I Did It Anyways Natalies Story - When I Grow Up

I Did It Anyways Natalies Story - When I Grow Up This series used to be called The Recession is Bullhonkey series, where I shared stories of those who had gotten hired and/or started their own businesses (or sometimes both!) since 2008. In 2016, though, it felt irrelevant, so I’ll now be sharing these made-my-dream-career-happen-despite-challenges-and-adversity stories under the title I Did It Anyways, because by golly, they did! Natalie Fisher  took a layoff and turned it into a career coaching and resume writing business. She walks us through that fateful day by sharing her story below. The Lead Up It was nearly 3:00 pm on a Thursday, time for the weekly all-hands staff meeting where 60 of my co-workers gathered to hear departmental updates. The IT crew set up the big-screen TV to connect us with a dozen more colleagues in the Vancouver office. On a typical Thursday, we’d all trickle into the kitchen, grab a cookie, and listen to the CEO’s announcements, followed by updates from the department heads. But this Thursday was different. My normal routine on Thursdays was to check in with my front desk staff and chat with them for a few minutes before the meeting. As I stepped out of the elevator, I felt an eerie vibe right away. Just before I got to reception, two very tall, thin men in suits walked abruptly past the front desk without saying a word, completely ignoring our company’s sign-in policy. Our Chief of Security was with them, so I thought this was especially weird. My staff were shocked and super confused, they didn’t know what to do. I came up to the desk and they said in a panic: “Those men just walked in! They walked right past us without saying anything, and they didn’t sign in! What’s going on?” Of course, I had no clue either. I told them I didn’t know, and that we would likely find out in a few moments at the weekly meeting. The Main Event We headed to the kitchen with our ‘spidey senses’ going off like crazy. Some people were there that we’d never seen before: a tall, thin, white-haired, older (but quite fit) lady, along with what was presumably her team. I heard whisperings from a few of my coworkers. “What are those people doing here?” “Who are those people?” Even the Chief Operating Officer was asking around. I looked at the big screen where our Vancouver staff were gathered via tele-conference, and noticed that there was a group of strange people in their office as well. Our CEO stood up at the front to speak. The first words out of his mouth were: “Today, we are shutting down operations of Seeker Solutions.” I don’t remember what he said after that; it’s all pretty much a blur. I saw he teared up as he continued to speak for a bit. A million thoughts ran fast through my head. Anything he was saying was superceded by all of the internal thoughts and questions racing through my brain. After That I felt a flurry of emotions right at that moment, but I tried to keep myself calm, composed and centered as best I could. I was sitting at the very front of the room, and I looked behind me to see all of my coworkers. All I remember was seeing tears, mascara running down faces, and a few people hugging. The next thing I remember was the lady with the white hair at the front of the room, explaining what would happen next. She offered to answer any questions, and one of my staff members asked, “Who will let all the people we’ve been dealing with know that we’ve been shut down?” The lady replied, “That would be a good question for the CEO,” and she turned around to look for him, but he was gone. I remember feeling anger towards this woman, acting as if she knew how we felt, reassuring us that she knew what we were going through and to keep calm as she and her team helped us through this transition. (Yeah right, I thought…) On a brighter note, something that I remember clearly was Carlos. Carlos was kind of the annoying ‘class clown.’ Some people loved him; some people wished he’d shut up. We had been planning a staff chili dog day before the upcoming long weekend, and I guess he was pretty excited about it. After the lady had finished speaking, he ran cheerfully up to the front of the room, grabbed the microphone and said, “Awww, well, I guess this means we won’t be having chili dogs now,” in true Carlos style. Everyone laughed as he broke the stunned silence. Then he gave a short, warm, and fuzzy speech about how it had been such a great time for him, working with all of us, and how he would miss our smiling faces every day. Several people stayed in the kitchen for a while, doing whatever they needed to do to handle their mixed emotions and saying their goodbyes. I saw a lot of strong faces and a lot of teary eyes. Everyone grabbed their severance and information packages at the back of the room. They were arranged in alphabetical order on a long table, with the team of people who were ‘handling the shutdown’ standing guard. (At least that part was sort of well organized.) Word got around for everyone to head over immediately to one of the local bars. At the time, alcohol (for a lot of people) seemed like a great idea. The group of us who were there spent time reminiscing, worrying, talking, and reflecting about what had just happened and what would be next for all of us. In Hindsight After the company closed, weeks and months later, I saw many people floundering, looking for work. There were super talented people that took ages to find a new position. There were other people who found one right away. Then there was a guy who reeked of such desperation that “he would do anything for anyone,” and we all ended up avoiding him if we saw him on the street. I realized that we just didn’t know what to do at the time. Everyone was panicked, crying, scared and spinning in circles wondering what would happen next? How would they pay their bills? Who would hire them? What would happen if they didn’t find something? Uncertainty all around! All these concerns are normal, but they don’t need to be there when you have a process that you know works. This type of thing can happen at anytime, to one person or to a group of people. The universe requires no word of warning. After this happened it became clear to me that I wanted to be the one to help everyone stay calm and map out a clear path in times of panic. I wanted to create something that inspired people and motivated them. The service hired to do the shutdown was paid by the company. It was clear that they were available to help us too, but their help made me feel like I was in grade school again and that I had to do what the teacher told me to. No freedom to map out my own course or make choices that were best for me, without the judgment of the ‘teacher’ who I felt was actually holding us back. I ditched that help after getting into an argument with the career counselor who told me never to apply to companies not hiring. In this experience I realized, I needed to do this. (I needed to be that career counselor lady who didn’t know what she was talking about) except for I would actually help people. I’d love to hear from you; have you ever been through a company shutting down? Or found yourself out of work suddenly?   What was the worst thing, or the best thing, that came out of it for you? Looking forward to hearing your comments! Natalie lives in Victoria, BC. Canada. She is a career coach and resume writer. She’s worked for companies like Amazon, FLIR Systems xMatters. What led her to pursue career coaching was the view that navigating the world of ‘career’ for a job seeker is an ambiguous task. Natalie loves defining the unclear. She strives to help people navigate the unwritten rules of conventional ‘job searching’ while making sure people stay true to themselves while they’re succeeding. Visit her at nataliefisher.ca to learn more.   LAST DAY to snag the replay of Leave Your Job Launch Your Biz in 2017: a 2-hour Planning Session!

