Dress For Success

You have heard the phrase, "Dress for Success." This is very important in your job search. First impressions can make or break an interview, so presenting a Tailored Image is a good first step to Promoting Success in your job search.

Employers can tell horror stories about people who show up on their doorstep looking for work with: torn jeans, t-shirts with offensive sayings, dirty fingernails, uncombed hair, curlers in their hair, and poor attitudes. While you have the right to dress the way you want on your own time, it is important that you dress the way an employer wants if you expect to be considered for a job. (This may also mean removing studs or getting a hair cut.)

When you are dropping off resumes, dress as if you were going to be interviewed, because you might happen to be in the right place at the right time and have the opportunity to speak to the employer or manager right away.

Many businesses have now adopted a more casual dress code, but it's a good idea to take some time before your interview to check out how the other employees are dressed. A good rule of thumb is to dress a little better for the interview than you would expect to dress on a daily basis. Dress above the position you want when to make a good first impression.

It is not necessary to have a big budget to present a tailored image. All it takes is time, careful shopping and a little ingenuity. Check out the second hand stores, the Salvation Army or Thrift Stores or your friends' closets.

Fran Watson is a Career Counsellor, Workshop Developer/Faciltator and member of Toastmasters. Find out more at www.franwatson.ca and sign up for her free E-zine Fran's Facts and Findings.

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


How To Write A Job Winning Resume That Puts Yours On Top

Many people would love to get a better job. And... Read More

Becoming A Home Inspector: What the Home Inspection Schools Dont Want You To Know

Chances are if you're reading this you've thought about becoming... Read More

Job Interviews: Succeeding with Panel Interviews

These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More

How to Use Flow In The Job Search

What is "flow"? Flow as described by the psychology professor... Read More

4 Internet Job Search Mistakes to Avoid

The Internet is the most powerful employment tool on earth.... Read More

Discuss Your Accomplishments During the Interview

When preparing for your interview, you need to be ready... Read More

Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Work You Love

Tough words... but I truly believe that folks who make... Read More

Career Change - Creating Wealth & Happiness

Whether you have a business idea or not, here's what... Read More

Consultants - If We Cant Laugh At Ourselves?

There are hundreds of varieties of Consultants these days. We... Read More

Self-Preservation Techniques For The Unemployed

Looking for work can be difficult, frustrating, anxiety-provoking, and demeaning.There... Read More

How to Make Your Career Change Easier

Despite what your grandmother told you, life is not supposed... Read More

Q & A How to Find a Great Search Firm

Q & AQ: Are people sometimes cautious of 'headhunters'?A. Yes.... Read More

Sawbones

I was rushing through the white-tented terminal building at Denver... Read More

Virtual Heroes: The Growth of the Virtual Assistant

Building and expanding a business is a difficult task, when... Read More

Managing The Boss Is Essential To Career Success

Your boss is the gatekeeper of your career. Unless you... Read More

Can You Actually Fail A Personality Quiz?

Q. I didn't get a job that I interviewed for.... Read More

Job Search 101

The whole job search effort is completely exhausting and at... Read More

Culture Shock

Today we hear much talk of the 'global village'. People... Read More

The Springtime of Your Career

Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love, introduced... Read More

Ten Resume Writing Tips You Can?t Live Without

For some job opening, employers receive hundreds and even thousands... Read More

Franchising Offers NO Guarantees --

You have to ask --- IS a FRANCHISE FOR YOU?There... Read More

Why Culinary Education

If you are thinking about a career in culinary arts... Read More

Practice Speaking

For many people, interviewing is not a natural act any... Read More

Unemployment Survival: Taking Back Control

One of the most emotionally crippling aspects of unemployment is... Read More

Corporate World: Jungle Or Paradise?

The road to the top is not easy, it is... Read More

Three Tips for Successful Networking

I generally shy away from using the word "networking" when... Read More

Reading the Want Ads--Not for Jobs--For Information

What? Want ads are where job announcements are, not information!Wait!... Read More

Why You Need To Be An Intrapreneur

When a client asks me if I think he or... Read More

Why Should We Hire You?

This is one of those broad questions that can take... Read More

Do More than Expected to Get Ahead

One of the best things you can do to increase... Read More

How Hedgehogs Hire

In my last column, I explored Jim Collins' "hedgehog" principle,... Read More

Avoid Mistakes and Gaffes in Your Job Resume

Having mistakes and gaffes in your job resume spell disaster... Read More

Dress For Success

You have heard the phrase, "Dress for Success." This is... Read More