Surviving the Current Job Market: Just Showing Up Is Not Enough

By Diane Abadi

The Current job market has left many joining the ranks of the unemployed. Unprecedented in our life time, there are millions looking for a job. The market has become over saturated with jobseekers with similar degrees and skill sets. This makes it a buyers market for hiring employees. Employers are looking for employees who will best represent their company’s image or branding.

So, surviving the current job market requires some changes in the way we presently think about things. It requires us to take several steps not just to get noticed but to be remembered as well! How to be unique is not as difficult as it seems.

Just showing up is not enough. Today, employers are looking for a total package. First impressions count! Did you know that 85% of your getting a job, keeping a job and advancing in a job has to do with your soft skills or people skills and not your professional ones?

Are you confident with how you are presenting yourself? Focus on these points to help you create a favorable first impression while interviewing for a job and lasting impressions with co- workers after you get the job.

First Impressions

Whoever said: ”Wherever you go there you are” was correct. Whenever we walk into a room, our physical appearance, clothing, manners and mannerisms are on display. It takes only 15 seconds for others to judge us based on the image we project. Take the time and start your first impression on a professional note by following these suggestions:

Suit Up For Success

Always dress up a notch. Wear a two piece suit. Monochromatic dark colors work the best. It is more professional looking instead of a sport coat and pants.

Good Grooming Counts

Take the time and go for a look that you think fits in with the job you want. Clean shaven. Hair styled. Minimum make-up for women. Avoid Bling. It shifts attention to your jewelry instead of you. Hide the tattoos’ under your clothes. And remember you have to fit into the company’s image not vice versa.

Handshake

The Handshake many times is the only physical contact people have in a business interaction. It sets the tone for the interview or meeting. Shake hands correctly: extend your hand thumbs up, clasp the person’s entire palm, and give two or three pumps from the elbow. Avoid the “wet fish,” the “I really don’t want to meet you” hand shake, and the aggressive “bone crusher” handshake.

Introduce Yourself

As you shake hands, take the opportunity to say the other person’s name and to also repeat your own. “Mr. Duvall, I am Denise Richards; it is a pleasure to meet you.” Everyone loves their name. A person’s name is the sweetest sound they have heard. It flatters them and helps you to remember their name.

Smile

This seems very simple, but your smile tells a lot about you! A smile shows you are approachable and have confidence in yourself! It is amazing how many people misjudge a person based on how they perceive a person to be. If a person is overly serious it gives a message of disinterest in the person you are interacting with.

Make Eye Contact

Direct eye contact is crucial. It shows the interviewer you are interested in what he is saying. However, staring too long makes the person feel uncomfortable. Focusing on the person 40% to 60% of the time is a good rule of thumb.

The Art of Small Talk

What is the big deal about small talk? Plenty! The idea is to connect with the other person. Try to find something in common with the interviewer. By making this connection you will be remembered. Look around his office, any pictures? Perhaps there is a sports picture or a family vacation photo. Do you see any awards? Ask about it and try to find common ground. The interviewer will remember that you went to the same college as he did, or that your son plays select soccer like his daughter.

Follow Up With a Thank You Note

Part of establishing a professional presence is the thank you note. True, you can email, type or voice mail a thank you which is better than doing nothing. But if you really want to stand out, take the time and give something of yourself. Write a thank you note and show appreciation. It is more personal and will be remembered. The protocol for sending one is within 24 hours of the meeting.

Learning the rules of business etiquette is not difficult and will definitely set you apart from the slew of other applicants. It is the best professional development tool you can use to increase your chance of success, especially in an uncertain job market.

Diane Abadi is a graduate of two of the most respected institutions in Protocol and Etiquette training; The Protocol School of Washington, Washington, D.C. and The American School of Protocol, Atlanta, Ga