What to Wear to an Interview Outfits Attire (Women Men)

What to Wear to an Interview Outfits Attire (Women Men) People tell you to dress for success. To dress for the job you want, not the job you have.Makes sense because 55% of first impressions are determined by the way you dress and walk through the door and 65% of hiring managers say clothes are a deciding factor between two candidates.But no one ever tells you what it is exactly you should wear to an interview.Not us!Like Edith Head said, you can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.This guide will show you:How to dress for an interview to make the right impression.What to wear to be business-casual-friendly.What colors are appropriate for an interview.The dress code for business professional attire that works like magic in job interviews.Business casual and business professional interview outfit ideas for both men and women.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. 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With the same stuff.Create your resume now1What to Wear to an Interview: The General RulesDressing up for an interview is all about matching their company culture.Most offices operate in business professional attire (dont worry well get into that in less than 50 seconds), but some startups and companies prefer casual outfits in the office (well also give you the deets on this).If youre not sure what to wear to your job interview, you could send a quick email to your recruiter to ask about the dress code.If anything, it will demonstrate your proactive nature and your intentions to do well in your interview.If for whatever reason you think asking is a bit too out there for you, most companies have social media profiles these days. You could check a few of their em ployees profiles and see what theyre wearing during office hours.A few companies even have A day in the life videos. You could watch a few of those and get an insight of what the office dress code is all about there. Or simply show up during lunch break to assess what everyone wears.Weird? Perhaps. Foolproof? Most definitely!If the company feels corporate, then a suit and tie for men or a suit and dress for women is the way to go. If its more a-la Zuckerberg, plain t-shirt and casual pants, you know business casual is your friend.Here is a general guideline of what to wear to an interview according to the industry or department youre in:How to Dress for an InterviewConservative/Business ProfessionalBusiness CasualCasualCreative/FashionableCorporationsFinancial institutionsAccounting FirmsLaw FirmsHigh-level governmental institutionsSalesGovernment agenciesEducationRetailSmall BusinessTechEngineeringReal EstateRepairLandscapingPlumbingConstructionEntertainmentFashionGraphic DesignTra velMusicBefore we get into the good bits, lets set a few rules for you to dress to impress:Avoid deciding what to wear on the day of the interview. Youll be stressed enough, trust me! You dont want to end up looking like a kid playing in daddys suit or wear the wrong bra with the only professional dress you have. The right fit is as important as the outfit.Do your laundry a day before. Hiring managers can spot a great candidate. They can also spot that meatball stain you have from your last Bumble date, because heythats the only shirt you wear to close the deal. If you think a stain is human, you need a reality check. Stains and dirty marks turned off 59% of executives. Mic drop.Stay away from too much jewelry. Leave your stacking skills for Coachella. Too many chains, necklaces or bangles can clang together and end up being just pure noise and distraction.Skype interviews dont escape any of these rules. They require the same level of thought and attention to your outfit. Also, plea se wear pants. You never know if youll need to suddenly stand up to get something. Awkward...Pro Tip: After assessing the tone of your prospective company, you should always aim to dress one notch smarter for your interview. But remember, being way too overdressed can be as bad as being underdressed. So do your research!If you know what all this means, youre good to go. Start preparing for your interview by studying the most common interview questions:Tell me about yourself.Why should we hire you?Describe what you do in your current position.Why did you leave your last job?What motivates you?What is your greatest strength?What is your greatest weakness?Why do you want this job?Where do you see yourself in 5 years?What is your management style?Do you have any questions for me?What are your salary expectations?And learn what questions you dont have to answer with help from: Illegal Interview Questions an Employer Cannot Ask [So Don't Answer!]2Interview Attire for Women: Business Profe ssional Interview ClothesWorking in a conservative industry or for a big corporate company?Choosing business professional attire is always a safe bet, even when you dont know the dress code in the company youre applying to.But not to worry, well show you how to rock your business professional attire, even Anna Wintour would be impressed.Ladies first though. If youre looking for answers on the gents side, scroll down a bit further for advice and details on business professional ties, suits and shoes for men.What is business professional attire for women?Sometimes you wish you were a man, only a standard pair of shoes, a dashing suit and plain shirt and voila! All ready to seal the deal during the interview. But deciding what to wear for an interview for women doesnt have to be as complicated as you might think.Business professional attire is the most formal attire one can wear (weddings notwithstanding), it needs to reflect your personality and competence without going overboard.Trut h is, most everyday outfits women have in their closet can be tweaked and have you interview ready.Lets start with business professional suits for women first.How to wear a business professional suit for womenSuits are a staple of a womans