Do you project a professional image? Professionalism in the workplace is based on many factors, including how you dress, how you carry yourself, your attitude, and how you interact with others.
Some characteristics put you at risk of making a negative impression and this can hurt your career.
Here are 5 key features to look out for and ways to change them.
1. Negative Attitude: Dressing or behaving badly and thinking no one will notice is a sure sign that people will notice and think badly of you. Your attitude colors everything you do. Pay attention to how you dress and how you treat other people. That makes a difference.
2. Unprofessional Body Language: Here are two things we often see in public that create a bad impression. The first is to yawn with your mouth wide open. Showing the world your teeth is not professional. Cover your mouth.
3. More unprofessional body language: Chewing gum advertises you as unprofessional. It is distracting to see someone chewing gum while talking to a client or in a meeting. If you chew gum while driving to a date, get rid of it before the meeting.
4. Excessive Fragrance: Too much perfume or aftershave is distracting and can aggravate allergies in some people. Be clean and fresh, but keep your fragrance to a minimum. People shouldn’t smell your fragrance unless they’re hugging you. If they smell you across the room, you’ve overdone it.
5. Sloppy Nails: Women with inch-long nails, as well as unusual nail polish colors, aren’t taken seriously. Anyone with ragged or unkempt nails also makes a bad impression. Did you know that people notice hands immediately after noticing faces? Keep your nails trimmed and clean. For women, a clear nail polish or French manicure looks elegant and professional.