Dress to impress ... or dress for success

I know I have talked about this before, but when it comes to attending an interview, first impressions count.

Over the last few weeks I have been working with Raphaella who this Wednesday will be meeting with undoubtedly one of this country's leaders in the field she is so keen to move into.

I wouldn't call it a job interview per se ... more like an informational interview where ideally Raphaella will get some advice, guidance, words of wisdom, and perhaps even a few names of other key players in the space. Of course if her meeting results in a job offer that would be 'nice', but she is mature enough not to be getting her hopes up (too high!).

When we last caught up, she asked me what she should wear to the meeting and I immediately explained to her that in a market literally saturated with highly skilled and qualified candidates, the notion of making a lasting first impression has never been more important.

After all you can be the most qualified candidate, you could have a killer covering letter, a CV that is the envy of all other applicants, and you may have even narrowed your interview technique down to a fine art. However if you don’t look the part, or you don’t act the part, the person sitting opposite you may not be convinced enough that you could, in fact, play the part. And when all is said and done, that’s what ultimately counts.

She thought about it for a few seconds and then said, "I'm glad you've said that because this week I dropped a bomb at Cue and I know I will be dressed to impress".

Even in an era of smart or business casual and dress down Fridays you need to remember that you are going for an interview so dress accordingly. By no means am I insisting on a business shirt and tie for the gentlemen or stockings and closed toed shoes for the ladies, since different industries reflect different dress standards. But as a general rule, you should dress at a level above the person you are going to meet and if this means putting on a tie, then so be it!

Even if its jeans day at work it’s never jeans day at an interview.

Unfortunately presentation becomes a major stumbling block for far too many otherwise perfectly suitable candidates.

I once interviewed a candidate who arrived wearing a Charlie Chaplin type hat, a bright lime green short-sleeved shirt, and a bow tie that flashed fluorescent lights every few seconds. Given that I wasn’t recruiting for Cirque du Soleil, how well do you think he went?  

Another tip ... try not to intoxicate the interviewer with an overdose of perfume or aftershave, and ladies, don’t wear so much bling that you cause a distraction as the sun comes through a nearby window creating a mirror ball effect around you.  If you are going for a fashion job (which Raphaella certainly is not), then fashion will be important, but remember unless you are interviewing in an area such as this, then business type dress is far more appropriate.

And finally ... before you arrive at your meeting, make sure you are not chewing gum, make sure you have taken your iPod earphones out, and make sure you switch off your mobile phone.

You only have one chance to make a lasting first impression.

Image courtesy of: canburak

Don't let your age become a stumbling block

Nothing beats a face to face meeting when it comes to working with clients. However from time to time, whether it's due to timing or distance I will "meet" with a client over SKYPE.

Last week I met Christian for the first time on SKYPE. He had been referred to me and when we had looked at our respective schedules it was just going to be easier that way.

Now it's one thing to look at someone's CV or LinkedIn profile and get a general understanding of their background and experience, but seeing them in person (albeit virtually) still adds another dimension to gaining a better insight into their personality.

Once the initial "meet and greet" was out of the way, I asked Christian to briefly tell me a bit about himself.

"I'm old", he said. "I'm so old I remember watching the moon landing on black and white television", he continued before pausing - perhaps waiting for me to respond.

Whilst I thought he'd chosen an interesting way to introduce himself, I didn't really react. But I could tell he was obviously waiting for a response.

To be honest I wasn't really sure what he wanted me to say so I just decided to steer the conversation back to his career, and more specifically to his most recent experience.

But let's just think back to what he said for a moment.

Christian related the concept of being "old" to the fact he could remember watching a major event in history (on black and white television) on July 20th, 1969. Now I didn't want to probe and ask whether he was standing up in a cot wearing nappies at the time, or whether he was five, six or even 12 years old watching Neil Armstrong take his giant step for mankind.

My point is that I wouldn't recommend to anyone opening up a conversation with a recruiter or potential future employer with a reference to the fact you can remember watching an event on TV which took place 43 years ago.

