How to Dress Professionally - Attire for Presentations

How to Dress Professionally - Attire for PresentationsHow to Dress Professionally - Attire for PresentationsOver the last decade or mora, casual attire has become the norm in most workplaces. If your employer doesnt require you todress professionally, as most do not, it may be a challenge to figure out what to wear when a special work occasion arises. Jeans and a t-shirt, while more appropriate than a business suit, for many jobs, just wont do for some situations. When Should You Dress Professionally? Certain situations require you to wear more business-like attire than what you would dress in for a typical day at the office. For example, when you have to give apresentation or represent your organization at a conference, you should always look yourprofessionalbest. What does dressing professionally really mean? Do you have to wear a dark suit? It depends on your client. For example, when giving a presentation to a client in a more traditional industry such as the legal or financi al services industries, formal workplace attire is the way to go. Lets say your presentation is going to instead be before clients from a company in the IT industry. In that case, you can be a bit more casual. Although you may not have to wear a suit, you should consider something a bit nicer than what you would wear for a typical day of work. You may question whether your attire will genuinely make a difference. After all, will your client react more favorably to your presentation if you are better dressed? If you perform poorly- either you are unprepared or your client doesnt like what youre offering- it wont matter if your suit is the best one money can buy. Likewise, an excellent presentation will still be an excellent presentation, if you dress casually. While a person in jeans may be as competent and as intelligent as one wearing a business suit, or more so, people assess others attributes based on what they see. All the ingredients- knowledge, preparation, and appearance- are necessary to make a good impression. When you spend your days in jeans and t-shirts, it is unlikely your closet is stocked with the right stuff.Here is what you need to do when casual dress is your norm, but you occasionally have to dress professionally. How to Dress Professionally If you make presentations or attend conferences at least a couple of times a year, a nice business suit is a good investment. Get something in a classic style and color. You will be able to wear it for several years. Purchase a white or pastel shirt or blouse to go with it. If an occasion to dress professionally only comes up infrequently, you may be able to get away without spending money on a suit. You can wear nice business clothes instead. Women can usually wear a skirt, dress, or pants, a blouse, and a jacket or cardigan, while men can wear dress trousers, a button-down shirt, a tie, and jacket. Keep your look professional right down to your feet. Wear a well-fitting and not-too-trendy pair of s hoes in a neutral color. Make koranvers they are always in good condition because, believe it or not, people do notice when shoes look worn. Your hair should be well-groomed and your fingernails should be neat and clean. If you wear jewelry, keep it simple. Depending on your employers and your clients cultures, you may want to hide any tattoos you have and remove jewelry from any body piercings. What to Do If You Have to Be on Camera It isnt unusual these days to have to participate in a video conference. Take it into consideration when planning your attire that we appear differently on camera than in person. Avoid wearing patterned clothing which may look distorted. Neutral colors work best, but avoid black, white, or red. Many experts say that pastels look good on camera. Style your hair neatly and make sure to keep it out of your eyes. It will distract both you and those who are watching. Dont wear iridescent, frosted, or glittery makeup. A matte finish is best. Whether speak ing in front of people or a camera, sit up straight. You will look alert and engaged. Slouching will make you seem bored. Try to appear like youre happy to be there. A smile gives the impression that you are friendly and approachable. Of course, if you are talking about a solemn topic, dont look giddy. Avoid fidgeting, biting your nails, or playing with your jewelry. Most importantly, remember to breathe.

