Nip It In The Bud

Self-awareness of professional appearance is a problem in many offices. It’s bad enough that awkward appearance issues occur in the office, but what do you do when it’s a daily occurrence and no one has the guts to say anything? That’s what we’re here for! Keep reading for some of those “hush” topics, and hopefully you haven’t fallen victim to any of the following.

Is it cold in here, or is it just you? Ladies, we all know what I’m talking about. It’s unfortunate, but inevitable...and awkward for everyone, especially for those colleagues that interact with you every day. Luckily, this is a problem that is easily fixed. Nipple covers are easy to find, especially online. For starters, we suggest these, or even these. Check out a local boutique for possible in-store purchases. It's also important to point out that this affects men as well (especially Simon Cowell).

What’s that smell? No one can mistake the smell of body odor. It’s certainly not pleasant, but what can you do about it, if showering is already part of your daily, morning ritual (which it should be)? Make sure you are using a deodorant containing both an anti-perspirant AND deodorant. It may also be worthwhile to consider using a prescription strength. Causes of body odor can vary from a lack of daily hygiene, to dietary causes, to hereditary factors, and remedies vary just as much. For an extensive list of possible odor-reducing suggestions, check out this website.

I know what you had for lunch. We’ve already touched on this topic in a previous post, but it doesn’t hurt to revisit it. Bad breath is something that everyone experiences. If you suffer from bad breath, be sure to carry gum or mints around with you, and a bottle of water. If you can’t brush after every meal, consider portable toothbrushes like these.If a co-worker suffers from bad breath, and you can’t figure out how to politely tell them, check out this website.

I thought we were at work, not a club. One of the most prevalent problems in the office is what women wear. Don’t know if you’re one of the guilty? If you can go straight from work to a party, you’re not dressing appropriately for a corporate position. A few questions to ask yourself as you’re getting dressed. Can you see cleavage? Keep in mind you may be working with taller people (men in particular) who can easily see down a low-cut shirt. Is my skirt too short? When sitting, a skirt should never be higher than 4 inches from the tops of your knees. Better safe than sorry. Are your clothes too tight? If you’re unsure, find a trusted friend, and get their opinion.

We hope these tips help you avoid any sticky office situations!

Filler Words

Check out our brand new video blog on filler words HERE! We hope you enjoy this blog, and would love your feedback.

Thinking on Your Feet

Imagine this: You’ve just pitched an idea to your company’s board of directors concerning how your company plans to save money in the next fiscal year. After the presentation, a board member raises his hand and asks a question, one to which you’ve not given much thought. What do you do? People find themselves in this situation, one in which they’ve been put on the spot, and don’t know how to think quickly. How does one think on their feet?

Have the question repeated or clarified. Often, questions pop up that haven’t been been carefully crafted. If you ask for clarification, the questioner may change the question, making it more specific or more elaborate. This repetition will not only buy you a little extra time to think, but will give you a better idea of what is being asked. Once you’ve had the question restated and still don’t know the answer, don’t try to bluff your way through. Admit that you don’t know the answer but commit to find out and follow-up!

Stall tactics. There are several tactics you can employ to make your stalling less obvious. Try restating the question. This makes it appear as though you are simply attempting to relay your understanding of what is being asked. Try clarifying or even re-framing the question. If asked how your company will save money, you might say, “There are two ways to save. Would you like to know what we will stop buying, or on what we will spend less money?” Another tactic: don’t be afraid to pause! We’ve mentioned this in previous blogs-- audiences don’t mind the temporary silence. Pausing gives you a moment to gather your thoughts, prevents you from rushing, and can make you look as though you are providing a more thoughtful response.

Keep it simple. At the moment of the question, any number of possible answers might flood your mind, creating a clutter of thoughts that can paralyze. Remember, you don’t need to give an extremely elaborate answer. One specific point with supporting evidence and/or examples will suffice. The key is balance -- too short an answer will create the opportunity to be pelted with even more questions. Too long an answer can turn into rambling, lose the interest of those listening, and you may risk sharing things that may be better left unsaid.

Wrap it up. Once you have given a sufficient answer, give a summary statement and stop. It is often tempting to keep explaining, but this may confuse the audience and undo the answer you’ve already given.

With these tips, you’ll be thinking on your feet in no time.

Image Calling

We’ve blogged about dining etiquette. We’ve blogged about office etiquette. What about phone etiquette? Phone skills seem to be overlooked, even though first impressions are often made via phone these days. Most people don’t think “rules” for talking on the phone or leaving a voicemail exist, but if you want to maintain your polished professional image, you’ll take care to follow these tips.

