Developing and Maintaining a Professional Image In Person

Developing and Maintaining a Professional Image In Person, On the Phone, and On-Line

Professional Image: In Person What to wear. What not to wear.

Group Discussion What words come to mind when thinking about “U. S. Business Culture”? What words come to mind when thinking about “Professional Image”? What words come to mind when you see these people….

ONE CHANCE.

“What a strange power there is in clothing. ” - Isaac Bashevis, Singer

If you want to play football, you need to wear the uniform…

• Sleeveless tops (women only) • Sequined or beaded accents • Long dressy shorts (summer only) • Growing in a beard • Lace camisole peeking from blouse • Above-the-knee skirts • Sport coats • Multiple small earrings • No hose with pumps/ colorful socks NOT OKAY • Long sleeves/ short sleeves • Some shimmer • Cropped pants in dressy fabrics • Neatly trimmed beard • Lace camisole under a button-down • Knee-length skirts • Suits • Earrings • Panty hose/ Dark socks PROBABLY OKAY DEFINITELY OKAY Yes | Maybe | Go Home • Spaghetti straps/ strapless tops • Sequined dresses • Short-shorts • Three-day old stubble • Underwear as outerwear • Micro-minis • Denim jackets • Nose rings • Shoes without socks (excluding pumps or sandals) • Blue hair

“Like every good man, I strive for perfection, and, like every ordinary man, I have found that perfection is out of reach… But not the perfect suit. ” - Edward Tivnan

If you have to ask yourself if your outfit is appropriate… If you find that you have to sit a certain way to cover up your legs in a skirt… If you think you might be showing too much skin… If you’d be embarrassed to run into your parents on the street… If you can’t walk more than 10 blocks in your shoes… If your pants are so tight that eating lunch might not be a good idea… If you aren’t quite sure that the colors you have chosen go together… If your decision about whether or not to wear something was based on how it smelled when you picked it up from the closet floor… If your clothes are wrinkled… If your clothes are see-through… If your clothes demand more attention than your resume… CHANGE YOUR OUTFIT!!

Important Friends-of-Your Closet “Your business clothes are naturally attracted to staining liquids. This attraction is strongest just before an important meeting. ” - Scott Adams

Group Activity When you think about your desired professional image, what image would you like to project? Please list FIVE adjectives. In groups of three, discuss why this image will be beneficial given your target industry/function.

Professional Image: In Conversation Skills to Sound Better, Wherever You Are

“To combat her unenchantingly high and nasal natural voice, she subjected herself to rigorous elocution exercises — where she picked up that breathy, straight-from-the-diaphragm English… speak. ” “At the AADA, Grace’s teachers noted that her voice was high and nasal. Determined to get rid of the unmistakable Philadelphian twang, she studied with voice coaches and listened to records until she achieved the unique Grace Kelly brand of perfect diction – a ‘near British’ lower, gentler register. ”

Vocal Exercises Tongue twisters • Try doing these before your interview, before setting your outgoing voicemail message, or before giving a presentation

Group Activity I see Susie sitting in the shoe shine shop. Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked? How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?

Vocal Exercises • Tongue twisters • Vocalizing

Group Activity 1. “OOO” (Pucker) “EEE” (Smile) “AAH” (Chin drop) 2. Tongue Stretch!

Vocal Exercises • Tongue twisters • Vocalizing • “Uh-huh…” • Diaphragmatic breathing

Articulation, Speed, and Inflection Articulation: speak clearly and enunciate - Didja wanna hear about what we oughtta do? I hafta tell you… I dint wanna tell ‘em at first. Speed: try not to talk too slowly or too quickly Inflection: changes in pitch are important and convey emotion - Avoid a monotone delivery - Avoid “uptalk”

Stance and Gestures Stance: • Should be appropriate for the situation - Avoid “fig leaf” or “gunshot wound” Gestures: • Be natural • Use for emphasis

Visual Communication DON’T: • Use your cell phone • Hug yourself • Hug others • Check your watch • Ignore your nervous tics DO: • Stand straight • Smile • Maintain eye contact • Actively listen • Use a firm handshake

Professional Image: On-Line Facebook, Twitter, Linked. In, Oh My!

Do You Know Where You Are?

Your Online Image QUIZ: Who has ever: • Googled a potential romantic partner? • Checked out the Facebook page of a colleague? • Seen an embarrassing Facebook photo of a colleague? Who might be checking you out?

Who’s looking anyway? !? Colleagues Clients Potential Employers Current Employers My Dad Networking Contacts

Social Media & The Job Search According to a 2012 study by Pay Scale, 65% of recruiters and hiring managers in the U. S. have reviewed online information posted to social networking sites and blogs to screen job candidates. According to a 2012 study by Career. Builder, 34% of hiring managers found information that led to a candidate not getting an offer.

Group Activity The Facebook Test

Facebook & Twitter Facebook: • Recruiters / employers will look on Facebook • Adjust privacy settings accordingly • Assume everything will be seen by a potential employer Twitter: • Many companies tweet news and jobs • Engage in discussion • Consider protecting your tweets and having a solely professional account

Linked. In • Largest online professional networking tool • Ensure that you have a polished profile - Match resume content - Utilize keywords - Gather recommendations and testimonials - Share professionally-oriented status updates • Connect wisely - Be respectful in communication • Participate in groups - Post and comment in discussions

Photo & Video Sharing Photo Sharing Sites & Apps • Flickr, Instagram, Picassa, Snapchat, Snapfish, Shutterfly, etc. • Links can be shared and photos can be downloaded • The funny photo of you doing shots is not funny to your hiring manager! Video Sharing Sites & Apps • Vimeo, Vine, You. Tube, etc. • Is that video of your friends chugging a beer going to be as funny to an employer who Googles you just before you walk in for an interview?

Blogging • Blogging can be a great way to illustrate passion and engagement • If you have a public blog with your name attached, make sure that you the topics aligns with what you want prospective employers to know about you • If you have a personal blog, use an alias • Do not write about your colleagues or company • Use caution when posting comments on others’ blogs • Remember that anything posted can be saved and printed!

On-Line Dating Sites • Use personal email accounts when corresponding • Be aware of how much personal information you are putting out for public consumption • Leave out company/title information • Post pictures at your own risk • Do not date your boss. Ever.

Next Steps • Check for all online profiles • Adjust profile privacy settings • View your profiles from the point of view of an employer • Pair up with a classmate and view their profiles from the point of view of an employer

Communication with Our Office Twitter: JHUCarey. Career carey-jhu-csm. symplicity. com/students/ Facebook: Carey Compass houses: • • Calendar of events • Workshops • Webinars Appointment scheduling Internship and job postings Job search resources Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Career Services

Questions? We look forward to working with you! Phone: 410. 234. 9270 E-mail: carey. careerservices@jhu. edu

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