Jobs @ Career Consulting Limited
Return to career-consulting-limited.com
People |
|
|
 |
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.
MORE RESOURCES: Careers at Givaudan Givaudan Careers Oaktree Capital Meet Native American Veterans where they live with a VA career VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Careers | Career Opportunities West Virginia University I moved to Alaska after college for a job. I lost all my friends because I put my career first. Business Insider Jobs City of Rochester (.gov) Careers at TWU Texas Woman's University 15 Companies Offering Health Insurance to Part-Time Workers U.S News & World Report Money Careers at FEMA FEMA Careers at Willamette my.willamette.edu Physicians are the nation’s top earners – a slideshow Medical Economics Jobs and Training at FDA FDA.gov Jobs at Liberty University Liberty News City of Tampa Careers City of Tampa Careers at VA VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Job Seekers University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Healthcare Jobs at Novant Health | Novant Health Novant Health Careers BASF Careers at University of Missouri Health Care | University of Missouri Health Care jobs University of Missouri Health Care MPP Employment Data USC Sol Price School of Public Policy Nursing jobs VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Career Opportunities UMHB Jobs at BCA Minnesota Department of Public Safety Statement by Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su on October jobs report US Department of Labor Careers at Union | Human Resources Union College Careers West Virginia Department of Education Careers Washington State University Employment Services American Mathematical Society Recruiters urge candidates to use AI to apply for jobs Financial Times Working for ICE U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Newsroom US employers added just 12,000 jobs last month as hurricanes and strikes sharply reduce payrolls The Associated Press Work at DHS: Career Opportunities Wisconsin Department of Health Services Employment Statistics Columbia SIPA October 2024 jobs report: How two major hurricanes, labor strike might affect the numbers - NBC News UF Health Careers UF Health - University of Florida Health Employment benefits VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Work for Us (U.S. National Park Service) National Park Service Careers at Prairie View A&M University Prairie View A&M University Job Search Results UnitedHealth Group UN COMMON CAREERS VCU Health Work With Us National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Career Opportunities Gilead Sciences Employment | Department of Corrections Governor Tom Wolf Careers S&P Global Careers Medline Reservists (On-Call) FEMA Job Opportunities Bellevue School District How to Apply FEMA Job Opportunities Southwest Minnesota State University DOE Report Shows Clean Energy Jobs Grew at More Than Twice the Rate of Overall U.S. Employment Energy.gov Careers Micron Careers at Discovery Education Discovery Education Jobs report on eve of election will be among the most muddled in years The Associated Press Join our team FHI 360 Careers KPMG Early Career GlobalFoundries Certified Direct Care Professional (CDCP) Wisconsin Department of Health Services Careers The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation Internship Opportunities | Careers Boston Consulting Group What Trump's election victory means for job seekers Business Insider Jobs and internships at ABC7 Los Angeles ABC7 Los Angeles Careers at Jacobs Jacobs Careers in A&O Shearman Careers UNICEF USA Work At Chess.com Chess.com Students and graduates JPMorgan Chase Career Paths FEMA Highest-Paying Engineering Careers in 2024 University of North Dakota The 16 Best Jobs for Creative & Restless ADHD Brains ADDitude magazine Mental health at work World Health Organization The 10 jobs that landed the biggest pay rises in financial year 2024 The Australian Financial Review How many jobs are available in technology in the US? Computerworld Reinventing Your Career — When It’s Not Just About You HBR.org Daily |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Students Searching for a Job Searching for a job has become easier than ever for those who are graduating from school and looking to enter the workforce. Many schools offer guidance services as well as networking opportunities for graduates looking for work after finishing school. Three Steps to Writing Your Own Resume While most professionals hire a professional resume writer, some draft their own resume. People who write a lot for business usually have more success in putting together a sharp, focused presentation; still, anyone can learn the basic steps to prepare his or her own resume. Working as a Knowledge Worker in the Information Age The old adages: "It's not what you know, but who you know" and "High Tech, High Touch" could be the mottos of knowledge workers in the 21st Century.Never before in the history of the world has both networking and interpersonal communication been potentially easier, broader, more wide-spread and paradoxically, more difficult. Five Facts You Must Know When Changing Careers Too often in life, we fail. We fail not because we set our goals to high and miss achieving our aspirations. Mid-Life Crisis: Its Not Just for Men Anymore! A recent story in Career Journal begins:"The "midlife crisis" has long been thought of as something that afflicts men and often involves expensive toys and second wives. But the Wall Street Journal's Work & Family columnist, Sue Shellenbarger, says that as gender roles change, women are increasingly experiencing their own version of these upheavals. Medical Billing And Coding Profession Medical billers and coders are in high demand among the allied health occupations. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), health information technicians are one of the 10 fastest-growing allied health occupations. Im just me - An Overview of an Web er.. Designer, Developer, Consultant and Friend I am going to give you a breakdown of my .. Job Trap; Relationships with Co-workers Most of us interact with our co-workers on a daily basis, its what helps us get through the day. Most employers go to great lengths to promote the "team", some thousands of dollars on retreats and seminars and the like. The Six Figure Job Search Before we start discussing how to search for a six figure salary job, let's set a goal. The goal I suggest is to double your income every five years. 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. Talented People I was asked last week for an article about employment, "What is your favorite 'employment phrase'?"Wow, talk about tough questions! What sprang to mind were all the phrases that people should avoid like the plague, so I had to do some fast thinking to come up with one that I loved. After mentally narrowing down my options, I settled on one: 'talented people'. Taking Charge During An Interview! Perhaps you've found yourself in the position of seeking a new position due to a layoff, cutback or downsizing and are now facing the interviewing process. As scary as that may seem, one of the most critical points to remember is that just because you're sitting in the seat opposite the potential employer doesn't mean you have no control. 17 Surefire Ways to Annoy Potential Employers Despite the President's encouraging words, the job market is still in sorry shape. There are more job seekers than job openings, so do NOT make things harder on yourself by doing any of the things on this list! Never, ever do these!Apply for jobs you are not qualified for. How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a place called Apathy. Had been for months now. The Myths of Career Change Chances are you already have many ideas about what it takes to successfully transition into a new career, even if you have never done it before. Some of those ideas might be useful - most probably are not. How Long Does It Take To Write A Resume? Many people can easily write a resume in just a couple of hours. They can do this by following a resume sample and just writing their information in place of the sample. Managing The Boss Is Essential To Career Success Your boss is the gatekeeper of your career. Unless you are able to manage a positive relationship with him at each step in your career you will fall short of your potential. Make The Right Career Move It is not realistic for HR Managers to believe that there will not be any staff turnover in the organisation. Having regular staff turnover need not be a negative proposition as it may imply that the industry is very dynamic. Image and Style Count When I was a child, there was a pool nearby and every year my parents bought us season tickets. My brother and I swam there everyday. 20 Questions That Helped Me Take A Leap Of Faith And Change Careers When I was working more than 45 hours a week in a job with a two hour commute each day, the challenge of a new husband, new step children, two beagle dogs and maintaining a home was more than a stretch! Something had to give, and unfortunately I was the one starting to not be able to hold it together!It was a Catch 22 situation. We had an expensive home near the city center with large mortgage costs, which demanded feeding through joint incomes.
|
|
|
| © Career Consulting Limited.com 2011
|