Once I had put the moon landing comment to the side, and chipped away at Christian's career background, I uncovered an incredibly talented individual with skills in on-line marketing and digital customer relationship management that in my opinion would surpass even the most e-marketing savvy Gen Y.

While he may not have realised it at the time, Christian was using his age (and to be honest I still have no idea exactly how old he is ... because it's completely irrelevant!) as a stumbling block for moving on to his next role. 

In the same way that Renée Zellweger says to Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) "You had me at hello", Christian had practically lost me at hello. Remember it's the first 10 - 15 seconds (or your elevator pitch) which will have the most impact on someone considering you for a potential position in their team or organisation.

Christian's experience, skills and knowledge of his niche make him (in my opinion) highly sought after. But by using his age as an obstacle, he could potentially create a self-fulfilling prophecy which would result in people not even giving him a chance talk about his experience.

When you launch (please pardon the space travel pun) into your introduction with a potential new employer or recruiter, age shouldn't even come into the picture.

Image courtesy of: nreddin

What could a flat battery possibly have to do with your career?

This week my car had a flat battery.

Frustrating as it was at the time, if it's only going to happen to me every three years, then it's something I can certainly live with. And it also reinforced the value of being covered for roadside assistance.

It was dark and my car was parked in a quiet side street. When I called for assistance I was told that the wait would be around 90 minutes.

Perhaps patience is something I have been getting better at since turning 40!

The battery technician arrived and had flicked the switch on his head torch before I could even explain what I thought was wrong.

"Yep she sure is dead, mate", he said. "We can either re-charge or we can replace. The choice is yours".

As it turned out, the "re-charge" option would help me get home, but as soon as I switched off the car engine I wouldn't be able to get any further without replacing the battery anyway. So really it was a no brainer.

"Let's just replace it now, please".

With his voltage counter in one hand, his cables in the other, he asked "So what do you do for a crust, mate?"

When I told him what I did, I could hear him laughing with his head still buried under the bonnet of my car.

I didn't really find it all that funny.

Then he stood up with a massive grin on his face and said, "So you probably ask your clients the same question I have to ask all my customers ... 're-charge or replace'!"

We talked for a few minutes and it was clear that Terry was on to something.

When you're feeling flat (as in the case of my car battery) in your job or in your career, perhaps it really is a simple case of either re-charge or replace. Will taking a break from work (perhaps a long overdue holiday) help you re-charge your levels of enthusiasm? Perhaps a change of scenery (working in another department or in another office) will also help you re-charge your energy and passion for what you do.

But if not, and like Terry explained, re-charging will only take you on final short spurt before you shut down again completely, then it's definitely time to replace your job with a new one. And just like the new battery, even if you find yourself totally charged for another three years before you go flat again, then this new role or career move could help you achieve some great things.

So if you feel like you're at a bit of a cross roads, ask yourself if you just need to be re-energised and go ahead and take some annual leave. But if when you get back nothing's changed, then you need to come up with a job replacement strategy ... which will take a bit more than just calling Terry and his head torch!

Perhaps I should come up with a new tag line for my own business ... 

Just like roadside assistance for your career!

Image courtesy of: amcgore

In the end only you know what's right for you ...

Over the years I have been asked on numerous occasions whether it's wrong to quit a job within the first few weeks or even days of starting in a new role, or whether you should really give it a few months before making such a decision.

Naturally there is no right or wrong answer here. And my response is usually that only you know the reasons for making such potentially hasty decision. But as long as you have thought it through carefully, then whatever choice you make is the right one.

I was asked my thoughts again this week by Nikki - a highly intelligent lawyer who unfortunately just found herself at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Here's part of an email I received from her during the week:

"I started [there] a couple of weeks ago but decided to discontinue seven days in. I worried endlessly that this decision was the end of my career, that I was throwing an amazing opportunity down the drain, and that I had ruined my career prospects. I also beat myself up over this decision because I worried about what other people would think (pretty silly I know!) and hence kept my decision from friends and colleagues.

However I realised that this decision was the best one for me at the time. The job was making me anxious and I didn't care about what I was doing any more. I always care a lot about what I do, so this frame of mind came as a shock to me.

