How To Make A Great Professional First Impression

In the business world, it is important to know how to make a great professional first impression.  When you are meeting someone for the first time, they make their first impression of you within the first 15 seconds.  What I find interesting, is virtually all of that first impression is non-verbal.  With today’s weak ended economy and scarce job market, it is more important than ever to be prepared for those first meetings.  Here are some great tips to help you navigate the proper etiquette for today’s business world.

How To Make A Great Professional First Impression

• Dress For Success: You don’t need to spend a million bucks to look like a million bucks. The way you dress is huge and if you aren’t dressed professionally, you will not be taken seriously.  If you are on a tight budget, go to the thrift store!  You can find great looking clothes that are absolutely suitable (hee hee) for the workplace.  I remember interviewing a group of women for a secretarial position in my department and one woman came to the interview wearing a short shirt, a tank top, no pantyhose and high heeled shoes.  Sadly, she was written off the list before our management team ever saw her resume.
• Grooming Counts: If you are dressed in a smart suit and are walking into an interview, you should be well groomed as well.  Make sure your hair is neat; you have trimmed nails that are clean, shoes that are polished and pantyhose with no runs,
• Greeting: A sincere smile and a firm handshake will take you far in the business world.  We have all heard the rule about a firm handshake versus a weak one, and I have found it to be 100% true.  While shaking someone’s hand, look them directly in the eye (unless of course you are in a situation where that is not part of one’s culture.  Don’t forget to brush and floss those pearly whites!
• Resumes and Business Cards: There are rules about how your resume should look, the paper you use and how it is presented.  Always carry your most current resume in a folder, have it printed on a velum paper in a neutral tone and do not fold it.  If you aren’t sure how your resume should look, there are tons of websites and software that will help you with that.  It is a good idea to have a business card to go along with your resume and it is acceptable to paper clip one in the upper right corner of the resume.  If you don’t have a business card, you can have one custom made for you at Zazzle.  By using premium card stock, high quality inks and cutting edge technology, you can get a smart looking card for a smart price.  You can stay up to date with Zazzle by liking them on Facebook and following them on Twitter.

Business Cards That Stand Out

If you want to be remembered in an interview, business cards that stand out will help.  When I was invited to attend a convention this month in Las Vegas, I knew I needed business cards.  I haven’t had business cards in quite a while and when I saw the huge variety of options offered by Zazzle, I knew they were the place to go! The process was very easy to follow when I created my cards.  You can choose from the ton of templates Zazzle offers or if you have a logo you want to use, you can do that as well.  I decided on a simple font with black ink and the logo from the blog I am representing.   I received 200 cards ($20.40 per 100) and they look and feel fantastic.  The card stock is a great weight and it has a bit of a slick feel which I love.  The logo turned out perfect and the font is understated yet professional.  I also decided to order the quirky Funny Girly Colorful Patterns Mustaches Mug ($17.95).  I am looking forward to drinking my morning cup of coffee in my new mug and then handing out my rocking new cards to all the contacts I will meet!

One reader will win a mug of their choice ($17.95)