You’ve heard it said that you only get one chance to
make a good first impression, and this is especially true in job search
activities – networking and interviews.
Most job searchers spend the majority of their time focusing on the nuts
and bolts of putting a resume together, applying to jobs, reaching out to
contacts for assistance. It’s important
not to neglect what might be considered the “intangibles” – developing those
qualities that will make a positive first impression, and lead you to more
interviews and the job you seek.
What I’m referring to specifically is your
professional presence, and in creating a strong and credible presence, you will
establish trust in your product – yourself – and will be able to effectively
initiate and build relationships.
Professional presence is your complete package. This includes your image; your dress, style
and attention to detail. You don’t have to
spend a fortune or wear the fashion of the moment, but should be in line with
the professional dress for your industry or field. This may mean toning down your dress if
you’re a recent graduate, or updating your wardrobe if you’ve been out of the
job seeking mode for a while. Body
language is also important; you can tell the difference between a confident
person – head held high, hand outstretched for a firm shake, smiling, leaning
forward with interest to hear what’s being said – and someone who’s unsure of
themselves – head down, shuffling feet, no eye contact. Ask people who know you how you come across
and work on building confidence with your body, if necessary.
Another key element of professional presence is your
approach; when you meet someone, are you confident in what you say and how you
say it? You’ve heard of course that you
should have an elevator speech prepared, in which you summarize your brand and
goals. Have several versions of
different lengths prepared for different situations, and practice repeatedly,
so that you incorporate the information and it doesn’t sound rehearsed. You may have a more technically detailed
speech for a professional association meeting than for a general networking
event, for example. Confidence is key to
powerful professional presence – you have to live your brand, every day in
every way.
Many situations call for polished presentation
skills, from an individual interview to a networking event, to a formal
presentation to a group. The following
helpful tips come from Donna Rawady, an experienced career coach (http://www.donnarawady.com/).
A strong imagination may help public
speaking jitters.
I’ve
been presenting in front of audiences, small and large, for 25 years. And
although I enjoy it, it’s not unusual for my breath to shorten and my palms to
get sweaty, in those few minutes before stepping on stage or in front of a room
full of people. I realize that for some, public speaking is much more
stressful. For others, it may be paralyzing.
For
those of you who either choose to present, or are in professional roles that
call for public speaking, using your imagination may help.
In
the days prior to your presentation, try visualizing regularly, a perfect
presentation and audience response.
Imagine
that you’re completely relaxed, in control and feeling great. Visualize right
down to the details of what you’ll be wearing (which should be something you
feel great in).
At
first, simply visualize yourself comfortably calm, and imagine your audience
approaching you afterwards to thank you for a great presentation.
While
you’re visualizing, make an effort to relax your hands and fingers. You’ll be
amazed at how this small action will help your entire body relax. (If you find
yourself tensing during your presentation, consciously relax your hands and
fingers. It may help you mentally tap into the relaxed state of mind you
experienced during your visualization.)
In
addition to conditioning your mental state, be sure to be well prepared. Once
you’ve memorized the flow of your presentation, you can incorporate the overall
flow of the presentation into your visualization.
So
before your next presentation, give it a try—sit back, close your eyes, relax,
and imagine the best.
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