Resume Writing Services - Why Pay More?

Resume Writing Services - Why Pay More?When you hire a resume writing service, you have to be prepared to pay more for the results you get. And while a good resume may be able to make a difference in your job search, a poor one will definitely hurt your chances.One reason why you pay more for your services is because professional resume writers know how to pull together all the information they can into one good page. They know which points need to be emphasized. They also know when to use their time wisely to make your potential employer know you have what it takes to do the job.The best writers are most likely to highlight your difficult skills. They know that employers will always look for a candidate who possesses some personal qualities such as perseverance and optimism. A good writer will tell you about those qualities, but also make sure you include them in your resume. That way, you can really impress your potential employer with your ability to overcome tough situations and put forth the effort needed to achieve anything you want.Having an attractive resume is also a plus for your chances. Of course, you want to put your best foot forward. But a resume written by a competent writer will create an impression that will reflect your talents. It will also show your interest in the position and your desire to do the work required to succeed.Another reason why it's better to pay for a good resume is because hiring a service is usually cheaper than having one done by yourself. The main reason is that you are the one who has to put the job application together. There are no additional costs that will come with doing the work yourself.Even if you are paying for a better resume, you can probably find someone who would do a good job for less. There are also many companies online where you can submit your resume and get a recommendation before they actually make a decision.If you know you need help, there are many companies online who offer services as a result of those same jobs. You can submit your resume on the company's website and they will compile a rough draft for you. You can choose to go ahead and send it in.

