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St. Cloud State University
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Seminar helps appearances
By Regina Eckes
Published:
Thursday, February 6, 2003
Before attending a job interview, common sense would tell most of us to dress nice and have a good attitude.
But what is the definition of "dressing nice or "having a good attitude?" The seminar on "Projecting a Professional Image," which was led by Jane Wilger, SCSU alumnus and public speaker for over 10 years, was a discussion on the specific details one should be aware of when searching for employment.
"The number one reason people are rejected from jobs is poor appearance," Wilger said.
The employer has a chance to read over resumes and applications but meeting people is quite a different story.
"It's like a blind date," Wilger said. "Within the first 10 seconds, the employer is already making decisions about you -- it's not fair, but it's reality."
All of these decisions are based on a person's visual characteristics such as gender, race, attire, hair, posture, eye contact and smile.
Of course, some of these are permanent characteristics that go along with each individual. However, people can choose to dress, groom and present themselves however they want.
"Always go with the conservative unless told otherwise," Wilger said.
She went over basic tips such as addressing the person who is interviewing you as Mr. or Ms., waiting for instruction on where to sit in an office and of course being polite, especially if the interview is over a meal.
Some of these ideas may seem old-fashioned but Wilger was quick to remind us that basic knowledge on manners and etiquette has been dying down for some time now. People are not raised with the same values they once were, she said.
As far as wardrobe development goes, Wilger went into much detail and suggested several things. It is not the best idea to wear things that are too trendy since fashions styles go out in about a year's time. It is also important to keep what you wear in moderation.
Women come on too strong when wearing too much makeup, but some could really use that extra layer of foundation.
Some men also need the right amount of taste; earrings, for example, are usually frowned upon by employers and to be taken seriously, one should not wear them.
But that goes for women too. Excessive jewelry can be a hindrance in the hiring process, especially if it is big enough to rattle.
Other details: a man's tie should go down to the middle of his belt buckle and a woman's skirt should never reveal too much.
Another aspect to looking nice is hair. Too often employers are turned off by a shaggy or messy style. Wilger believes that gel is the way to go if it works for men. It creates a clean-cut and sophisticated look and in light of that idea, women should refrain from having their hair down in their face.
One of the most important points that Wilger touched on was "the dreaded handshake."
If done sloppily and incorrectly, the employer will automatically make a judgment on character.
Wilger even said she had heard of employers not hiring someone simply because of their handshake.
The proper way to shake hands is for the web of the hand between your thumb and pointer finger to fit into the web of the hand your shaking. Make sure it is firm and gives a feeling of confidence. Some people close their hand too soon, which creates more of a finger shake. It implies that the person is weak and displays a lack of confidence.
However, one does not want to perform the bonecruncher, where pain becomes evident on the employers face. The grip and angle have to be just right in order to properly pull it off. It is tricky, but Wilger assures that it can be accomplished.
The Atwood Theater was packed with students from all grade levels and majors. Most students wanted to get some helpful advice concerning up coming internships and interviews that could play an important part in shaping their future careers. People going into fields such as finances, marketing and accounting were most interested in getting a head start in looking professional.
Wilger's seminar contained many points that came off as interesting and beneficial to students. If people did find the talk repetitive, then it proved to be a good reminder on proper appearance and etiquette. In a society where we are constantly told not to judge a book by its cover, Wilger let students know that that is not how the business world operates.
