February 2006 Pre Dinner Summary
The little things that make such a big difference in professional success. Presented by Judy Hartley
Judy Hartley gave us a quiz on first impressions to test our perception of the little things that make a big difference in our professional success. Then we discussed our views on the answers. Her presentation was interactive, lively, and kept us involved as we reviewed and learned how little things do make a big difference.
During your interview, you want to make a good first impression. These are basic concepts that we sometimes fail to remember. Your first impression starts as you enter the door.
- Dress for the job you want
- Wear quality clothing in dark colors for a professional appearance.
- Use bright colors in your accessories.
- Shoes, purses, and briefcases are in good condition, not scuffed, dull, or worn
- Be punctual or early, but never late
- Be polite to everyone
- Research the company to know their product line
- Always use the basic manners we learned as children: please, thank you, excuse me, do not interrupt, and most of all be polite
- Wait for the interviewer to finish their question, then answer. Do not try to read their mind and answer before they complete the question.
- Send a thank you note for the interview and for their time.
Now that you have that dream job, you still need to make a good impression with your coworkers. On the job impressions are just as important as the interview impression.
- Be a team player by sharing responsibilities, be respectful, and help others when you can.
- Clean up after yourself in the lunchroom, meeting rooms, and in the office machine areas.
- When there is a problem, do not ask for the solution. Create the solution and solve the problem.
- Ask for more tasks and responsibilities.
- Keep your supervisor informed of your project status, even if it is not going well.
- Remember the goal is to make high quality products that are delivered on time, provide excellent customer service, and decrease costs, all at the same time.
Judy Hartley can be reached at 612-729-8667. Her email is JudyHartley@webifi.com.