Smile! We guarantee that someone on the other end of the line will be able to “hear” your smile. There will be a distinct difference in your speech if you smile when you’re talking. Having a hard time following this rule? Keep a mirror at your desk, and smile away! Here’s something else that’s heard over the phone -- your posture! When you sit up, your lungs take in more air and your vocal tone is greatly improved. It’s also important to reset your mindset with each call. You may have just completed a frustrating conversation, but don’t let any emotional leakage carry over to the next call. Each new call deserves your upbeat attitude.

Greetings. Your voicemail greeting must be professional. There’s a current trend in my generation to be goofy, whether it’s by singing a voicemail greeting, or playing music in the background. Voicemail greetings should be void of any background noise and silliness. Be sure to state your full name. If you’ll be away from your phone for an extended period of time, include that as well. Once you are back in the office, be sure to update your greeting. Also, have personal standards. Commit to return all messages within 24 hours, or by the end of the work day. Don’t let your mailbox get full, either. Not only will you miss important messages, but people may suspect you are trying to avoid calls (and work!)

After the beep. How often do we reach someone’s voicemail, and instantly lose all train of thought once we hear the beep? Make sure you know in advance what needs to be said. The bare bones of a voicemail include: Your name, a number where you can be reached, the actual message (the reason you’re calling), and a repeat of your number. Repeating your number will prevent the listener from having to play the entire message again.

Just a few more tips to keep your image polished, professional, and exceeding expectations!

Interviewing Basics- Part 2

Our last blog advised you on pre-interview preparation. You’ve followed our advice, and the big day is finally here. Now what? Read on and you’ll be sure to ace your interview.

Impress the gatekeeper. “Who’s the gatekeeper?” you ask. This is the person you meet initially -- usually the receptionist or the assistant to the person with whom you are interviewing. These individuals hold much more power than may be apparent and they can hold sway over whether you will be hired. Since they observe you before the “real interview” they may report on how you acted and how you treated them. Were you rude or nice? What did you do while you were waiting? Did you sit calmly, or were you talking loudly on your cell phone? Your interview starts long before you think it does.

Don’t be a bag lady. Going into an interview, don’t be weighed down with stuff. You want to appear polished and ready, not overloaded with an overcoat, umbrella, briefcase and purse. Stash any extra gear in the waiting area, and only carry a sleek folio with a writing tablet and a copy of your resume tucked inside as you enter the interview. And, by the way, hold it in your left hand -- your right hand will be ready for the all-important handshake.

A firm handshake. A handshake says a lot about a person, so be certain yours is executed perfectly. Always be standing, establish eye contact and smile when shaking hands. As you extend your hand, keep your thumb pointing up (not to the side) and get web to web contact (the web is the skin joining your index finger and thumb) in order to get full firm palm contact.

Eye contact is critical. The idea of making prolonged eye contact makes some people extremely nervous. But eye contact signifies confidence, and the lack of it during an interview will make you seem inattentive and disinterested. If you’re being interviewed by a panel of people, find the individual that makes you the least anxious and keep coming back to that person. This does NOT mean to ignore the other people. Make sure you still make eye contact with each person for a few seconds. Also, try looking at a facial feature other than the eyes. The nose, eyebrows, and cheekbones are all close enough to the eyes that looking at them won’t give away the fact that you aren’t looking directly into the eyes. Don’t, however, look at the mouth area, as this comes across as too personal.

Be prepared for the “easiest” questions. We’ll save actual interview content tips for a future blog, but let’s address the one question that few people are prepared for --“Tell me about yourself.” Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. This question needs to be prepared. Anyone who assumes they can wing this “softball” will end up floundering in the interview. Take 2 to 3 minutes to talk about who you are right now, who you’ve been in the past, and who you’ll be in the future (all regarding your professional self, of course). Work on perfecting this short “commercial” and you not only exhibit great confidence, but you will be off to a great start in any interview. Here’s another “easy” question that people flub -- “Why do you want this position?” Prepare a compelling response that shows passion.

Don’t slouch. Unless you’re standing while having an interview, you need to work on your posture. Sit up straight. Remember, you won’t get respect if your back’s not erect! Ladies, instead of crossing your legs, lock your knees and tuck your ankles under your chair. Lean slightly forward to show your interest, and let your hands lay loosely in your lap. Guys, don’t hitch your ankle upon your opposite knee - this is far too casual for an interview scenario.

Don’t interrupt. A combination of nerves and an over-enthusiasm to give a fast answer leads many people to make a common and serious mistake in their interview -- they interrupt the interviewer. Interrupting is an irritating habit in regular situations, and in the interview it’s particularly risky. The assumption is that everyone is on their best behavior during the interview process, so if you interrupt then, how much worse might you be in “real life?” Resist the urge to jump in with your answers until you are sure the interviewer is ready. Focus on listening intently and watching the body language cues that indicate it’s your turn.

