The document provides tips for effectively packaging oneself for a job interview or employment search. It discusses the importance of appearance and first impressions, and provides guidelines for appropriate attire, accessories, hygiene, and behavior. It also outlines 10 Ps of personal branding that include being poised, prepared, proactive, productive, and punctual. Finally, it discusses some acceptable ways to selectively present experiences and accomplishments on a resume, such as highlighting team successes and using numbers or comparisons to showcase strengths.

1. P ACKAGING Y OURSELF FOR SUCCESS Important first impression practices & guidelines for effective employment searching strategies.

2. Does your appearance say, “Hire me?” Your clothes, attitude, and gestures give silent messages to others and create an impression. This image strongly influences the employer’s hiring decision. Upon learning about your interview, begin immediately to prepare yourself and your wardrobe for this very important business meeting. The following suggestions will help you create your “package for success.”

3. DO NOT BE SCREENED OUT OF AN INTERVIEW OR AN APPLICATION BECAUSE OF YOUR APPEARANCE!! Be sure to dress the part you are applying for. This happens!!!!

4. Dress for the job you want!

5. C hoose an appropriate outfit for the interview: Women Suit, skirt, blouse, or a dress with a blazer-type jacket. Do not wear sleeveless or backless dresses or hemlines above the knee. Medium-heeled pumps with closed toes Hosiery Men Suit or sport jacket, dress shirt (button up), slacks, tie, belt, and dress shoes No tennis shoes (or at least black tennis shoes) Dark socks (a must) Polo shirts are good; shirts with collars specifically No jeans

6. F A B R I C Appropriate business-quality fabrics Wool Linen Gabardine Cotton Inappropriate Fabrics: Shiny / see-through Chiffon Denim Suede Taffeta Corduroy Tight Knits C O L O R Fashion consultants believe that color plays an important role in any employer’s hiring decision. The following are suggestions that you may want to consider when selecting your interview outfit. Choose solid colors or muted stripes or checks for suits, jackets, pants, skirts or dresses. The best colors are thought to be blue (believable) and gray (authoritative). Do not wear a solid black outfit, for it is seen as too severe. In addition to solids, stripes or paisleys are good designs for scarves, ties, blouses, or shirts. Good color combinations for accessories include burgundy, blue, white, red and yellow.

7. ACCESSORIES Choose conservative accessories. Do not wear distracting items such as large earrings (no earrings for men, or exposed body piercings and cover up tattoos if possible), multiple chains or rings, buckles, gloves, etc. Necklaces and pins can serve as a focal point for women as a tie does for men. Socks for men should be either black or navy. Stockings for women should be skin tone, light gray or cream. Don’t wear hose with designs. Women should use a small purse or handbag.

8. Wrapping up the Package Repair seams, buttons, and hems Clean spots and stains Clean and iron clothing, Shine shoes Clean, combed and conservative hairstyle Clean or manicure nails (women use light nail color Get extra sleep and exercise to decrease stress Set out outfit items and accessories

9. Day of Interview Practice proper hygiene Neatly trimmed facial hair (shave, if necessary) Blend light application of make-up Lightly apply perfume or after-shave or in some cases NONE. Brush lint or hair from clothing after dressing Check front and back appearance in full-length mirror Do not chew gum or smoke Relax and smile

10. These tips are for the more conservative company. Realize that different companies reflect different images, some less conservative than others. Your research of the company will help you determine the image you want to project.