What To Do When Youre Not Passionate About Your Job

What To Do When You're Not Passionate About Your Job Q: I feel “meh” about working â€" am I supposed to be more passionate? I read all the letters here, and it feels like everybody loves their job and are passionate about it. Need to be honest: I don’t love mine. I fell into it and just kept going with it because it paid decently and allowed me to not to have to worry about what I was going to do after college. Now, 15 years later… I feel almost stuck, like it might be too late to change what I am doing with my life (and to be honest, I have no idea what I want to do with my life; I work to live, and that’s fine by me). However, I am okay with that. I am not particularly ambitious with my work. Middle management is fine with me, and I dream of the day I can retire. I like my coworkers, my job is fine. However, I feel guilty that I am ok with “fine,” like I should I be ambitious, and wanting more, more, more. Am I the only one out there who doesn’t really love their work and their job? Who just… does it because they have to? A: You’re so very, very normal! In fact, as far as I know, you’re actually in the majority. Most people work to live, aren’t especially passionate about their jobs, and aren’t super ambitious. Most people work to get food and housing, not for emotional or spiritual fulfillment. There are people who are passionate about their work, but they’re the lucky exceptions, not the norm. Keep in mind, too, that that the people who read and comment on a work-related advice site are more likely to be particularly interested in work and career issues than the general population. So you’re not necessarily seeing a representative sampling here. If you are reasonably content and able to earn a living that allows you to support your life outside of work (and it sounds like you are), go on doing what you’re doing. Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayMuteCurrent Time  0:00/Duration  0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type  LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time  -0:00  SharePlayback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedAudio TrackFullscreenThis is a modal window. This video is either unavailable or not supported in this browser Error Code: MEDIA_ERR_SRC_NOT_SUPPORTED Technical details : No compatible source was found for this media. Session ID: 2019-12-30:49df85231e04673049c0222c Player Element ID: jumpstart_video_1 OK Close Modal DialogBeginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.PlayMuteCurrent Time  0:00/Duration  0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type  LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time  -0:00  Playback Rate1xFullscreenClose Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Read next: How to Learn to Love Your Job Again When You’re Feeling Burned Out Q: My manager showed me a job ad from another company and encouraged me to apply for it. Should I be worried? My manager recently showed me a current vacancy in the papers and encouraged me to apply if I want to. But I’ve only been employed in this organization for four months and I’m still being trained. Is this a good or bad sign? A: I don’t know! It could be that your manager is one of those people who’s always on the lookout for development opportunities for other people â€" although she should have thought about how an employee would take that kind of thing, especially a new employee. Or she could know something that you don’t â€" that your job is unstable in some way. But instead of speculating and worrying, why not just ask her? I’d say this: “I’ve been wondering about why you showed me that job opening the other day. I’m really happy in my current role and hope to stay here for a long time, but our conversation made me wonder if you have concerns about whether it’s the right fit.” These questions are adapted from ones that originally appeared on Ask a Manager. Some have been edited for length. More From Ask a Manager: “Do what you love” is not great advice When a job application asks if your current employer can be contacted Should I be worried that my manager doesn’t return calls for references?

How To Figure Out Whats Next In Your Career - Work It Daily

How To Figure Out Whats Next In Your Career - Work It Daily Figuring out what to do next in your life is a problem everyone faces at one point or another. If you're just out of school, or you've gone as far as possible with your current form of employment, it's only logical to take a look at what will do next. There are a few steps you may want to consider before you decide what to do next, especially if you aren't quite sure of what you want to happen next. Once you have searched through these sources, you can begin to understand what is next on your path through life. Find out how to figure out what's next in your career: Consider what you want, not what you think you SHOULD want. A lot of people sit miserably in jobs they hate for most of their lives because they followed the career path they thought they ought to have, rather than one they wanted to take. For some people, money is all they need, but if there are some extra things you need for job satisfaction, these need to be taken into account. What are the hours you're looking for? Do you have any special conditions? Does your prospective employment allow you to fit to what you need to be happy in your work? If not, is there a way to find one that will? When considering your career path, you need to figure out what you want to be doing, not just what job you want to have. Play to your skills. Sit down and figure out what you're good at, every talent and skill you have, and all the ways you can apply them. Take the time to write them all out and focus on exactly what you can do. Get some help from friends if you can in order to figure out what you want to be doing for a living. There are ways to apply even the strangest skills. Only when you know all the things you can do can you figure out where you need to go next. Consider all sources. It's important to consider every piece of guidance when deciding what you want to do next. You need to figure out where you want to go and what you want to do. You need to take every possible career path. Consult friends, family, guidance counselors, really give yourself time to think. If those don't quite work out, then be sure to consider every source. If the normal cannot give you what you need, then perhaps you need to look to the stars. Some believe that astrology can help you track your future life and figure out what you should be doing. The secrets to the future are as simple as a visit to http://www.itsinthestarsonline.com. The future is a hard thing to deal with. There are many critical junctures in a persons life and every new job choice gives the opportunity to find what you want to do for the rest of your life. Even if the next choice of job isn't the big one, something enjoyable with a decent pay check is far better than the alternatives. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts 5 Signs You Chose The Wrong Career Path 3 Very Real Reasons You Should Make A Career Shift 5 Dynamic Ways To Reinvent Your Career Path   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

