Sunday, December 2, 2007

Creative Job Search Article

Dress and Grooming for Job Success

Many of us object to being judged for employment based on how we look. We prefer to be hired because of our skills and abilities, not because of our dress and grooming. But like it or not, appearance is important.

Employers hire people they believe will "fit" into their organization. Skills, experience and qualifications are important, but so are dress and grooming. Your appearance expresses motivation and professionalism. Dress as though you want the job, as though you already have the job. A visit to the company may help you decide the appropriate clothing to select for your interview. A good standard is to dress a step above how the best-dressed person dresses for a similar job. When in doubt, err on the conservative side.

Your appearance is a statement of who you are. Your clothing and grooming should create the image that will help you get the job offer.

First Impressions

Most of us have heard the expression, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Remember this when preparing to meet with a prospective employer. The picture you create will greatly influence your chances of being hired. Most employers form a first impression during the first seven seconds of a meeting. Not much is said in this short time; early judgment is based strictly on appearance. Furthermore, studies reveal that employers consistently ask the question, "Does the individual look right for the job?"

Clothing

There are no absolute rules regarding dress. Your selection will vary based on your occupation, location and preference. A business suit for a construction job or overalls for an office job would not be appropriate dress. The goal is to look the part, to have your appearance be consistent with your occupation. Neat, clean work clothes would be suitable for assembly, production or warehouse positions. Sales and office positions require business clothes. A conservative suit would be the recommended style for professional and managerial positions.

Common sense and good taste are the best guides in selecting clothing for the interview. Avoid faddish styles and loud colors. Jewelry should be conservative and kept to a minimum. Clothing should fit comfortably. A basic rule is to dress one step above what you would wear on the job. You want the employer to focus on your skills, not your clothes. The clothes you wear affect all your attitude and confidence levels. When people take the time to dress for success, they tend to feel good about themselves. Image alone will not win the job offer, but it will go a long way in building respect.

Grooming

Personal grooming is just as important as what you wear. You may select the right clothes, but neglecting personal hygiene can ruin the image you wish to present. Review the following grooming checklist before meeting with an employer.

ITEM

1. Hair
2. Facial Hair (men only)
3. Fingernails
4. Teeth
5. Breath
6. Body
7. Make-up (women only)
8. Perfumes/Colognes/After-Shave

GROOMING

1. Clean, trimmed and neatly combed or arranged.
2. Freshly shaved; mustache or beard neatly trimmed.
3. Neat, clean and trimmed.
4. Brushed and fresh breath.
5. Beware of foods which may leave breath odor. Beware of tobacco, alcohol and coffee odor. Use a breath mint if needed.
6. Freshly bathed/showered. Use deodorant.
7. Use sparingly and be natural looking.
8. Use sparingly or none at all. Your scent should not linger after you leave.

Goals of Appropriate Dress and Grooming

The primary goal is to feel good about the way you look and project a positive image. When you feel good about yourself, you naturally convey confidence and a positive attitude. These nonverbal messages are as important in the interview as the verbal skills you use in selling your qualifications. Persistence and follow-up are the keys to a successful job search. If you are serious about employment, plan your follow-up. There is no such thing as a wasted effort, and the only dead lead is the one you chose to kill. Situations change and the employer who is not hiring today may be looking for someone with your qualifications in the future.

Quotes About Gratitude (2 Dec 07)

Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality.
...Alfred Painter

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.
...Henry Ward Beecher

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.
...Buddha

To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.
...Albert Schweitzer

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
...Albert Schweitzer

JUST ASKING !

Apa yang akan terjadi apabila kita mengikat roti mentega di punggung kucing dan menjatuhkannya dari meja ? Roti atau kaki kucing yang terlebih dahulu menyentuh lantai?

ARTICLE

"Telling others is the key to changing your wishes into dreams."

You know that "dream" you have?
The one that nobody else knows about?
That isn't a dream. It is a wish! We all have things we secretly wish would happen.

But those aren't dreams. In order to change that wish into a dream, you have to tell somebody about it!

That gets it out into the realm of something you are actually pursuing, rather than something you are just hoping or wishing for.

"But what do I do, just walk up to somebody and say, 'Hey, want to hear my dream?'"

Well, sure, that works. But you could also start the conversation by saying, "I have a question for you: What is your dream?"

Two things will happen. One, you will foster their wish into a dream and secondly, when they finish, they will say, "So, what's yours?" BINGO!

Action Point:
Have at least two conversations today about your dream. Then do the same tomorrow and the next day - with different people!