professional closet. Even Wonder Woman has one!For women, suits are generally made of a blazer and either a pair of trousers or a skirt in a matching fabric. Here are some guidelines for interview attire to follow.Youll feel like youre the brainchild of Carrie Bradshaw and Michelle Obama (come on, who wouldnt want to be):Always choose a neutral color like navy blue, grey or black.The fabric should be seasonless like wool.The sleeves on the blazer should end right at your wrist. Dont bother with sleeves that come down to your hands.The blazer should sit nicely on your shoulder. It should be right at the edge without hanging past.The skirt should come at least to the top of your knees so its not too short when youre walking or sitting down.The trous ers may need to be tailored depending on your height and the height of the shoes youre planning to wear with them. The trouser cuff should be at the midway point of your shoe or just past your ankles.Even if you plan to wear the blazer open, you should be able to comfortably close it. But careful of too much extra room when the blazer is buttoned!What is a business professional dress for women?What would women be without a good old dress?We all have that one dress, often black, that we like to wear on every occasion. But is it interview appropriate?Lets find out.Formal dresses for women are easy to come around. But remember that work dresses shouldnt be too tight, too short or too revealing. You can, of course, pair them with blazers but be careful that your color coordination is on point.Avoid the steely gaze of Miranda Priestly and opt out of sleeveless. Theyre generally too casual for most offices.Still hanging on to that black dress of yours? No problem.What to wear with a black dressA jacket always adds a professional touch to any simple black dress. Paired with a nice pair of shoes and handbag (avoid flashy colors here), it might just be what your day-to-day black dress needs to enter the business professional clan. Keep the look simple, polished and elegant.Waitare you more a skirt kinda girl? That works too.Women are often confronted with the good old skirts or pants dilemma. Truth is, there is no right or wrong answer. It pretty much comes down to personal preferences.What to wear with a black skirtYou can never go wrong with a lighter top and black blazer here. Black shoes work well too.Are you more of a woman who wears the pants?Joan of Arc would be proud. But unfortunately, its not necessarily the easiest option. You need to make sure theyre the right fit.How should womens dress pants fitFirst of all, you want to avoid pants that are too tight you cant sit comfortably or so tight you have a visible panty line. If you have a camel toe at the crotch or if your pants are smiling, your pants are too tight.A picture is worth a thousand words:Notice the creases at the crotch, not good...In contrast, a rise seam that is too long will create bulges at the top. You dont want that either!If you cant pinch at leach an inch of extra fabric on your thighs, your pants might be in the too tight category.Now lets tackle the shirts.How to choose professional shirts for womenWhen it comes to looking for shirts to wear with skirts or professional pants, deciding on what shirt to wear to an interview can be challenging. Whether you go with a classic professional white shirt or a silky colored one, what matters here is to stick with simple.Avoid flashy colors and logos at all cost. Certain prints can be an option, but if youre not too sure, dont risk it.Now lets move on to the shoes and lets address the elephant in the room first.Do I have to wear heels to an interview?You dont have to wear heels to any interview, especially if youre not comforta ble. And even if youre petite. You dont want your prospective team or boss remembering you as the wobbly candidate. Not the greatest of impressions if you ask!When deciding what professional shoes to wear to an interview, make sure your shoes are closed toe, the heel no higher than 3 inches, and in neutral colors. Flats are perfectly acceptable for an interview too.Leave the flip-flops, Eskimo boots, and Nike in the shoe cabinet. And the sandals are for casual Fridays, not interviews!3Interview Attire for Men: What to Wear and How to Pull It OffNot all men have Tom Fords fashion acumen and thats why were here!In a world where most guys wear sneakers and can barely remember how to knot a necktie, a business professional outfit is your chance to look cooler than the rest.So, should you really wear a suit to an interview?When men are deciding what to wear to an interview, theyre often left with one choice: to suit up. If you work at the C-level of an organization, in law or in finance, the dress code pretty much has one rule only: conservative. If in doubt, always choose a suit.But, how do you wear a suit for an interview? And whats the best suit color?Your suit should be a two-piece, in either charcoal grey or navy blue. You can also wear navy suits or grey suits with subtle pinstripes. Lighter greys and blues can be worn in spring or summer. But very light suit colors are for garden parties and weddings, not the office.Should you wear a black suit to an interview?Good question! Look, wearing a well-fitted black suit wont make you miss your chance at the interview, but its not ideal either. If you can, avoid wearing a black suit. And a black shirt for that matter. Just saying, we never know.Speaking of shirts and colorsWhat color shirt should you wear to an interview?Solid white and light-to-medium blues would be your best choices. Pink dress shirts look nice, but they tend to be more accepted in England than they are in the United States.Should you lose the cuf fs?You can either go with barrel or French cuffs, but you could leave the French cuffs to co-workers who have more seniority over you. A younger man wearing French cuffs may be seen as a bit arrogant. Sounds unfair, doesnt it?Ties for InterviewsOne word: simple. Solids are a