The No. 1 Way to Meet More Working Moms

The No. 1 Way to Meet More Working Moms If you read the testimonies of most working moms, two things become abundantly clear. First, community matters in building a balance between career and motherhood and finding your way through the unique challenges of working parenthood. But also, finding that community can be hard. Between working, changing diapers and doing the things that make you feel like you, when are you supposed to source friends who are also working mothers? And where is all of this supposed to happen?ansicht are common questions asked amongst mothers, according to coach and the Working Mothers Mentor podcast host Julie Finn, founder of Traditional work-life balance strategies focus on time management hacks and, often, learning how to play small, she said. I help high-achieving women as they play big and make bold move.Want to learn more before you dive in? Keep reading to learn more about the group and the benefits of joining their community.Who are you?Im a geschftli cher umgang and executive coach, leadership expert and host of the Working Mothers Mentor podcast. Im on a mission to inspire, engage and equip ambitious women to excel as leaders without burning out. Im the mom of three awesome kids, a wife and a dog mom to our Boykin Spaniel, Dee Dee.What inspired you to start this group?After getting my BA and MBA from Stanford, a Masters from Oxford and working in some of the worlds leading companies, I found that the intersection of career and motherhood felt like new territory that my degrees and work-experience didnt create a roadmap for. When I couldnt find the robust, personalized resources I needed, I decided to create them to help other women. What Ive found in my nearly 10 years working as a coach and in the over 75 interviews Ive conducted with executives, change-makers, and other leaders for the Working Mothers Mentor podcast, is that traditional work-life balance strategies focus on time management hacks and, often, learning how to pl ay small. But I want women to be equipped to be both bold and balanced. I help high-achieving women as they play big and make bold moves, while also cultivating work-life balance.Who is this group best suited for?The Bold and Balanced Working Moms Group is for women who want to rock their careers or grow profitable businesses without having to sacrifice their well-being and family life. The group is a safe space where we share strategies, tools, best-practices and advice. We are creating a supportive community for women leaders who want to talk about the challenges, mom guilt, dropped balls, frayed relationships and utter exhaustion that often come with being a working mom.Is there an IRL (in real life) version of your group?There is an IRL version of the Bold and Balanced Working Moms group kind of. For women who want to go deeper in crafting a balanced life on the own terms, I have a virtual small-group program where women come to get equipped, refreshed and supported. New cohort s start regularly and its a great way for women going through the same challenges to access expert advice, a sounding hauptplatine and a community.What part of FGB Groups are you most excited about?Im thrilled to be leading the Bold and Balanced Working Moms Group on Fairygodboss. I think the Fairygodboss Groups create a unique opportunity for working women to connect with others leaders on a similar journey.If you could get one celebrity to join your group, who would it be and why?Oh, Im not sure I can pick just one. I would be beyond excited and honored to have Michelle Obama, Arianna Huffington, Serena Williams and Reese Witherspoon in the Bold and Balanced Working Moms Group (and on my podcast).If you could describe the vibe of your group in three words or less, what would the words be?Brave, equipped and whole.How can the FGB community get involved with your group?I welcome all women no matter where you are on your career or family journey to join us. Working moms are artists and creators. They have businesses or corporate jobs. Some may focus primarily on care-giving responsibilities. Working moms have kids, but they also can have pets or aging parents and friends or family with medical challenges, or all of the above and then some. Any ambitious woman who wants to lead with purpose and show up in her life, career and business on her own terms should join us

