The job search process is not just about your résumé and the way you answer interview questions. There are many more gucci shoes details about you that weigh into an employer’s decision to show you the money or show you the door. In fact, whether it is conscious or subconscious, a potential employer begins sizing you up at your very first point of contact, be it via e-mail, telephone or in person. That’s why you need to pay attention to the entire job search process and remember you are selling a very important product: You.
A job search is just like a sales process. You need to convince an employer that you have a product that is better than the others, worth the money and will pay off in the long run. That’s why it is crucial to market yourself every step of the way. For a job seeker, this means that everything about you plays a role in building your professional image, from your first contact to the final handshake sealing the deal.
Here are six rules to ensure you are marketing yourself as effectively as possible:
Make your first contact count.
You’ve likely heard it a thousand times, but take heed when job hunting – you never get a second chance to make a first impression. This means that the casual e-mail you are sending to ask for more information is not really casual at all. It’s actually the start of your audition Think you don’t have to double check your spelling in your e-mail or formally acknowledge the recipient? Think again. Every contact you make with the company, including e-mail and voice mail, is a chance to let your professionalism shine.
Make sure you are always “on.”
When you are out of a job, it can be easy to fall into a rut where you stay in your sweats all day and watch TV. Whether you are reading the morning paper, running errands grocery shopping or at a PTA meeting, you never know when you will be presented with a “you” marketing opportunity. Will you sound like an enthusiastic, motivated professional when you get a phone call from a prospective employer early in the morning? Will you make a good impression if you run into an influential person at the coffee shop? Don’t run the risk of marring your reputation by turning off your professionalism.
Packaging is important.
If you want to sell yourself as the best choice for the job, you must dress like it. Just think about how you make purchasing decisions as a consumer. When you are comparing products, which are you more likely to choose: the product with tattered or outdated packaging, or the product that looks brand new, state-of-the-art and visually appealing? When you are selling product “you,” your appearance is just as important. Dress in your best conservative suit, shine your shoes and leave other flashy details – like bulky jewelry and exotic nail polish – at home. In the professional world, many people do judge a book by its cover.
Work the room.
The answers you give to interview questions are important, but the other subtle things you do in an interview also help craft your image. Take the initiative when you walk into a room and introduce yourself with a smile and a firm handshake. Make eye contact when you are in the interview, and demonstrate you are paying attention to your interviewee. You can also go far by picking up on clues in the other person’s gucci bags office about his or her likes, dislikes and interests, and acting accordingly. Does he or she have a college memento on the desk? If so, try to strike up a conversation about the school. You can have all the right answers, but they will go nowhere without a little charm and personality.
Treat everyone like they’re CEO.
Remember that all contact with a company is important. Are you working hard to impress the CEO, but snubbing his or her assistant? If you want to effectively market yourself, pay attention to the contact you have with everyone.
Keep yourself top of mind.
If you were marketing a new brand of cola, you would do everything you could to keep the brand in front of consumers. Repetition works, so make sure your name comes up repeatedly. Write thank-you letters. Call to follow up. Attend networking functions. Your job isn’t done just because the interview is over. In fact, sometimes the marketing you do away from the interview can make all the difference. Obesity is one of the nation’s greatest public health problems. According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese. Studies show that overweight Americans suffer medical ailments more often than their slimmer peers – from diabetes and hypertension to degenerative conditions like arthritis and many types of cancer.
And if that news isn’t enough to get you on the treadmill chew on this: Studies also show that out-of-shape Americans earn less on average than their co-workers do. Not only can being fit cost you less in medical bills and insurance, it can earn you more on the job.
Al Mientus, an executive recruiter for Pinnacle Partnership, says employers are “significantly less inclined” to hire the overweight. “It has to do with an employer’s perception of work ethic,” he says. “Employers believe that if you were hard-working and ambitious you would stay in shape.”
The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) states that only one in 11 top male executives is overweight. The message is clear: Those who are fit enough to climb are more likely to make it to the top of the ladder.
Academic studies provide further proof that being in shape can boost your earning potential. A University of Michigan study reported that the total net worth of moderately to severely obese women is as much as 60 percent below average. And a Cornell study by John Cawley, professor of policy analysis, found that overweight Caucasian women earn 9 percent less than those who are slim.
So will being out of shape keep you from getting a job? Another Cawley study indicates for mid-level and entry level jobs, “…there is no effect of weight on the probability of employment or sector of occupation.” But carrying some extra pounds can hurt your chances of climbing the ladder. “At the executive level, being overweight will hinder your chances of employment,” Mientus says.
If building a better body will help you build a better career, what steps should you take for a job-boosting physique? Mientus tells his clients to approach body improvement like they approach improving their job skills. Here are his suggested solutions
Define your goals: “Just like identifying that you have to improve certain work skills, you must also identify what health skills you need to improve,” Mientus says. Whether it’s altering your diet or getting more aerobic exercise, even building muscle mass, it’s important to set goals for improvement.
Schedule healthy activities: “You have to make appointments for exercise and eating right, just like you schedule time in your day for meetings or training that will boost your skills or network,” Mientus says.
Find a mentor: “The best mentor is one that is at your workplace with you – someone who fits exercise into their work day,” Mientus says. If you can’t find someone at work who can lead by example, a spouse or friend is also a good choice. “Someone who will see you every day to help remind and guide you is very helpful,” he adds.
Dress the part: Once you start to get in better shape, choose clothes that tastefully show off your new physique. “Fit people naturally look more confident, but good clothes that fit well Gucci handbags accentuate that confident look,” Mientus notes.
So on your next lunch break, grab a workout with the sales manager and then join her for an Evian and chicken quesadilla (hold the sour cream). Your thinner body, and fatter wallet, will thank you!