preference, but you could do stripes or dots. Unless youre interviewing to impersonate Ronald McDonald, avoid electric bright colors like yellow, or a flaming red.What shoes to wear to an interviewThis is where men can have some fun when picking what to wear to an interview. The color of your shoes should be either black, brown or burgundy. The rest is up to you. Oxfords, quarter-brogues, whole cuts, Venetian loafers or cap-toes, whatever you fancy.Pro Tip:If your budget is limited or if you want a few options of interview outfits, you could always get a first-time buyer discount with online retailers. End of stock retailers like TJ Maxx or Century 21 can also be a source of good finds for both men and women.4Ho w to wear Business Casual for an Interview? [MEN and WOMEN]First of all, lets address the question all of us had at some point: what the heck is business casual?The easiest way to think of business casual is a hybrid of business professional and casual wear. You dont need to wear a full-on suit, but shorts and flip-flops wouldn't be appropriate.Think button-down long-sleeved shirt or casual blouse with khakis.When googling around to decide what to wear to an interview, both men and women end up thinking that its perfectly okay to wear jeans. But business casual isnt meant to be a casual look, its meant for business purposes.When deciding what to wear to an interview, always lean towards the business side rather than the casual side.Some companies allow jeans and you might get away with it, but ask yourself whether you want to wear clothes that you get away with or wear ones that give the most professional impression of you. Plus, you can still gauge what others are wearing once in t he office.Better to be safe, than sorry.Whats a business casual shirt for men and women?Dress shirts are business casual must-haves for both women and men. Some offices might allow polo shirts in the summer, but once again, dont risk it for an interview. Wear a shirt when interviewing then once you have a sneak peek of the office style, go for it!Shirts in conservative colors work for both men and women. And please, tuck it in!An untucked shirt has no business being in a business casual outfit. Leave your top two buttons undone, unless its showing too much chest hair or cleavage, then leave just the top one undone.What are business casual pants?Weve already established that jeans are a no-go, but chinos, dress pants or khakis are a no-brainer. Here, conservative colors are always your best friend. Were talking navy, camel or grey for example. If you want more colored pants, make sure theyre muted.What if I want to wear a business casual dress or skirt?That works too. Although if you re a man reading this, you might want to scroll down a bit further. The blouses or shirts you wear with your pants will most likely pair well with a skirt. Pencil, A-line or pleated skirt in a solid color always works best.Try avoiding patterns during a first interview and leave your fashionable pieces for when you signed your contract!Dresses are an easier choice for business casual outfits for women. Its one item and off you go to work! Here, sleeveless could work. But avoid minis, high-low, and asymmetrical hemlines and go for dresses and skirts just above the knee or below.Its still an interview youre going for!What are business casual shoes?When deciding what to wear to an interview, the only business casual shoes you want to pick are sneakers. Those Stan Smith are originals after all, and you want to show them off.But dont. Seriously, your hiring manager couldnt care less about your sneaker collection.Men should consider loafers, oxfords, derbies, and brogues when deciding wha t to wear to an interview.If you get a pair in black and another in brown, you have an appropriate pair of shoes to wear with any color of your pants. You might even forget those sneakers for a little while! (Never, you must be screaming)Women should consider flats, wedges, heels, and boots when picking what to wear to an interview.Only certain sandals can be worn with your business casual outfits so you might want to stick with flats or less than 3 inches heels. You can spice up the color of your shoes, but neutrals are always a good bet.Examples of Business Casual Outfits for MenChannel the James Bond in you and dazzle them with your effortlessly chic business casual suit. This is a smart one too.If you end up in an office with a more business professional look, you wouldnt stick out too much. But if your interview is with laid-back colleagues, you can just lose the jacket, and youd fit right in.An odd jacket means a jacket that wasnt made with a matching pair of pants. So for all of you tweed lovers out there, this is your chance to show off your collection.Dress pants or chinos work well with any odd jacket. Dress pants are a bit more on the business professional side and chinos are more casual.This look is for all the casual junkies out there. Yep, looking at you suit snobs!Its not as dressed up as the two previous ones but still misleads your interviewer into thinking that youre a trustworthy professional. If only they knew!Youre probably sick of seeing Ryan Gosling in every fashion (or not) related article out there, but he does a good job at picking a business casual outfit that doesnt look that casual.Or maybe Im just biased.In any case, live by this rule: either wear a jacket and tie, or neither. Wearing a tie with this look will make you look boyish. Like your mother dressed you up for your aunts wedding. Not exactly the look we want to go for here.Examples of Business Casual Outfits for WomenA sleeveless dress might be too much on the casual side, but paired with a blazer, youre ready to butt heads with Oprah in those fancy billionaire lists.Ok maybe you wont have billions coming through in your bank account (or not just yet), but youll sure feel like a million bucks.A basic cardigan is a must in any business casual outfits for women. A simple waist length cardigan