Key Pieces of Section of a Resume

Key Pieces of Section of a Resume The Dos and Donts of Section of a Resume On occasion youll be requested to send your resume cover letter for a contact in the area of the prototyp distinct document. If youre requesting to acquire work away from the usa, start employing a template for a CV as an alternate to a resume. Make sure you make the information youre looking for. Your resume will supply the particulars of your professional experience. How to Get Started with Section of a Resume? The tischordnung of your skills section is also a rather important matter to take into account. You may want to refrain from repeating something similar in more than 1 section. If your section is getting to be a bland collection of empty words, change class. A Key Skills section, on the flip side, is listed at the very top of a resume. The Downside Risk of Section of a Resume Only speaking, its a work description. It is essential you tailor your summary statement to the particular job p osting. For example, if you try to apply for a Chinese-English interpreting job, you have to be fluent in both languages otherwise you would just not qualify for the position. You are going to receive awesomely optimized resumes and youll make your day-to-day life simpler Ok, I Think I Understand Section of a Resume, Now Tell Me About Section of a Resume No matter where you include your skills section on your resume, you can be confident that the hiring manager will find it and definitely likely to ask about doing it. The job posting also needs a candidate that has a proven capacity to rate the skills of different nurses. Locating a new job isnt just about the current moment. Sooner or later, attempt to keep in mind there is more to obtaining a superior first job than the normal great restart. The Tried and True Method for Section of a Resume in Step by Step Detail Your Resume is your main advertising tool. Sending a traditional resume for each and every job isnt the appro priate method. Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Section of a Resume Is Wrong If one of these categories is a region in which you excel, visit its precise page to learn how resume skills may be used to your benefit. The Education section will change based on the degree of education attained. If youre searching for your very first job since leaving an educational institution, information about your education ought to be on top of your resume. You may need to add education and other details. The Section of a Resume Game The skills section of your resume is the ideal place to list the particular skills that make you a prime candidate for those jobs you desire. As you proceed through the list of skills above, make a distinct list with the skills which you already possess. In a couple of sentences, you will want to highlight your most relevant abilities and core competencies that are unique to you as a candidate and that are related to the job which youre applying for. On the flip side, soft abilities, also called interpersonal or social abilities, are those that you have as personal qualities or you get through professional experiences. The Fight Against Section of a Resume There are a couple different forms of skill sections and formatting options which you should think about when crafting your resume. Ever since your skill section is just a list of the absolute most useful job skills, there is not any need to write in sentences here. There are styles of preparing your skills section that may still show you in the ideal light. It provides a window into how much capability you can bring to the company.

