Surviving Corporate Politics Part 2: Keeping Up Appearances
Never a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression, or so the saying goes. We all know that when someone is introduced into your work environment for the first time, their peers size them up immediately. How they are dressed, how they talk, and how they set up their workspace. Especially in large companies, where there is constant personnel movement, keeping up your appearance is a full time task. In smaller companies, how you compose yourself from Day 1 is of utmost importance. We will start with the basics: Work Clothes: Dress up. Not in terms of church going attire, but as your immediate superiors. In cases where there is a big gap between your level, and that of your manager, than take the all but 1 approach. If your boss wears ties with his suit, then leave that out. If he wears a jacket, but no tie, then wear a nice shirt and pants. In all cases, you have to stand out and be noticed against the grain. When companies look to cut staff, they want to keep those that they feel are flexible, and like-minded. Fitting into their image gives your boss the impression that you will follow his lead, and make yourself an asset for his goals. The bible has a verse about respecting the Sabbath, and keeping it holy. For our corporate survivor, that day is Casual Friday. On Fridays, you should never wear a suit jacket, or a tie. You should also never, under any circumstance, wear JEANS! Talk to your local clothing retailer for some upscale casual wear. For the advanced: Keep a spare, neutral colored blazer in the office, either at your desk or in a closet. If you find that you do not have enough matches clothes for it, then buy an extra pair to keep at the office as wear. Spend the money to get your pants and jackets tailored to fit properly. Keep a pair of work shoes for office use only. Work shoes can be fairly expensive, so you will want to make them last. Most importantly, unless you have a sizable budget for clothes, avoid the "in" trends. Usually, 1 "in" suit a year is enough. Of course, sitting down with your colleagues, and showing your white, or unmatching socks spoils the effect, no matter how expensive the attire, so always keep a pair of black socks handy. Grooming: Keep yourself shaved. Mustaches and beards are okay, as long as you keep it trimmed at ALL times. Get your hair cut by a stylist, and not a barber. You are not 12 anymore. If you are going bald, deal with it. You are not fooling anyone by placing pieces of hair over your bald spots. Make sure to take care of any "special" issues you may have, like, for instance, the famous Unibrow. You do not want to be thought of as Burt from Sesame Street. Facial piercings are an obvious no, and even earrings should be removed. Your teeth should be in good condition. There are plenty of whitening products on the market, so make sure you buy them. Your pockets should always have a breath mint, and NEVER gum. If you drink coffee, or eat, you should be popping those mints right afterwards. It is too late if you run into someone unexpectedly. For the advanced: Pay attention to any skin conditions you may have, and always keep the applicable creams or lotions at your desk. You should always keep a box of Kleenex right next to your lotion bottle, and keep extra's somewhere close by. For the mornings where you just simply forgot to shave, keep an extra disposal razor (and cream) in your desk. Last thing you need in your desk is a toothbrush, toothpaste, and yes, even dental floss for after lunch. You never want to be seen picking the spinach out of your teeth. Getting Organized: Your desk should never look that it was hit by a strong wind, or even a light breeze. While you may have a mind that never forgets a detail, you will never inspire confidence in those that see your working conditions. All meetings should be logged into a calendar of some sort. All papers should be properly categorized into folders, and in a cabinet if possible, or in a neat stack if necessary. Your desk should be clean, and devoid of any crumbs, stains or other unnatural marks or blemishes. You should only be allowed 1 loose paper and pen at your desk. That will be for writing your to-do list for the day, and any other relevant information that may need to be noted down quickly. If your company does not offer a regular sized book, then you must buy one yourself. You should never attend a meeting without it. For the advanced: In an organized setting, make sure to place any certificates, work related awards, or any other important documentation in plain view. It should be the first items seen by someone as they approach your desk. You may want to keep a bottle of Windex in your desk, but I would keep that low key. You don't want people thinking you are a freak! If you do not have a portable device where you can access your calendar, than look for your availability a few weeks in advance before you attend a meeting. You always want to give the impression that you know what you have to do for the next few weeks. If you follow those steps, you will increase the level of confidence of your boss about your abilities. And while the illusion of control is never a substitute for good, hard, honest work, following these steps will help make sure you do not get overlooked by management. Too often, decisions are made fast, and the last thing you need, is for your boss's gut feeling to choose someone else, because you appearance of sloppiness, even if the work you hand in is on-time and well done. About The Author Gary Whittaker is the editor of T.E.N Magazine, a webzine with balls! Check out more articles at http://www.tenwebzine.com. editor@tenwebzine.com | | | | RELATED ARTICLES Wake Up and Learn Something New The US Government has just released last month's job creation figures. It was the lowest number in two years. This