11. 10 Ps of Personal Packaging There are 10 basic P's we can all incorporate into our business personas. Remember minding your P's and Q's your mother always told you. Well, now we can all achieve that goal. Keep in mind this is a continuingly evolving process. No one can be perfect on every point. However, it is important to recognize that these attributes are a part of the well prepared competent professional and with a little practice it could be you. Perceptive - You really listen to what people are saying and what message they are intending to convey. Performer - You get the job done. Not just occasionally but on time and with credible results. Persistent - You never give up. Did you know that very rarely is a sale made on the first contact. Research shows it may take as many as 12 contact before closure is made. Poised - No matter what happens you keep your cool. If a disaster strikes interject a little humor into the situation. Prepare - The more you can anticipate and be prepared the better the outcome. You know what you plan to accomplish when you walk out that door or pick up a phone. Proactive - Don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Seek them out. Take time weekly to find ways to be proactive about your own persona. Productive - We are all time crunched so be productive in the time you assign to any task. Minimize interruptions and keep on track with your assignments. Results count more than the “show” about getting the job done. Purposeful - You have a game plan in mind not blindly running around from task to task. You have short and long ranges plans though out and actively work to pursue those goals and objectives. Professional - Look and act the part. Be well groomed and well dressed for any situation. You have the necessary business skills and tools to keep ahead of the curve. Punctual - Be on time. If you are going to be late be sure that someone is apprised of the fact you will be tardy.

12. Many Human Resources staffers preach the dangers of lying on your resume, and they’re right to an extent. Inventing companies and inflating employment lengths can get you fired or at the very least embarrassed during the hiring process. But employers don’t want complete honesty, do they? There are plenty of facts that are better left private (don’t disclose your religion, age, race, etc.). And employers expect you to put your best foot forward, so show them your very best. You’re giving them a snapshot of who you are; there’s nothing wrong with using just the right lighting to show them your good side on a resume. So here are 7 “lies,” or careful manipulations of reality that will never get you into trouble (and they have a good shot of landing you a job) 7 Resume Lies Employers Will Never Check

13. 1. Lies of Omission No one in the hiring process wants to see an exhaustive list of duties from every job you’ve ever had. They don’t even want to know every job you’ve ever had. Think from their perspective: facing a stack of resumes, they aren’t searching for every last detail about you, they’re trying to find good candidates. Scan your resume for anything that doesn’t scream, “Hire me!” for this particular position. If you can’t trim it or modify it to make it relevant and appealing, delete it altogether. If you’re left with more white space than print, don’t waste your time by applying.

14. 2. Take Credit for Team Success Were you a member of a department that increased sales (or reduced expenses) by 10% for 5 years running? List that among your accomplishments if you were even the least bit instrumental in the success. You don’t need to take all the credit, just show your future employer you are a team player on a winning team.

15. 3. Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics Almost any job can be converted into numbers somehow: sales, expenses, efficiency, ranking, and especially anything with a dollar sign attached to it. Numbers jump off the page, cutting through the syrupy resume verbiage. If you can fit terms like Exceeding epectations, Redding’s finest , or any percentage over 100 into the picture, even better. We don’t recommend you fudge the numbers. Just select the ones that are most impressive.

16. 4. Compare Yourself Favorably Once you’ve found a way to make your job performance measurable by rank or statistics, you need to show how you stack up to your competition at previous jobs or within the industry. Highlight those areas that make you shine. If you aren’t the very best, simply state that you were/are “among the leading performers,” “in the top 3,”% or any other attention-getting comparison that highlights your strengths.

17. 5. Marvel at the Ordinary So you waited tables at a coffee shop for two years, that doesn’t have to induce yawns. Convey your mastery of quality customer service. Let them know about your keen sense of intuition and initiative. Find some way to compress your lump-of-coal job into a sparkling diamond of experience. Prospective employers want people with a strong work ethic; don’t just tell them you have it, show them by describing your experience with purpose.

18. 6. Love Every Job If you haven’t absolutely fallen in love with one or more of your past jobs (or the one you’re trying to leave) pretend you did. Think of every position you’ve ever held as a fantastic opportunity. One of the single most important traits in an employee is attitude, and a bad one will cover your resume like a foul stench. Your potential boss won’t be able to throw it away fast enough. A positive attitude toward past jobs will help you feel better about what you’ve accomplished and who you are, a perk that will help you throughout the hiring process.

19. 7. Change Your Identity We’re not suggesting you use a false name on a resume, that could get tricky once you start filling out your tax forms. But it’s helpful to picture yourself as the person doing the hiring. What would you want to read about a candidate? How would you want the resume to look? Why would you hire . . . you? Make your resume match that image, and you’ll be well on your way to that elusive first interview and a chance at landing a job you just might genuinely fall in love with.

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