How to Make A Great First Impression

How to Make A Great First Impression In the Concise Oxford Dictionary, image is described as the character or reputation of a person or thing as generally perceived. Within seconds of meeting you, based on a single observed physical trait or behavior, people will assume to know everything about you (Social Psychology by H. Andrew Michener, John D. Delamater and Daniel J. Myers). Furthermora, according to research by Dr. Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, appearance and body language accounts for fifty-five percent of an invaluable first impression. The Relationship between Image and How You Are PerceivedSince light travels faster than sound, you are seen before you are heard. This is why, before uttering a word your visual image will say a multitude about you as an individual (your perceived level of intelligence, competence, affability, self-esteem, confidence, power, beliefs and success) and about the or ganization you represent (its philosophy, culture, and standard of service).The National Research Council of Canadas Caroline Dunn and Lucette Charette found that, People are affected by your appearance, whether or elend they realize it, and whether or not they think appearance is important.I work in a field that is devoted to assessing people, states Kathryn Ricker, 30, Statistician, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey. One of the concepts we talk about is known as the halo effect. That means that if we know certain positive things about a person, we tend to havea generally positive impression of that person, sometimes even in spite of evidence to the contrary. What Im realizing is that the halo effect also extends to a persons appearance. I think that is why a positive first visualimpression is so important. If someone is nicely dressed and looks well put-together, we have greater confidence in his or her abilities even before he or she has said a word. If that is t he case, why not always have your halo looking its shiniest?The Relationship between Appearance and Interview SuccessA recent study, conducted by an employment law firm, Peninsula, asked businesses in the United Kingdom what interview habit they found most annoying and found that over a quarter were upset by unsuitable clothing or appearance.Pamela Monticelli, 50, Senior Recruiter for Sovereign Bank in Toms River, New Jersey, believes, Especially in the financial industry, which tends to be a more conservative environment, a lot of young people dont understand that we are looking for someone to represent the company. Your appearance is not just representative of you you will also be representing the company the way we want it to be represented. She adds, I have raised four teenagers and every one of them has, at some point, gotten a piercing or tattoo and said, If I am are going to work for XYZ Company they need to accept me for who I am. My children need to understand that at some point they might have to modify their appearance to fit into a professional environment.Adds Meghan Meyer, 31, Human Resources Manager for The Mercadien Group in Princeton, New Jersey, A comprehensive and well designed resume will get you to the phone screening process. An articulate person, who speaks confidently about his or her skill sets, will land an interview. But it is how you are perceived during the interview that will leave the lasting impression.The Relationship between Clothing and How You Perceive YourselfClothing is an inner cue affecting your self-image. Feeling good about how you look can make you feel good about yourself, thus increasing your personal presence.Karen Dixon, 42, Supervisor, The Mercadien Group, Princeton, New Jersey, indicates, Dressing in a professional yet stylish manner can give you a tremendous feeling of confidence that is exhibited to others through your attitude and actions.The opposite is true when we just dont feel right about how were dresse d.The Relationship between Clothing and BehaviorWhen you wear more powerful looking clothing (e.g. professional business attire, a suit, darker colors, etc.) and clothing that is appropriate for your profession, it changes your mindset switching from relaxed mode to professional mode. This positive change in attitude is reflected in body language and behavior (e.g. better posture, firmer handshake, maintaining eye contact, sticking to business, etc.), giving you greater visual power.The converse is true for more insignificant or inappropriate clothing choices, such as welcheshed out colors or informal ensembles where more traditional clothing choices are the order of the day. Without you even knowing it, people will take the liberty of interpreting what you are saying via your body language and will judge and respond toward you accordingly.Jackson Lewis, a law firm that specializes in personnel issues, polled more than 1000 human resource executives who implemented a dress down pol icy. They reported a thirty percent increase in flirtatious behavior, contributing to an increase in sexual harassment lawsuits.The Relationship between How You Dress and Your Professional GoalsAn indifferent professional image can adversely affect your professional goals and your organizations bottom line. However, a well-defined and consistent professional image can improve the perception of your professional abilities.Emily Oswald, 22, Account Manager, TrailGraphix, Washington, D.C., in her first job out of college, states, After three months with my company, I was promoted. Out of 300 people in my company, and 35 who hold the same job, I am the youngest. When I meet with clients, typically fifty-year-old attorneys, I dress professionally. There is nothing comfortable about wearing a suit and heels but it does affect how you carry yourself and how you are perceived. Dressing professionally has definitely helped me move up quickly in my company. The first impression, and the secon d and the third, are important.The Relationship between Dress and Success for Working WomenWhile appearance for both men and women can be a key to success, a survey by Women Work found that seventy-five percent of respondents believe that