YOUR Personal Image for Power Networking

Others may perceive you as being: What occurs in the first 3-4 seconds when you meet someone new? Others may perceive you as being: Trustworthy Important Intelligent Successful Client-Ready First Impressions are made in less than seven seconds! The first impression people have of you is a critical determining factor as to whether they want to work and associate with you personally and professionally! People trust others according to their appearance. They may perceive you as important, intelligent, successful and so on, all depending on what you wear Regardless of what your venue may be, YOUR Personal Image MUST ALWAYS be spot on…. Regardless of what your venue may be, YOUR Personal Image must always be SPOT ON!! FIRST impressions are made!!

Key Aspects of Personal Image Personal Hygiene **Clothing Items Non-clothing Items Hair must be clean and nicely cut and styled Garments must be free of stains and tears Use a “classy” ballpoint pen Teeth must be clean Garments must be ironed A professional briefcase or portfolio must be used Breath must be fresh Shoes must be clean and polished Eyeglasses must be clean Facial hair must be trimmed or removed Garments must fit properly Jewelry must be conservative Deodorant must be worn Posture, Posture, Posture!! Nails must be clean and nicely trimmed ** It is MUCH better to be overdressed than underdressed!

How Personal Image Relates to Networking Are you comfortable? When you attend networking events, make sure you prepare for various scenarios: Will the room be too hot or too cold? Should you carry a blazer or suit jacket? Should you take a bottle of water? Will the colors you are wearing show perspiration marks? Should you take your laptop or tablet? We know that initial appearance is important as people form a subconscious impression of us, however being comfortable is very important! If you’re attending an event for the first time you want to feel comfortable and not worry about what people think of your appearance Appearance is NOT only limited to what you wear When you attend networking events, make sure you prepare for various scenarios: Will the room be too hot or cold? Should you take a bottle of water? Should you carry a jacket or jumper? Will the colors you are wearing show sweat marks? Should you take your laptop or tablet?

How to Dress for Networking Events Dressing the part is essential! Ask about the dress code Business connections and partnerships are established during networking events, so dressing the part is essential! There's not one protocol when it comes to dressing for Networking Events Before you attend any networking event for the, find out what the dress code is for the event

Basics of Networking Outfits Safe bets (yawn!) Stand out by adding something that shows you have personality Ladies may wear a coordinating scarf and/or jewelry Men may wear a lapel pin or a coordinated handkerchief in their coat pocket Glasses make us look smarter! Dark slacks and a button-up shirt (men) or blouse (ladies) paired with a coordinating blazer are good choices for most events; however, you’ll quickly blend in with the rest of the participants SOOOO… try to stand out by adding something that shows you have personality Ladies may wear a coordinating scarf and jewelry Men may wear a lapel pin or a coordinated handkerchief in their coat pocket) A study on wearing glasses have shown that they make us look smarter, so you could also opt for a pair of non-prescription glasses if you don’t usually wear them

Dressing for Formal Career Events **Wearing a suit is a fail-safe option for these types of professional events** Men Women Everyone Wear a suit, shirt and tie Skirts or dresses should be no shorter than just above the knee If there’s a split at the back, ensure it will be respectable even if the skirt/dress rides up a bit If you have piercings and/or tattoos, ensure they are discreet Wear matching socks Ensure the length of your skirt or dress is still OK when you sit down, and the lining doesn’t show Get your outfit together ahead of time Check how you look in front of a full-length mirror Do not wear athletic pants, even if they are black Check that no part of your bra or cleavage show in any position (including leaning forward), whether due to the neckline or gaps between buttons Prepare an outfit that can be adapted for different temperatures. The building you’re in could be over heated or very cold regardless of the weather outside If you want to wear high heels, consider bringing a pair of flat shoes in your bag as back-up Estimate how far you’ll have to walk Wear shoes that are comfortable yet professional Avoid chipped nail polish and “bold” colors and designs Ensure nails are clean and trimmed Dress as you would for a job interview You may do an on-the-spot interview, meaning you should show up in your best outfit. Wearing a suit is a fail-safe option for these types of professional events Get your outfit together and check how you look in front of a full-length mirror

Dressing for Career Fairs Career Fair dress is typically more casual, but you still need to look presentable When in doubt, err on the side of caution Opting for business wear and following the previous recommendations is your best bet Recruiters won’t mind if you look smarter than other Career Fair participants, BUT they will mind if they can’t imagine putting you in front of a client Dressing for Career Fairs

What to Wear to Employer Meetings Dress on the smarter side of casual You never know who will be attending the meeting – if Executive Management is there, will you feel confident with your personal image? There’s no need for suits or formal business dresses but look presentable!!

What to Bring to Employer Meetings A written list of questions to ask Directions and a contact phone number for the event organizer or the venue’s receptionist (in case you are delayed and will arrive late) Something to take notes with including a classy ballpoint pen and portfolio If you’re relying on technology for any of the above, bring a battery back-up A spare layer of clothing Anything else you personally may need – e.g. medication or a drink or snack to keep you going

In Conclusion… First Impressions are made in less than seven seconds! Before you attend any networking event, find out what the dress code is for the event The first impression people have of you is a critical determining factor as to whether they want to work and/or associate with you personally and professionally Appearance is NOT only limited to what you wear Being comfortable is critical! Be prepared and be able to quickly shop your closet Good posture is CRITICAL!! *It is MUCH better to be overdressed than underdressed!