Whether you're the brink of adulthood or the early onset of a midlife crisis, professionalism is an absolute necessity. With all the time we spend with our friends and family, it can be easy to forget what the essentials of professionalism are. However, one wrong move and you could very easily be paying for it with unemployment. In this day and age, no one can afford that, so here are a few professionalism tips to help keep you on top of your game.
1. Dress professionally, and not just in the office or for an interview.
This is something a lot of people might have trouble with. No one wants to be dressed in a full suit and tie or pencil skirt and blouse at all times. However, professionalism can also mean business casual. Maybe some Khakis and a nice collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up for a young man and a nice pair of white or dark wash Capri pants and a subtle patterned blouse for a young woman. It doesn't take much to make sure your look is presentable at all times and besides, how would you feel running into your boss on your day off dressed like an ex-cheerleader who can't let go of her past or a member of society who buys pants 2 sizes too big and doesn't understand what the actual purpose of a belt is.
2. Create a LinkedIn
I can't stress this enough. LinkedIn is THE professional social media platform. Create one and get yourself acquainted with it. You'll be glad you did. It makes keeping your professional and personal live separate fairly simple.
3. Make yourself a business card
This is just as important as the previous tip. You don't want to be caught in the middle of making an amazing connection where you both can benefit in the future, without having a business card to seal the deal. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just include your name, email address, phone number and any relevant information to what you're networking for (blogging website, personal portfolio website, so on). Here's where I created mine: Vistaprint
4. Have a professional voicemail greeting
There's nothing worse than a voicemail greeting that makes the caller believe they're actually on the phone with you. "Hello, you've reached _________'s voicemail box. I'm sorry I missed your call but if you leave a message with your name and a callback number, I will return your call as soon as possible" is an example of one that works well.
5. Make a professional email address
Similar to your voicemail greeting, you should also make sure that your email address is equally as professional... Sorry, but "toohot4u92@aol.com" has to go. Try to refrain from any thing other than your first and last and first, or middle and last name in the address. Putting numbers in your email address (for example: firstname_lastname96@gmail.com) may cause employers to assume your age and, while this shouldn't happen, it can lead to age discrimination.
6. Have a killer resume
It sounds simple but you would be surprised at how often people think they have a great resume but in actuality, it's taken as a joke by future employers. An article on resume writing will come in a later post so stay tuned, but for now the main thing to focus on is proofreading and proofreading again. One typo and your resume is tossed to the side.
7. Be friendly
Possibly the simplest yet most important tip I can give is to be be friendly. You want the people you meet and network with you, to continue to talk to you. A smile is the best accessory you can wear and it looks good with everything, so never be afraid to put one on!