There were also elements of the firm that didn't sit so well with me and this, combined with the expressly stated 'need to impress' (emphasised by pretty much everyone at the firm) just left me sitting at my desk literally in a paralysed panic, not being able to concentrate or function properly. So the decision to leave so soon after starting in the role seemed sensible at the time ..."

There is no question at all in my mind that Nikki made the right decision.

I personally feel that there is an entire world outside of commercial law waiting for Nikki and I hope she also recongises that soon. But in the meantime it was without doubt the best thing she could have done.

Firstly, as long as you are able to clearly articulate your reasons for leaving a job to a recruiter or to a potential new employer, then quitting a job will never ruin your career prospects.

Secondly, you should never worry about what other people will think as long as you know that you have made the right decision for yourself.

And finally it should never get to the stage where you start to feel anxious, sick or find yourself in a state of 'paralysed panic' and unable to function because of your desire to impress your manager, peers or anyone else for that matter.

It's just not worth it.

We all spend enough hours during the week at work as it is. And I know I have said this before, but if it ever gets to the stage (for whatever reason) that you are not enjoying it, it's making you feel sick, you've stopped caring about what you do, or you are just there to impress others, then like all the 'evictees' on the reality TV show Big Brother ...

IT'S TIME TO GO ...

Image courtesy of: ninja IX

Bon Jovi's influence on my new years resolution ...

I decided to ease back into work mode this week.

Not meeting up with any clients yet ... just working for a few hours each day from home - but still getting out and about to enjoy the Summer that has finally decided to make an appearance in Sydney.

One afternoon I was getting on with some writing, when one of the other residents in my complex decided to crank up their music. Now normally I like to work in complete silence, but it was a stunning day outside and so I kept my balcony doors wide open, and chose to keep working ... while every now and then singing along to the music.

About an hour later the music got louder.

It was Bon Jovi's "No Apologies".

I sung along to myself for a few minutes, and then decided to finish up for the day and head out to run some errands. 

At the supermarket, a woman came hurtling around one of the aisles ramming her trolley into mine.

"Sorry", I said, before continuing up the aisle.

A few minutes later at the fruit shop checkout, the girl at the register said, "That comes to $31.85".

I handed her a $50.00 note.

"You wouldn't have $1.85 would you?", she asked.

"Sorry I don't", I replied.

Suddenly Jon Bon Jovi's voice popped back into my head ... "NO APOLOGIES!" ...

Why had I apologised to the crazy woman racing through the aisles at Coles when she had rammed her trolley into mine? Why did I then say sorry for not having more exact change at the fruit shop? It wasn't my fault at all?

I couldn't get the song out of my head ... 

How many emails had I sent over the last few days with the opening line "Sorry for taking so long to come back to you ... I have been away for a week with no access to email".

How many people had called my phone only to hear my voicemail greeting "Sorry I can't take your call at the moment, but please leave a detailed message and I will come back to you as soon as I can"?

There was nothing at all for me to apologise about.

Realistically I should have told the trolley woman off there and then. I should have just said "No I don't have $1.85" to the girl at the fruit shop and just waited for my change. But more importantly my emails should probably not have even made reference to any delay in response or to the fact that I had been away.

My new years resolution for 2012 came to my like an epiphany.

NO MORE SORRY ... unless of course I do something wrong.

As soon as I got back to my car, I actually changed my voicemail message on my mobile phone - removing the word "Sorry" from the greeting.

"Sorry I can't take your call right now ..."

Sorry? For what exactly?

Nobody should be expected to be available 24 x 7 to answer the phone!

Next time someone bumps into me on the bus, I won't say anything at all. Next time a client misses an appointment, I won't send my standard email "Sorry we couldn't catch up today. Please give me a call to reschedule". If someone calls while I am in a meeting I won't say "Sorry I missed your call earlier" when I call them back. I will just say "Hi, it's Paul returning your call from earlier today".

I've always been a bit of a Bon Jovi fan.

Image courtesy of: qnibert00