Basics of a Cover Letter

Basics of a Cover LetterBasics of a Cover LetterWhile you write a titelseite letter that will include all the relevant stuff and essential details, do elend forget to remember the basics of a cover letter.What are the basics of a cover letter? Well, the basics of a cover letter denote its font and its length the basic formatting elements of a cover letter.To write a strong and impactful cover letter, you need to get the basics right. This article will tell you how to format your cover letter effectively.Things You Need To Pay Attention to In Your Cover LetterFontWhat font you use in your cover letter is very important. Depending on what you choose, your cover letter will either be read or not. So, you should select the font size in such a way that it is readable to the hiring managers, that is, neither too large nor too small. Using a font size of 10 or 12 is enough. Also, it is better to keep the font simple and professional. Therefore, there is no need to select any fancy font tha t will make your content confusing. Well, it is recommended to use the same font and font size that you have used in your resume.LengthYour cover letter should be written in as few words as possible. There is no need to write more than one page and three paragraphs. Also, if you can make yourself clear in two paragraphs only, no need to write the middle one. If something is not that necessary, then do not include it in your cover letter.SpacesInclude white spaces wherever needed. It will make your cover letter easy-to-read and will make it look more professional. Good spacing will enable the hiring managers to read quickly, hence increasing the chances your whole cover letter will be read.

Create a Professional Development Plan for Your Future

Create a Professional Development Plan for Your FutureCreate a Professional Development Plan for Your FutureTo gauge your potential as a true professional, an employer may ask you about your professional development plans in a job einstellungsgesprch. If youre not interviewing for a job and are a new hire, expect the question to come up during your performance appraisal. Heres how to create a professional development plan. Tips for Charting Your Professional Development Gather InformationIf a pay raise or advancement at your current employer is a priority, a good distributions-mix to abflug formulating an effective plan is to meet with your supervisor. Ask her or him what areas of knowledge or skills you should develop that will add the most value to your department. If you have peers performing similar jobs in your department, examine the backgrounds of any outstanding performers. Identify the skills or knowledge base that contribute to the success of these employees and conside r if you should also develop these strengths. Review Job TitlesReview typical job titles for your occupation andlists of job titlesappropriate for different positions in your field. Search major job sites like Indeed or Simply Hired for job titles similar to yours, or any jobs you would like to have. Look for patterns in the qualifications that employers say theyre looking for. Make a list of the most frequently referenced requirements, compare them to your strengths, and choose a few areas to target in your development plan. Review Seminar AgendasIts also beneficial to review the agendas for workshops and seminars offered by your professional organization. Identify areas of knowledge and skills that are cutting edge in your field. Include at least one technology-related objective in your plan. Tech-savvy employees are often the most sought after, whether the job is technology-based, or not. Creating Your Professional Development Plan Its easier to achieve goals and objectives w hen you write them down. Compile all the information you have collected including Skills requiredKnowledge requiredJob requirementsTechnology requirements Upgrade Your SkillsNext, figure out how and when you can acquire the skills necessary for your future success. A good place to start is consulting with your professional association about local, national, and online seminars, as well as workshops and tutorials related to your interests. You can also ask your Human Resources and IT departments about any in-house resources. And, you can look into any educational opportunities offered at local colleges and adult education programs. Plan a Career Trajectory TimelineOnce youve gathered all this information, its time to consider exactly how youre going to acquire the skills you need. Ask yourself the following questions Can you take online classes or seminars? How about a boot camp held on evenings or weekends?Are there professional association meetings or development workshops specific ally for my occupation that I can attend?Are there general classes, especially for upgrading my tech skills? Then, decide how much time you want to invest in your professional development because you need to balance your career needs with your lifestyle needs. Taking on too much at once is a good way to burn out fast. You need to figure out what activities will fit into your available time. Its also smart to include a list of goals with tentative deadlines for each career activity.Be sure to update your LinkedIn profile and your resume each time you upgrade your skills. Its important to advertise your qualifications, especially when they are in-demand skills that employers are seeking. The Importance of Following Through As with most plans, execution is critical to success. Make sure you follow through and engage in as many professional development activities as possible. Youll not only enhance your career youll have a compelling story to tell during interviews and performance r eviews. Remember, having even a tentativecareer pathin place will help you respond to interview questions aboutyour goals for the future, and assist you in determining the next phase of your career.