new job, so making the right impression on interviewers could be very important. Let me show you what you need to do.

There is a simple truth that says people tend to prefer others who are like themselves and if anything is very different, then they will unconsciously shy away from that person.

So, if you want to get hired you need to do a little 'impression management'.

Hiring managers are just as susceptible to this unconscious decision-making as anyone else, therefore to get hired you have to look as if you will fit in!

This article about 'looking the part' will give you something to think about.

Looking the part was never mentioned and I don't know his name; he wasn't trying to be profound. A man who worked for one of my colleagues always showed in a shirt and tie with a simple explanation: "if you look business, you is business". His grammar was faulty, but his reasoning was letter perfect and so is its timing as young folks head into the job market, either to start careers or to find summer jobs.

There are a lot of cheap shots taken at today's youth, questioning their work ethic and their intelligence. I have more faith than that in young folks. Frankly, everyone who is my age needs to have more faith in you than that for obvious reasons. I want them to succeed, which makes the following useful information. If you're among the job-seekers, clip this article. If you're the parent of one, do the same thing. Make several copies. Put one in your wallet. Tape another to refrigerator. Put another on the dashboard. Refer to it often. This speaks to the biggest hurdle in getting a job - looking the part at the interview.

I have been interviewed and have done the interviewing, so take this as it is intended - friendly advice to help you be hired. Some of the points listed about looking the part will sound silly, but each has happened. None counted in favor of the applicant

• Don't bring an entourage. No parents, no friends, no significant others, and definitely no children. Just you. If someone gave you a ride to the interview, have them wait in the car.

• If you have a cell phone, be extra sure that it is turned off. Better yet, leave it in your car or with the person who gave you a ride.

• Remember the man I mentioned at the beginning? First impressions count. Ladies: no micro skirts, no low-riders, and no bare midriffs, no visible thongs. Trust me, ladies; too much skin will not get you respect. Gentlemen: pull your pants up to your waist and tuck your shirt in. For looking the part, the best bet is a shirt and tie.

• Cover all tattoos. The people interviewing you don't care that body art may be trendy, and chances are that their customers won't, either.

• Pierced noses, eyebrows, and tongues are not a good idea. Limit piercings to one in each ear for females, and none at all for males. After you get the job, you can always ask what is acceptable; some workplaces are more lenient but your focus here is to get hired.

• No unnatural hair color or off-the-wall styles. Blue streaks, purple highlights, and pink tints will not help. Also, be sure it's brushed. Most workplaces don't 'get' bed head. Come to think of it, I don't get it, either. After you're hired we can talk about it.

• If you're not sure how to address the interviewer, sir and ma'am always work. Yo, bro, dude, and man do not. Please avoid 'like', 'whatever', and 'you know' as much as possible.

• Offer a firm handshake before and afterwards, thank the person for their time, and look them in the eye.

• Answer honestly, even if it's to say that you don't know. No one knows everything. Are you willing to learn?

• If you're seeking a summer jobs, accept that it will probably involve nights and weekends. If you have legitimate extracurricular conflicts - sports or band practice, volunteer activities, etc - say so and also offer a way to work around them. Being involved makes you look responsible.

• Finally, no gum, no toothpicks, no lollipops, etc. I'll just say that you would be amazed.

Chances are your first job will not be glamorous. Nonetheless, someone will be paying you to do the work, so remember the following three truths. First, jobs exist because there is work to be done; no work is beneath you. Do it well and you'll move up. Second, be pleasant to be around; no one wants to work with crabby people. Besides, your boss today may write you a letter of recommendation for a better job tomorrow. Third, no one owes you a job; be on time, work hard, and show your employer he made the right decision. Good luck.

Alex Lekas is VP / Corporate Communications for an Internet services company, and father of two college students, both of whom he hopes will get hired.

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Impression Management

Its also true to say that just looking the part may not be enough, because impressions are formed using all of the senses.

When someone meets you for the first time, as at an initial interview, they will see you, hear you and (I hope NOT) smell you! Click Here If You're Worried About Bad Breath!, get a free short report (opens in a new window) or need to know more about clearing up your skin: Acne Treatments all of which contribute to looking the part.

If their senses tell them something is disagreeable, your chances of getting hired go down the pan!

Five Handy Tips to Increase The Appearance Of Height

Its a known fact that height and happiness tend to go hand in hand, buy did you know that tall people get better jobs than short people? Height gives the allusion of authority so it makes sense to follow these 'looking the part' tips to help you look taller. This one is probably more for the dress tips for men.

Millions of people all over the world are unhappy with their height. There are a plethora of scams out there that claim that by taking a pill or doing certain exercises, you can make yourself taller. However, by following these tips to increase height, you can alter your appearance significantly without wasting money on methods that don’t work.

1. Your Wardrobe

What you wear can significantly make yourself look taller. By wearing pinstripes, not only do you make yourself look taller, but it creates a slimming effect as well. Try wearing solid colors all over, as wearing a dark shirt with pale pants or vice-versa draws attention to your waistline. Wearing the right pants can make your legs look longer than they actually are—and, incidentally, wearing the wrong pants can make your legs look even shorter. Keep an eye out for what works for you.

2. Your Shoes

It sounds like a given, but you would be surprised how useful your shoes can be. It makes sense that wearing height enhancing insoles or a sandal or boot with higher heels will make you look taller, but did you know that by wearing bulkier shoes, such as tennis shoes, you can make your feet look bigger, thus increasing the illusion? It’s true!

3. Your Hair

When it comes to looking taller, short hair is the way to go. Short hair can make your neck seem longer than it is, as the space between your shoulders and your head is easy to make out. However, long hair ruins this illusion completely and actually makes your neck seem shorter.

4. Your Posture

While you can’t physically increase your height by maintaining a good posture, it does wonders in making you look taller. In contrast, staying slumped in your chair gives you an even shorter appearance, and is bad for your back on top of that. By keeping your back straight, your shoulders back, and your head lifted high, you can appear much taller thus looking the part more confidently.

5. Your Attitude

Of course, these enhancements mean absolutely nothing if you’re still unhappy with your appearance. By dressing well and keeping a confident posture, you consequently look and feel better as well. In the long run, it’s the effort to appear attractive that catches the most notice. Out of all the tips to increase height, this is the most important.

Find out more here about Looking the part.

You might also want to visit:

Dress for Success
Dress for Success and Get the Visual Messages Right! This is all about looking right for the job you applied and the organization you applied to, plus being seen by the hiring manager as someone who will 'fit in'.

Looking The Part
Looking the part is an essential aspect of winning a new job. There is a simple truth that says people tend to prefer others who are like themselves and if anything is very different, then they will unconsciously shy away from that person. So, if you want to get hired you need to do a little 'impression management'.

First Impressions
First Impressions are formed when someone meets you for the first time, as at an initial interview. When you meet they will form their impression as they first see you, hear you and if their senses tell them something is disagreeable, your chances of getting hired go down the pan!

Body Language
The importance of body language is often mentioned, but doesn't always get the attention it deserves; it is both the most basic, fundamental form of expression used by human beings to communicate with one another, and at the same time a part of a highly sophisticated and culturally specific system of coded signals, in which bodily and facial movement play at least as important a part as verbal utterance.

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