or longer one works just fine.Buttons, no buttons, it doesnt matter. We just emphasize the right fit. You dont want to show up for an interview like youve stolen your boyfriends cardigan.With longer cardigans, you can even use a skinny belt to add some definition and a different look to an outfit.This one is an all-star favorite. Wearing a nice blouse with dress pants or chinos doesnt compromise comfort and is totally business casual. Seriously, men wish they could just show up to an interview like this too.In colder months, stick with long or sleeves. For spring and summer, short or cap sleeves work well. Keep your neckline somewhat modest with a collared, boat n eck, square neck, or turtleneck.I mean how comfy and professional does this look.Simple, professional, not too casual, not too stuck up.Fine-gauge knits work best. Bulky sweaters not so much. You can wear well-fitted sweaters with pants, skirts, or even over a dress.Pro Tip: When deciding what colors to wear to an interview, you should always go for colors that go with your skin tone. Nudes and solid colors are every man and womans best friends. Leave the bold choices to when you actually know if the dress code allows it.5Interview Grooming: Hair Up or Down? (Face On or Off?)How to wear your hair for an interview can be a bit of a daunting question.If youre a man, then its pretty straightforward. Err on the safe side with a clean, neat and well-maintained haircut. Also, put your best self forward and shave, its that simple. And send a selfie to your mom, shell be proud!If youre a woman, it gets a bit more trickier.If youre more Becky with the good hair, then you can rock your long ( or short) hair dont care, as long as its combed, fresh and sleek. Controlled waves can also look elegant, so dont worry too much about wearing your hair all natural.A bun or ponytail look also works for both short and long hair. Getting a blow out will give you that extra boost of confidence before an interview for sure!Should you wear your hair up or down for an interview?Whatever style youre going for, make sure its polished and youll sure be ready to get that interview.And whats the verdict for men with long hair in interviews?Mmh, tricky tricky one. The general consensus is to cut it. Dont start crying just yet though, you could get away with wearing it in a tight bun. But wearing it loose is unfortunately not acceptable in various industries. Sorry, bruh!What makeup should you wear to an interview?In terms of makeup, keep it simple. This isnt the time to experiment with different looks. If you usually know how to rock a red lip, then go for it. But if youre a newbie, please don t even try. Not the day of your interview.Stick to nudes and warm colors and tone down the glamorous eyeshadow, youll have plenty of other occasions to use that Huda beauty palette at the annual gala if you get the job.Pro Tip: Your hair and face arent the only ones you need to care for here. Make sure your hands are well-kept and your nails are trimmed. If youre a woman and really insist on having some colors popping, stick to sheer colors, taupe, beige or clear nail polish and ensure your nails are well-manicured.6Whatnotto Wear to an Interview?All of us, at some point in our lives, have watched an episode or two of any makeover show. Come on, you dont have to be a heavy binge watcher to know what Im talking about.Can you at least picture that before stage?Thats exactly how we dont want you to show up at your interview.Here is what NOT to wear to an interview:Flip-flops. Wear grown-up shoes, you can do it.Shiny bright suits. Only Stanley Ipkiss (The Mask) can rock that one!No open toe anything. True, sandals can be fine for women in some climates but stay away for beachy sandals in general.Heavy fragrance. Its super distracting and not everyone is keen on your 100 years old cologne. Also, dont go to your interview smelling like your lunch, please!Underwear thats visible. Bras, briefs, boxers, etc., even if your bra strap matches your top.Blouses that are too short or too low cut. No one is interested in your chest hair, cleavage or belly for that matter.Graphic T-shirts. Leave your Future is Female and Train or Die gems at home. It takes too much attention away from you and your interviewer might not like the message it carries.Ill-fitting anything. Seriously, you think youll still look cute in an oversized jacket or pants? Well, you wont. Make sure your shoes also fit, otherwise hello blisters the next morning!Shorts and jeans. Do we really have to go over this again?Pro Tip: Avoid wearing brand names, designer names or labels. All the attention needs to be on you and what you have to offer, not the brands you choose to wear. And making it obvious that you like fancy designers wont guarantee you the job either!Key TakeawayWhen deciding what to wear to an interview, avoid a fashion interview faux pas by sticking with simple and sleek choices. This is not the time to play around with your style or be adventurous. Lets leave that to when you start cashing on the checks of your new job!Here are a few things to remember:Plan ahead. If you have that one or two classic interview outfits, youll always be prepared no matter when the interview might be.Always do some research. You want to the hiring manager to see you in the role already. And if youre wearing a casual shirt and ripped jeans when applying to a corporate client facing role, that might be hard.Being too formal is always the safest option. If you end up wearing a suit to a business casual interview, thats always more acceptable than wearing a t-shirt to a conservative interview.You might want to cover your tattoos or get rid of your earings and rings. Depending on where youre interviewing, some companies have policies which limit wearing rings, piercings and tattoos.Whats your favorite job-winning outfit? Ever got in trouble because you wore something that made you stand out for all the wrong reasons? Share your experience in the comments!