We hoped you enjoyed our tips for performing well in the interview. Good Luck!

Interviewing Basics- Part 1

Everyone will have an interview at some point in their life. But because it happens so infrequently, most people have little experience with the process and are usually unprepared in some way. What to wear? What questions to expect? What body language to exhibit? How to follow-up? These are only a few of the many questions to figure out before your interview. For Part 1 of this blog, find out what you need to do before you even step foot into the office.
Pre-interview checklist. Your nerves will already be high on interview day, so don’t make it worse by being unprepared on the basics. Make sure you know where the office is and how to get there. We strongly suggest that you take a test drive at the same time you will make the actual drive (consider rush hour traffic!). Allow enough time to park, use the restroom to check your appearance, and calmly arrive in the office.
Wardrobe checklist. (Disclaimer: We are making the assumption that you are interviewing for a corporate position. If not, the rules may change, but it’s always better to be over, rather than under-dressed.) Try on your attire before the morning of the interview. Remember that you are the “star” and your clothes are “supporting cast.” In other words, don’t let what you are wearing distract from you. Colors that are too bright, large patterns, ill-fitting garments, and too much jewelry are all distracting. For women wearing skirts, wear pantyhose (we know, groan!). Consider cleavage a definite “No”, and make sure skirts reach at least the tops of your knees. As Kathryn likes to say, “The more skin you show, the more opportunities you blow.” To upgrade your outfit from business casual to a more professional level, incorporate the “third piece”. Unfamiliar with the “third piece” concept? Check out Connie’s blog here. Keep accessories to a minimum, avoiding large and/or dangling earrings, noisy bracelets, and anything too “blingy”. Men should wear a well-fitting suit over a wrinkle-free, crisp dress shirt. If a suit seems too formal, go with a sports jacket or blazer. Make sure your shoes are polished, you are wearing over-the-calf dress socks, and you have a belt in good condition. When it comes to accessories, stick with a watch and, if applicable, a wedding ring. No choker necklaces from your summer vacation, no ear or facial piercings, and no visible tattoos.
Grooming checklist. Ladies, consider having your hair trimmed and the color touched up a week or two before your interview. Your nails should be manicured and free of polish (although clear polish is OK). Gentlemen, your tasks include making sure you have freshly trimmed hair, manicured nails, and trimmed facial hair (BIG bonus points for clean shaven...why risk it?). For both genders, be sure to have freshly brushed teeth, and go easy on the perfume and cologne.
Now that you’ve completed your pre-interview checklist, what about the actual interview? Stay tuned for Part 2!

Professional Pet Peeves

Pet peeves. You have them, your friends have them, your family has them. Do you know who else has them? Your co-workers. Read on to find the most common things that can set off your office mates.

You are not a sales rep for your children. Your co-workers can’t afford to buy a box (or two) of Girl Scout cookies from every co-worker, but they will feel pressured to do so if you ask. Not only should you avoid bringing your child’s fundraisers to the workplace, you shouldn’t bring your own either.

Stop the forwarding. Everyone at some point in their life has received one of those annoying chain emails. Don’t bring them into the workplace. It takes time (time that should be spent working) to read the e-mail, and then forward it to 98 people to avoid bad luck for the next 10 years. If nothing else, it fills up your co-workers’ inboxes with something that should go in the spam folder.

Easy on the cologne. Everyone wants to smell nice. But, more and more, people are becoming increasingly sensitive to strong smells. Nobody wants to be able to smell your new Britney Spears perfume from three cubicles away. Avoid your strong perfume or cologne and stick with the freshly showered scent.

Use your inside voice. This applies to any public place, but especially the workplace. Whether you’re talking to someone in person or on the phone, be aware of the volume of your voice. Nothing is more annoying than hearing a one-sided conversation. Beware: just because you’re behind closed doors, doesn’t mean you can be as loud as you want. Voices travel, and nothing is more embarrassing than thinking you’re having a conversation behind doors, only to find out the whole office heard your not-so-great evaluation of another employee.

My space. Yes, your cubicle or office is your own personal space, but use discretion when decorating. Think about the message you are sending with religious or politically-oriented cartoons or decor. With any controversial subject you present, chances are you may be offending someone with whom you work. Avoid overly cute and overly cluttered as well. The key words here are "neat" and "professional".

Introduce yourself. Is there someone in your office that you pass by every day and don’t know their name? Awkward, isn’t it? As time passes, it becomes even more awkward that you don’t call them by name. So here’s a solution -- go ahead and introduce yourself! Meet everyone--even to the janitor. Knowing the people you work with makes work much more enjoyable for everyone.

Enjoy these tips on office etiquette-- we know your co-workers will!