appearance affects how women are perceived at work more than their male counterparts. Nearly eighty percent of respondents said that clothes, hairstyle and makeup make a significant difference in ones perception and confidence that a woman has the skills and knowledge to perform her job.The Relationship between Local Corporate Culture and Global Corporate CultureMarkets differ from country to country, state to state and town to town. Where on paper the same dress code policy applies, employees often find that when they travel within their company, they face dress culture shock. This leads to confusion and awkwardness. However, global, cutting-edge organizations understand that employees are an extension of their corporate brand and that, irrespecti ve of where they set up offices, it is vital that the corporate brand is expressed uniformly.10 Thing Employees Can DoDress Appropriately. In a more conservative environment (banking, accounting, law, etc.) dressing alluringly can be perceived as provocative, sabotaging your chances of attracting the kind of attention that wins you credibility. Likewise, in a more artistic industry, dressing in a dark colored, boxy suit will cause people to doubt your creativity.Dress Consistently. Dressing appropriately one day and inappropriately the next sends mixed messages causing confusion for you and the observer.Dress with Special Attention to Color. Research shows that color is a powerful communicator that has emotional and physiological affects on the wearer and observer. Determine what your best colors are and use this information when putting together your professional wardrobe.Dress for Your Body Type. Find out your body type and the best fit for your shape. Clothes that are cut for som ebody elses silhouette can make you look disheveled.Dress in the Best Quality You Can Afford. For the discerning wearer, cheap chic can be felt, making you uncomfortable (itchy fabric, poor fit) for the discerning viewer, it can be spotted a mile off. Aim to build a core wardrobe with quality rather than quantity.Dress with Finesse. Never neglect to cultivate and maintain impeccable grooming habits. Little is more off-putting than body and food odors, greasy hair, overdone makeup, torn pantyhose or socks etc. Your attention to detail will show that you care about all the components that make up the big picture. Dress It up a Notch. The more client-oriented your role, the more professional your appearance needs to be. No one wants their banker to look like they just got out of high school or as if theyre heading out for a day at the beach.Dress into the 21st Century. Throw away neon colored clothes, platforms and loud prints. You dont have to look like you just stepped off the pages of Vogue or GQ, but keeping your wardrobe up-to-date shows that youre current rather than old fashioned.Dress for The Part You Want to Play. If you look content with the position you are at, thats exactly where youll stay. Jeanine Rhonstein, Co-Chair, Princeton Community Works, indicates, Often opportunities present themselves to you, not the other way around. If you dress according to where you want others to see you heading, you may find more doors opening.And David Watson, 39, Vice President, TrainRight Solutions in Louisville, Kentucky, seconds by saying, I live by this motto when it comes to professional dress. You dress for where you want to be, not where you are. This means if you are a manager and you want to move to the executive suite, then you better dress like an executive.If Youre Fresh Out of School Get Help. Transitioning from a school wardrobe and environment to your first job can be a daunting task. Find out from your organization if they offer professional dress tr aining. If not, hire a specialist.6 Things Employers Can DoDecide if Casual Dress Is Right for Your Company. The start of causal dress days began on the West Coast to encourage creativity. However, based on a survey of 500 companies, Dr. Jeffrey L. Magee, a consulting psychologist, found that continually relaxed dress leads to relaxed manners, relaxed morals, relaxed productivity and an increase in complaints to Human Resources. Make an informed decision about casual dress based on your culture and business goals.Have Policies. Employees are often confused about dress expectations at work. On the one hand, they may receive compliments from their colleagues, and on the other hand, they are reprimanded for not being professionally dressed. Provide clear dress guidelines and follow through if employees do not follow the policy.Provide Professional Appearance and Etiquette Training. Offer employees a professional image seminar if they lack basic know-how in this area and provide dress code guidelines during new employee orientation.Provide Sexual Harassment Training. Dressing provocatively can lead to flirtatious behavior and increased sexual harassment complaints. Failure to adopt a proactive and aggressive stance on sexual harassment in the workplace can result in costly lawsuits, loss of employee morale, decline in productivity, and an erosion of a companys public image. It is less expensive to implement sexual harassment policies and training than to be involved in one sexual harassment lawsuit. Provide employees with clear examples of inappropriate behavior and dress and train supervisors to deal with complaints.Provide Global Training Programs. Other than marketing materials, your employees are the first point of contact for customers and clients. Ensure that, irrespective of geographical location, employees are on the same page in terms of expected behaviors and company image.Hold Leaders Accountable toModel Your Company Image. When leaders fail to live u p to your company image, employees become de-motivated and angry. Provide ongoing training, coaching and review of company leaders.The work world demands making a great first impression and keeping it. To communicate more effectively, start by understanding appearance psychology. Doing so can lead to greater professional and personal success. If you dont believe us, then perhaps you will believe Mark Twain, who said, Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.