Understanding the hidden job market

Understanding the hidden job market 70% of all vacancies are never advertised, or so the story goes. This figure has been quoted for as long as Ive worked in careers and Im not sure anyone knows exactly where it comes from. In many ways it doesnt really matter whether its 7% or 70% as long as you factor this hidden side of the job market into your job search strategy. If  youre spending all your time on job portals (good as they are) youre potentially missing out. By dedicating a small fraction of your time to unearthing unadvertised vacancies you may well find a wider range of opportunities than advertised vacancies alone. And this is even more true when you expand the parameters to include internships and other work placements. Heres an interesting anecdote: when the economy is thriving and employers are hiring like gangbusters  the hidden job market shrinks. What does this mean?  Well, in the current economic climate it means you need to look beyond the surface. Only the most determined, resourceful and proactive job-seeker will prevail. Why dont employers advertise their vacancies? By far the majority of hidden opportunities are concentrated within the SME sector, which to many students and graduate is equally hidden, despite accounting for 99% of all British businesses. SMEs small or medium sized enterprises employ fewer than 250 employees and dont have the finances or infrastructure to compete with the big graduate recruiters, so theyre often invisible to graduates as a source of jobs or work placements. Understanding how  they operate will give you the ammo needed to tap into the sector and widen your job search. They dont need to Organisations and sectors which have more interested people than the number of vacancies available can fill these pretty quickly from direct approaches, or internal networks. If you’re the lucky intern or work experience student who is doing a really impressive job, why would they bother to advertise when the time comes to fill a vacancy? They already have you, so  no need to spend time and money on a recruitment campaign and selection process. Its a win-win. Limiting factors These may include time or money. Many small organisations, across a range of sectors media, charity, niche engineering firms simply dont have the resources human or financial required to process the volume of applications generated by job ads. Factor in the cost of ads and glossy recruitment campaigns, and they may just decide that an extra pair of hands is not worth the additional expense. But a direct approach from someone who understands the organisation, and can persuasively plead their case, may be viewed more positively.  Some companies and organisations dont know what theyre missing..until you tell them! How to find these hidden opportunities If employers sometimes have (or might create) vacancies which they are not advertising, what are the tips for finding and securing these opportunities? Do your research Youre more likely to be taken seriously if you understand what the organisation is doing, what differentiates it from similar organisations, and what jobs there are likely to be. Let’s say you want a newspaper internship (or work placement) in Oxford â€" if you don’t know what differentiates the Oxford Mail from the Oxford Times from the Oxford Journal and what implications this has for the people working there, then youd better make sure you find out. Read widely and use all the information sources at your disposal news articles, press releases, social media. Leave no stone unturned. Tell people youre looking (aka networking!) You get a job by talking to people. Tell everyone and anyone who will listen what youre looking for.  There may be some surprising connections, like the student who got her first political placement because her Mum belonged to the same social group as the MP’s secretary! Of course some people are blessed with better networks than others â€" but networks can be developed, and if youre on the shy side, then take refuge in social networks to help you build confidence (and contacts). Its important to get your LinkedIn profile up to scratch and use this vast professional network to identify possible leads and contacts.   Maybe you could set up an  Informational interview    a great way to gain information, insight and intelligence. Give it a try. Work out your strategy Just as in the open job market, a targeted approach is more likely to bear fruit.  Dont send out 100 generic CVs hoping to strike it lucky. Draw up a list of potential organisations and work out who is the best person to contact.  This is where LinkedIn come in to its own: use the company info to help you identify key personnel. Its easier to ignore an email than it is a phone call, but you will need to be both confident and persistence if you decide to ring. Dont stop at the HR or admin dept. if you can help it they may not be in the best position to make or influence the decision. Get your CV in order Use your research to help structure and tailor your CV/cover letter/email. Youll have to work just as hard with speculative applications    in some ways more so because you need to present a compelling case. Why should employers spend time looking at your CV? Whats in it for them? If youre not sure how or where to start, then come and have a chat with our job search advisers. The 3 Ps Be persuasive. You could have interests, skills or prior experience which may be really attractive to your target organisation  its about finding the hook. Think of yourself as a product you need to sell. Make it hard for the employer to resist your approach. Be persistent.  