is a revealing and disturbing snapshot of what is actually happening in the real economy, not the one artificially created for the headlines. Our US GNP or Gross National Product, is based upon manufactured durable goods. Unfortunately, the manufacturing economy in the US has not yet recovered from the devastating collapse it saw commence in the spring of 2000. The recent improvements in jobs and growth are substantially confined to the service sector. Manufacturing is what drives the US economy and it is suffering. The Changing Values Landscape of the U.S. and How It Impacts Midlife Job Searchers Imagine a huge river that has been flowing for centuries: See the thick underbrush that has grown up on either edge of the river's expansive banks and the moss-lined stones that litter its shallow edges. Feel the power of water so deep and so strong because it has been pulsing through this landscape since the Renaissance, yet now this mighty river approaches a "Great Divide" such as has never been seen before in human history. What Do Accountants And Doctors Have In Common? Freshly qualified accounting graduates when asked by the interviewer "Are there any questions you want to ask?" usually respond with "What are my duties and responsibilities" Ten Questions For Entrepreneurs To Ask Themselves Ten Questions For Entrepreneurs To Ask Themselves Conducting an Effective Interview An employment interview is a goal oriented conversation in which the interviewer and the applicant exchange information. Even though interviews are a poor selection tool for most jobs, they are often the primary method used in evaluating applicants. The main players in the job interview are the interviewer and the applicant. Nuts and Bolts of Effective Cover Letters As a job seeker, you shouldn't overlook the importance of a cover letter. If written strategically, a cover letter increases your chances for consideration, and provides an opportunity to highlight your individuality. 7 Steps To A Job-Winning Resume A new resume can jump-start your career. Your network contacts may ask for a resume and some industries absolutely, positively demand a resume as the price of admission. When you begin thinking of your resume as a power source, the results can be astonishing. How to Write Cover Letters That Increase Your Chances of Winning an Interview Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are your resume will end up in the trash bin without even being looked at. Growing Up On A Delaware Farm Growing up on a Delaware farm was a wonderful and rewarding experience for me. Lost Your Job? Ten Ways to Bounce Back! Whether you've been right-sized, downsized, underutilized, or just plain fired, looking for work is a life-changing experience that rocks your world. Regain your equilibrium with these ten strategies and get back to being your best. Why You Should Never Complain About Former Bosses You're at a job interview. You're doing great, answering questions left and right. You're enthusiastic, upbeat, confident. Then they ask, "Why did you leave your last job?" 10 Tips to Help You Ace the Interview and Get the Job The interview is the "beauty contest" part of the job search process. Interviewers get to compare candidates by asking them similar questions and comparing the answers. Being just the right person for the job won't help you if you blow the interview. Seeking Knowledge Will Give You Power What are you interested in? We all have a passion for something. So, what is your passion? Job Interview Preparation - What Employers Are Looking For When an employer decides to conduct an interview with you, there are certain things that they are looking for from you. Naturally, you are likely to focus on these things during an interview, but you should remember all of the tips in this manual because following those tips is what is going to make the employers see all of those things in you. Spiritual Practices Offer Peace and Acceptance Facing career transitions and daily life challenges can leave us feeling lonely, stressed and anxious. How do we manage to deal with the financial and emotional stress of having a home, a car, work (or no work), kids and a spouse in this too-busy world? Building a Solid Network A client who has a fine arts degree wanted to move out of his successful career in advertising and into the real estate development business. He had already enrolled in a top notch MBA program to learn more about the field. In addition he had found work with a bank doing real estate appraisals. Inside Sales Jobs: A Job Worth Seeking? Are you interested in inside sales as a career? Inside sales can be a very rewarding job if you so choose. What is the difference between inside and outside sales positions? If you think the difference is staying out of the sun, read on and discover if or why an inside sales job could be for you. Career Change - Creating Wealth & Happiness Whether you have a business idea or not, here's what I want you to do? How to Make More Job Contacts Faster, through Viral Marketing Are you in the job market? Sick of every blog-byte cramming down your throat that you have to get out there and network? Feel like your traditional networking efforts have turned into a self-destructive waste of time? Online Social Networking (OSN), a form of viral marketing, is a better way to hook up to opportunity. Done right, it'll do wonders for your self-esteem and warp-speed your contact development. Showing Appreciation to Workplace Un-Sung Heroes Millions of Un-Sung Heroes are born every minute! They are found everywhere-on street corners, in our homes, offices, and communities-wherever there are people in need of rescue. These special people, whose positive actions and initiatives are performed to benefit others, are not famous or in the news for what they are doing; but their efforts affect, enrich and touch countless lives.
|