Career managment and personal presentation

1. Moving Up in Down Times
Consultants say look inside yourself, then look in the mirror
Whether you are forced to make a career change by downsizing, plan
to move on to a new organization, or want to position yourself to move
up to a higher position in your current company, guidance from a career Donna Beestman Kathleen Watson
coach can help make the transition smooth and successful.
“In tight financial times, even tant Kathleen Watson specializes trends or colors, but they agree
executives and senior profes- in appropriate business attire that classic styles are the best
sionals find themselves facing and other elements of nonverbal choice to convey credibility and
tough career decisions,” says communication that distinguish competence.
Donna Beestman of Career job candidates and set the stage Accessories — including the
Success Strategies LLC. for career success. pen and attaché case you carry
A seasoned counselor and Her business, Moving Up — along with grooming, appro-
coach, Beestman helps people Unlimited, offers training and priate eye contact, a firm hand-
assess their strengths, evaluate coaching in impression manage- shake, a well-modulated voice
their experience, explore all ment, a field that helps us learn and posture that conveys a sense
of the possibilities, and then how to make our presence felt of presence all contribute to that
pursue a new vision with an in the most favorable way. critical first impression.
updated résumé and a well- “Research shows that the first Watson also counsels people
defined plan to reach their goals. 30 seconds of an encounter are on how to effectively move,
In her nearly 20 years in career critical,” Watson says. “We begin gesture and occupy space to
management for nonprofits, to make immediate judgments create a sense of authority and
outplacement firms and about people based on what we trustworthiness.
Fortune 500 companies, Beest- see, and we seldom change our Scott Fredrick, who is CEO
man has learned that those in minds, instead filtering addi- of Phoenix Products Co. Inc.,
positions to create strategies for tional information to support Milwaukee, hired Watson to
organizations are not always our initial conclusions.” work with a group of young
adept at creating strategies for Watson recommends a tradi- staff members who were well-
their personal development. tional, tailored, classic look for educated, bright and capable,
Combining multiple types both men and women seeking but who needed some polish.
of assessments with plentiful managerial and executive-level “We make a high-end product,”
communication, Beestman en- positions in most fields. She and Fredrick says, “and professional
courages thorough introspection Beestman agree that a structured appearance and proper business
that often opens the door jacket is a key garment for pro- etiquette are just as important as
to latent talents, desires and fessionals. product knowledge when call-
opportunities that otherwise Women Managers, Executives ing on architects and designers.”
might have gone undiscovered. Have Special Challenges Every Encounter Counts
Included in Beestman’s “Professional attire is more “I encourage people to become
weekly one-on-one in-person or complicated for women because more intentional about manag-
telephone sessions are tips for they have so many more choices ing their careers, and part of
developing a personal brand, than men do, and they have to that is paying close attention to
self-marketing, Internet searches be careful not to send the wrong personal presentation,” Beest-
and online resources, network- signal,” Beestman says. man says. “You’re always mak-
ing, interviewing, negotiating Both she and Watson caution ing impressions and building
and ongoing career manage- women about short skirts, low your reputation.”
ment. necklines, jewelry that makes Watson concurs. “Being
Creating a Personal Brand noise or dangles, open-toed or well-dressed and well-groomed
Beestman encourages her clients -heeled shoes and bare legs. will not guarantee success,” she
to develop a personal brand, and The consultants admit that says, “but an unprofessional
a professional appearance is the conservative clothes may not appearance almost certainly
first step. Colleague and consul- always reflect the latest fashion will undermine it.”
Donna Beestman • 608.831.5226 • donna.beestman@tds.net | Kathleen Watson • 608.848.8156 • info@movingupunlimited.com