New year, new you: How to boost your profile in 2014
As the old adage goes: new year, new you. Like a clean slate, the new year means a new chance to reestablish your image, especially in the workplace. This could be the year you get that promotion or maybe you’ll make the move to a new company. Here at Your Coffee Break, we know how important your image is to your career, and you need to make sure you’re dressing the part. As the great Coco Chanel once said, “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” You want them to remember the woman.
Lea Goldman, Special Features Editor for Marie Claire Magazine, has written and spoken about the importance of ‘Executive Presence.’ The three components that make up this executive presence are communication, gravitas, and lastly, of course, appearance.
That last one is key. According to Goldman, executives say appearance counts for at least 60% of your executive presence. The clothes you wear can quite literally impact your performance at work and determine your career path. According to Highest Paying Careers, 65% of bosses say that what you’re wearing could be the deciding factor between two similar job candidates at a job interview.
First impressions are everything, and people can and will make snap decisions based on your appearance. That’s why we talked to a few very wise ladies about how to improve your image, and thereby your career, in 2014.
Take your attire up a notch
Margaret Murray is Lead Stylist for Stitch Fix, a new online personal styling service. She told us, “Styling yourself for the office is all about finding key basics that fit well and flatter your figure. For example, a tailored pair of black wool trousers or a beautiful wrap dress are great staples that you can mix and match with shoes and accessories to create different looks. Building a work wardrobe of great basics makes getting dressed for work easy, so you can focus on other things, but the main benefit is that it gives you confidence to tackle any challenge.”
LinkedIn’s career expert Nicole Williams, the bestselling author of “Girl on Top: Your Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success,” and Secret’s Career Confidence Coach said the clothes you wear directly correlate to your confidence levels. “The better you feel, the more likely you are to feel confident and fearless.” Williams says. “Work everything, including your wardrobe, in your favor. My go-to’s are shift dresses and at this point in my career, something that doesn’t need to be ironed!”
Polish your profile
You will also need to share your new image with your network and potential contacts, so polish that profile picture. “People always say dress for the job you want, right? Well, maybe it’s time to dress up your online profile picture,” Williams explained. “People with photos are seven times more likely to have their profiles viewed. Having a more polished image will not only make you visible, but it also lets employers know that you are serious about representing their company in the most professional way. A bare bones profile and presence on LinkedIn suggests that you don’t have stellar online networking skills. Plus, you’re twelve times more likely to have your profile viewed if you add more than one position to your profile.”
Blow it up
Never underestimate the power of a good hairstyle, Nicole advises. “People don’t necessarily notice when you are put together but they 100% notice when you aren’t. Think of your next 2014 haircut as an investment. Before a big meeting or presentation I’d advise getting a blowout. Many people tend to think about hair as the last thing they do before an interview, but it’s honestly one of the most important steps, in terms of how you present yourself. And let’s face it, who doesn’t feel like a million bucks after getting their hair professionally styled?”
Though image isn’t everything, in the workplace it makes smart sense to put the effort in. And as always, these tips will get you started, but the rest is up to you!