If you get a clear ‘no’ it may be time to move on to the next organisation/company on your list. But you can convert a reluctant ‘maybe’ into a potential or even definite offer, with a good amount of time and effort.  An email is easy to ignore, a phone call is harder a second or third phone call or perhaps a visit shows that youre really keen. And determined. I once met the director of an organisation in a popular sector who routinely ignored first requests for any kind of work experience â€" it was those who came back a second time that he knew were serious. He also told a story which demonstrates the value of persistence and persuasiveness. Someone with no experience kept getting in touch insisting that they had the skills for the job and begging for the chance to prove it.  The company arranged a short work trial, which turned into a permanent  job. His approach and self-belief were both vindicated. Be philosophical. There are no guarantees your efforts will be rewarded but the worst that can happen is that  you hear no when youre hoping for  yes. Surely its worth the risk, when a good result could mean the start of your dream career?

To Hell With Dell Inside Apples Sexy, Booming Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

To Hell With Dell Inside Apple’s Sexy, Booming Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career A few months ago I noticed something change in my relationship. We’d been together for nearly three years and then slowly there were new feelings developing. I did my best to stay true and loyal but, I have to admit, the other one had such sex appeal. I got more and more excited every time we worked together. Six months after these feelings began, and while working with both of them at the same time, I finally had to make a choice. Sure, the sex appeal was a factor but what I really loved was how easy the new relationship was compared to the old one. I smiled again and couldn’t wait to explore every thing we could share and do together. To hell with Dell I had made the decision there was no looking back. In fact, once I did it felt as though I was part of a new community of “cool kids”. My business was now a full Apple shop. As the CEO I’d said, “Go To Hell Dell” and changed us over to Appleland. Given this is quite an initial investment, it took some time to decide but it was a great decision. The question is, how did Apple get a loyal Dell consumer like me to flip the brand switch? We’re all different Apple starts most products with “i”; the iPad, iTouch, iPhone, iPod which gives the consumer the feeling that their product is customized. We’re all different and to produce a mass technology product with a brand message that says “It’s About You” is smart, innovative and â€" as Apple proves â€" replicable. Who knows what else “I” will get to be a part of next? In a world where the phrase “it’s all about me” has become more common than “thank you, Apple’s personalized technology products to are smart. Hello sexy There are Mac people and PC people. It’s a fact. Mac people are sexy, cool, hip, trendy, creative and a host of other cool type adjectives. PC people are serious, conservative, boring, tired and bogged down with system errors. Apple’s made their brand, stores, products and even the accessories sexy. Colors of the products to backlit keyboards and bouncing dashboard icons, Apple knows â€" and executes â€" sexy. In an article on Business Insider recently, Steve Jobs highlighted 11 brand ways he made Apple the technology company to beat. Three of those ways that can easily translate to personal branding are by thinking differently, innovating, and being controversial. Author: Adriana Llames is a veteran career coach and acclaimed author of Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game, released with top book seller Amazon.com. She is creator of   “HR In-A-Box,” a Human Resources software product helping small businesses across America and a professional keynote speaker motivating and inspiring audiences with her focused programs on “9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”, “Confessions of a Career Coach” and “Nice Girls End Up on Welfare.” For more information, visit www.adrianallames.com

20 Time Revolution

The 80/20 Time Revolution Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'5_uEhTOEQqVHaYJoj-SgDg',sig:'CK8yrxDMFlHIy6sEeA6qOZWdw1Fvy1wfngqSD2PFxhY=',w:'509px',h:'339px',items:'530112526',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.  JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE In a previous post, I introduced Richard Koch, the author of The 80/20 Principle; The Secret to Achieving More with Less. Be prepared if you decide to read this book; it will make you uncomfortable about the way you spend your time, and perhaps even about the way you live your life.   