Soft Skills for a 21st Century Workplace: Professionalism Presenting Yourself Professionally

Managing Your Image Your image is how you combine clothing, grooming, behavior, and speech to represent yourself to others. Cultivating an image balances personal expression with social customs. Your employer expects you to conform to established norms and dress codes.

Managing Your Image How you present yourself influences your professional relationships for these reasons: Your image is the sum of your observable characteristics Your presentation signals your role in the organization Your image affects your career path Your image reflects that of your company Your appearance influences how you feel about yourself

Dressing Appropriately Guidelines for dressing appropriately in a professional setting: Clarify expectations before you start Consider your department Respect industry norms Follow standards for your location Err on the formal side Remember that you employer sets the standards

Dressing Appropriately Dress codes can differ by department

Dressing Appropriately Don’ts for dressing appropriately: Don’t rely on the observations you made when interviewing Don’t assume the style of dress in one department or job type is appropriate for another Don’t dress casually if your customers expect more formal attire, even if your company has a casual dress code Don’t start informally and then dress up to meet expectations – first impressions are lasting ones Don’t assume you can dress for work as you did for school

Meeting Business Casual Standards Business casual usually means clothes less formal than a traditional suit and tie, yet dressier than jeans and a t-shirt. Standards of business casual dressing: Have at least two business suits Dress more formally for job interviews and important events Wear appropriate attire for business casual Dress more formally than what is expected Avoid inappropriate clothing

Meeting Business Casual Standards Examples of business casual Optional jacket Trousers, slacks, or skirt

Meeting Business Casual Standards Don’ts for business casual: Don’t overlook accessories such as shoes and socks when dressing formally Don’t dress down for a job interview, even if the interviewer will be dressed casually Don’t assume “casual” means informal Don’t overlook your employer’s guidelines Don’t push the limits of acceptable casual attire by wearing shorts, athletic shoes, sandals, or t-shirts

Maintaining a Professional Wardrobe The clothing you buy for business use is an investment in your career. Buy well-constructed clothing in classic styles.

Maintaining a Professional Wardrobe Press and hang your clothes, especially when travelling.

Maintaining a Professional Wardrobe Don’ts for maintaining a professional wardrobe: Don’t forget to wash garments after wearing them once or twice Don’t wear wrinkled or crumpled garments Don’t lay ironed clothes on a horizontal surface; hang them to prevent wrinkling Don’t wear shoes that are dull, scuffed, or scratched

Practicing Good Grooming and Hygiene Personal hygiene is the practice of maintaining cleanliness and health. Some hygiene habits, such as washing hands, protect health. Other practices, such as grooming your hair, are dictated by cultural standards. You should use proper personal hygiene to enhance social and professional interactions.

Practicing Good Grooming and Hygiene Do’s for practicing good grooming and hygiene: Bathe every day Groom facial hair Care for you hair Keep your breath fresh Maintain foot health

Practicing Good Grooming and Hygiene Well-groomed professionals:

Practicing Good Grooming and Hygiene Avoid sloppy or extreme appearances in professional settings: