Your Image is Talking About You

Years ago when I got my first promotion into management, many people were surprised when they heard the announcement. The surprise was not that I got the promotion. The surprise turned out to be that most people thought I was already a manager long before I ever got the promotion, the title and the money. My image told them I was a manager even thought I was an hourly employee at the time. I heard somewhere that if you dress for the job you want, you actually will get the job. That is what I did way back then. I looked at how the managers dressed and I dressed like them. I ate lunch with them and I did my best to build a relationship with them. And it worked. It took me 16 months from my first day to the day I got the promotion and I never looked back.

Your image is talking about you too. People are making assessment about you. They are forming opinions about who you are before you ever communicate one word. What’s your image talking about? Just like we do judge a book by the cover, you will be assessed by your image.

Here are some things to keep in mind when interviewing or networking with people:

1. Do you dress like the professional you say you are or do you look uncomfortable in your clothes? Your clothes should portray the image you want to communicate. Don’t wear casual clothes when the occasion calls for professional attire.

2. Gestures will talk about you to hiring managers. Nervous energy that is not managed can tell all kinds of things about you. If you play with your hair, bite your nails, or drum your fingers on the table, you will be communicating how nervous you are to your audience.

3. Your written communication will introduce you to a potential hiring manager or recruiter before you ever have an opportunity to say hello. Your resume, cover letter and application will do the talking for you, so spelling mistakes, gaps and coffee stains will tell them all they need to know about you.

4. Your hair will shout out a message about you too. If you need a hair cut, get one. Having your hair standing up on the top of your head may scare someone. Neat and well groomed is a great rule of thumb.

Professional attire, confidence, high energy without being over the top will convey positive messages. Smiles and good eye contact invite others into your world. If your image is going to talk about you, how about giving your image some direction so that the image you want to convey is accurate and appropriate.

Image Credit: sxc.hu