The premise of the book comes from the Pareto Principle (also known as the  80â€"20 rule and the  law of the vital few)  which states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Koch writes that time management is a lost cause; it’s “try to fit a quart into a pint jar.” He asserts that most people don’t understand what tasks are most important, or they’d be doing them already; instead, we’re content with “busyness” instead of making tough decisions about business. He writes: “The 80/ 20 Principle overturns conventional wisdom about time. The implications of 80/ 20 time analysis are quite different and, to those suffering from the conventional view of time, startlingly liberating.” The 80/ 20 Principle asserts the following (directly from his text): Our current use of time is not rational. There is therefore no point in seeking marginal improvements in how we spend our time. We need to go back to the drawing board and overturn all our assumptions about time. There is no shortage of time. In fact, we are positively awash with it. We only make good use of 20 percent of our time. And for the most talented individuals, it is often tiny amounts of time that make all the difference. The 80/ 20 Principle says that if we doubled our time on the top 20 percent of activities, we could work a two-day week and achieve 60 percent more than now. This is light years away from the frenetic world of time management. The 80/ 20 Principle treats time as a friend, not an enemy. Time gone is not time lost. Time will always come round again. This is why there are seven days in a week, twelve months in a year, why the seasons come round again. Insight and value are likely to come from placing ourselves in a comfortable, relaxed, and collaborative position toward time. It is our use of time, and not time itself, that is the enemy. The 80/ 20 Principle says that we should act less. Action drives out thought. It is because we have so much time that we squander it. The most productive time on a project is usually the last 20 percent, simply because the work has to be completed before a deadline. Productivity on most projects could be doubled simply by halving the amount of time for their completion. Koch says we must banish the Protestant Work Ethic that has dominated our careers for so long. What we interpret as loving hard work is really just the virtuous glow we get from having done it. Once we liberate ourselves from the ideal of work, we’re free to embrace an ideal of laziness (technically defined as an aversion to work, but which could also mean a commitment to accomplishing the most with the least amount of effort.) I have to admit, this is hard for me to accept. In my family, “lazy” is one of the worst insults you can throw at another human being. We are hard-working, middle class, Midwestern people; we don’t do lazy.   If I can get to Richard Koch’s ideal state of being “economical with my energy,”   I may be able to achieve more than I thought possible. I take on Lazy with a capital L in a future post.

Volunteer Your Way to the Top

Volunteer Your Way to the TopWhy would you want to include information on your resume about volunteering work and writing resumes? Many people do, especially if you are looking for a job that requires extra training and certifications. Some students are looking for volunteer jobs while taking a vacation in order to gain the skills they need to succeed on campus or as a newly graduated college student.There are many different ways to volunteer. Some organizations require participants to have certain qualifications or skill sets that they can show on their resume. Others may not consider such experience when evaluating applicants. You should understand the difference between positions that require volunteering and those that do not and be sure to include all relevant information on your resume.Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful way to provide free housing to those in need. It gives students an opportunity to learn more about a different type of community building and demonstrate their ability to serve others. Many programs offer housing or rent assistance to new and current volunteers. There are many volunteer opportunities offered by different areas throughout the country.Writing resumes with volunteer experience helps students to demonstrate their willingness to help those in need. It shows that they will be an asset to any organization. Some students may not be willing to go this far on their resume, but they can still be very helpful by volunteering some of their time. They can also attend church events, help at their college library, or even host a fundraising event. Volunteer experience is priceless.Whether you are talking about doing something as simple as taking pictures, planning a bake sale, or helping with service projects at school, there are many ways you can give back to the community. Look for volunteering opportunities in your area and talk to people who need your help. Ask them what kinds of things they need done, and then find someone who needs help. With a little bit of effort, you can find a number of great ways to give back.For example, if you are planning to do bake sales, talk to local bakers and learn about their experience and plans for the upcoming season. You can then start planning the perfect designs for your event. When you are looking at different types of volunteer services, you may find that many places require you to show your work during orientation.If you are doing something as simple as organizing a game night or cooking a dinner, having a good resume idea for such a service project is a great way to begin listing the different types of volunteer experiences that you have performed. When you take the time to write a resume, be sure to list the different tasks that you can perform. This way, if the company has a need for your services, you can take the time to list it on your resume.The important thing to remember is that volunteering is a great way to write a great resume. It is also a great way to gain a competitive edge. You can always find more opportunities in the future by giving your all to volunteer.

3 Steps to Powerful Marketing - Kathy Caprino

3 Steps to Powerful Marketing When I work with individuals wishing to create new marketing materials for their new practice or business, I ask them to take three steps with me in the process of creating powerful messages and materials about who they are and what they offer to the world. Not coincidentally, these are the same three helpful steps I explore in my forthcoming book Breakdown, Breakthrough: The Professional Womans Guide to Claiming a Life of Passion, Power, and Purpose (Berrett-Koehler, September 2008). These steps help you to navigate through challenge, fear, and inertia, to breakthrough. These steps are: Step Back Let Go Say Yes! Stepping BackThe first step is to Step Back to gain a fresh new perspective of where you have been, where you are today, and where youd like to go. So often, we think about our past and current situation from a perspective of lack whats not good enough rather than accurately assess all the gifts, talents, abilities and skills weve honed and amassed throughout our lives. Stepping Back gives you the opportunity to review and appreciate: The full range of skills and talents youve developed The experiences youve personally created with these skills The successes and triumphs youve achieved Your special personality traits that make you you The combination of these that makes you unique and particularly helpful to others I remember two years ago in thinking about the book I wanted to write, a terrific consultant in NYC, Janet Goldstein, who helps authors develop their ideas and businesses, urged me to marry in a holistic way all the skills and talents I loved to use, with where I wanted to go in the future. For me that involved pulling together my skills in market research, interviewing, marketing, writing, entertaining through voice (speaking/singing), and speaking out about the challenges professional women face. In combining all of these aspects, I found exactly where I needed to go, and how to communicate it. Fleshing out this information in full detail for yourself will help you gain clarity on where you wish to go with your business, and your life. Letting GoThe second step in developing compelling marketing tools and communications is to get clear on whats holding you back from thinking and growing as big as youd like. Are you struggling with identifying a specific niche that gives you passion? Are you wondering if theres too much competition in your field (not probable, in my view)? Do you feel you need more education and training to come forward and be all youd like to in your line of work? Are you uncomfortable speaking about yourself in complimentary ways? If so, get some outside help to research the best steps to take to resolve what holds you back. Once you understand your negative thought process about your business and move forward to address them your marketing communications will be more powerful, because theyre authentic not a stretch of the truth but an accurate, potent representation. Saying Yes!Finally, Say Yes! to knowing that you do make a difference to others, and speak confidently about it. Know that you are an expert. Understand the difference you make in peoples lives, and communicate it. Live into it. Offer your services everywhere, give talks, write newsletters and articles. Bring yourself to the market actively. Find new organizations and companies that you would want to partner with, and approach them. Dont keep yourself a secret. As you get the word out more and more, youll refine your professional message as you refine your professional identity. It will grow and change as you do. Say Yes! to powerfully bringing yourself forward. You do make a positive difference, and others need to know about it.

Tips to Enjoying Work

Tips to Enjoying Work When I was 19 years old and a sophomore in college I took an accounting class to satisfy a requirement for my minor in Human Resources. Most areas of math never came easily for me. Therefore, I didn’t think accounting would be easy even though accounting is in my blood my father is a CPA. I believe my dad wanted one of his children to major in accounting, even though he never said so. Not Sure What to Expect Going into this class I decided to sit in the “T” area of the class. I had heard that students who sat in the front row of a class or in a seat in the vertical middle row (thus making a “T) got better grades. I don’t know if this is true, but I made sure to sit in the “T” area every class because I wasnt sure how I would do with the material. I took to the information fairly quickly and felt it was easy to understand. I received an ‘A’ in the class. Being proud of this accomplishment, I was excited to tell my father. His response was something to the effect of, “Great now you can take more accounting classes.” My response was, “Dad, just because I’m good at something doesn’t mean I like it.” I had no idea how profound a statement that was. In fact it wasn’t until much much later in my life when I reflected on that conversation that I realized how true that was. Could I understand accounting? Yes. Did the concepts come easily to me? Yes. Did I want to spend more time wanting to learn more accounting principles? No. Being Good at a Job Isnt Enough Many of my clients bring up this very point. They are skilled in a certain area, but do not want to stay in a career in that area. It doesn’t feel right. My clients and I discuss how a career needs to meet more criteria than just a match for your skills. To a degree, a career must also align with your interests, personality and values as well as your skills. Within your skills, not only should you be good at that skill, you should want to utilize that skill in a major way in your career. Is your career aligned that way? Are you using the skills you are good at or the skills you are both good at and want to be using? It’s an important distinction for career engagement. Helping clients understand this difference led me to start Wolfgang Career Coaching. In our Explore and Discover framework, we discuss interests, personality, behaviors, values and skills. We determine which ones are most important and you require in a career. Im fortunate to help many clients reach an ah ha! moment when they realize why they arent satisfied in the job or career. At this point, my clients see jobs in a different way and have a clear set of criteria they are looking for as we discover alternative careers. I think back to that accounting conversation with my dad often. I encourage you to spend some time asking yourself what skills you truly enjoy and want to be using in your career. Once you have identified them, begin to think of ways you can use those skills more in your life. This exercise could help you begin to enjoy your day-to-day activities much more.