Did you know that most employers complain about not being able to find the right people with the right attitude? Sad, but true! Even though there are more applicants than ever, the ones who shine are few and far between. This means someone like you (that you’re reading a personal development site puts you miles ahead of most of your competition) can ace interviews with a little forethought and consideration.

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First of all, take your focus off yourself. Consider what it must be like for the interviewer, and give some thought to what might stand out for them. Learn about the company you are interviewing with so you can ask at least one intelligent question (as in, ‘I’ve heard about the ‘x’ project – that must be exciting! Can you tell me a little more about it?’ vs. ‘How much does this job pay and how much vacation do I get?’). It’s shocking how many people go into interviews only thinking about themselves, and it comes across as very selfish. Not only that, by thinking about your own needs you make yourself more nervous because you are maintaining your focus inward. You can’t listen effectively and you cannot hold an intelligent, meaningful conversation, which is what a GOOD job interview really is.

Second and very important, dress for the job you want. Another startling statistic we hear from employers frequently is how slovenly and careless their interviewees are. Do enough research to know what the successful people at your prospective company look like, and dress like that where at all possible. Look sharp and make sure there are no glaring issues with your wardrobe, hair and general appearance. Before you leave in the morning for your job interview, look at yourself from all angles to be sure everything looks ship-shape. Try this article for further advice in this regard: Dressing for Career Success.

With respect to both your resume and your interview, be honest. Getting caught in a lie, or even exaggerating, and having to explain yourself can backfire for all but the most charming among us.

If you do get caught with anything that leaves you tongue-tied, again honesty is the best policy and can be disarming. For instance, if you think you messed up a question or didn’t represent yourself properly, being up front will almost always work in your favor. Better to say ‘I’m sorry, I’d like to answer that last question again. The truth is I’m really nervous because  I think you have a great company here and I really want this opportunity – I think we’d be a great fit,’ than to say nothing and worry yourself to sleep at night wishing you’d said something different.

Some last thoughts: be punctual, be respectful and remember to smile. Try and relax and just be yourself – always the best advice.

As hinted at, it’s not just what you wear that forms an impression, of course, but your attitude, body language and actual language as well. In this article we’ll deal with just the common work wardrobe issues that tend to hold people back. While I go into more detail in my upcoming book about this important subject, following are a few pointers.

NOTE: Jobs may vary and there are different dress codes suitable for various industries and positions, however these guidelines are fairly universal and are also things most people don’t tell others.

Shoes: Keep them clean, whatever the material, and polished if they are leather. Scuffs, tears and other damage is not acceptable. You may think no one will notice, but many employers use the shape of someone’s shoes as an indicator of the quality of their work and their level of integrity. Not many jobs are suitable for flip flops or super high heels; always tend toward the quality, conservative look.

Skirts/pants: Neither too long nor too short. Sounds reasonable, right? Do a little research on proportion by looking around at other people whom you find to be well-dressed. Try checking out a career dressing book for some tips. Short skirts and too-short pants seem to be the worst offenders – and the most common. Ladies, even if hte short skirt makes you feel powerful and gets the attention of the boss, it’s definitely not the right kind of attention.

Dated fashion: Think shoulder pads, wide collars and corduroy here, among other things. On the flip-side is trying to follow the latest fashions, which may not be appropriate for hte workplace either. Save the super fashions for the weekend and go for quality, classic pieces for the workplace. If you think your wardrobe may be seriously outdated but cannot afford a new one, enlist some help from friends or colleagues and try a) replacing o adding in a few key peices for mixing and matching a more current look and/or b) see if you can’t find ways to update pieces you love.

Hair: Unless you’re a funky hairdresser or a rock star, there’s not a lot of room for crazy hair in the workplace – if you want to get ahead, that is. Anything that is quirky will get you noticed, but not necessarily in a good way. Yet again you may feel you’d like to be appreciated for your personality and the great job you do, but take it from the experts, who all agree that being funky in the workplace will hold you back. How can your boss consider you for that meeting with a new potential client if he doesn’t know how the client will react to your pink hair?

Tattoos and piercing: Sorry, folks – visible tattoos and piercings send clear negative signals to a lot of people. You may not be intending to send such signals, but those who have the power to help you in your career may choose not to based on these expressions of individuality.

Skin: Showing too mcuh, that is. As with too-short skirts, this is a mistake many women make, and I think it’s because we don’t know how to show our power without it being feminine power. You can be gorgeous and professional; well put together, respectable and beautiful. In fact, you will garner more respect in a knock out, well-fitted business outfit than you ever will in a short skirt, low-cut blouse/sweater and high heels. When you’re the boss…then you can wear whatever you want!

Decide what you want and behave accordingly

You won’t get anywhere at any company by standing around the water cooler complaining about the boss or the company. No one with ‘herd’ mentality ever shines or rises above the crowd, and you’ll need to move away from the herd if you want to do well. This does not mean you need to alienate your co-workers; to the contrary they can make things difficult for you if you do. It means you do not participate in any gossip or bashing, and you simply concentrate on working wisely. If you want to move up within your company, you need to clearly indicate this with your actions and work ethic.

Make an effort to understand your boss and deliver what is needed. Help your boss out in the ways which mean the most to him or her – this is crucial and means you need to be observant and thoughtful. You do not wish to alienate your boss either by outshining them to their own superiors, although this may seem like a good idea at first. You want to be seen as entirely dependable – the one to go to when someone wants a good job done. You want management to know that you understand their issues and that you work at their level of intellect and corporate awareness. Learn as much as you can about how your company works, and don’t just be someone who comes in and does the minimum each day and then goes home. If you want to be management, you need to think like management.

Dress with care

One of the biggest career killers is inappropriate dress. Have you ever seen the show What Not to Wear? Whether you like it or hate it, there is a smart career message in the show that you can take to heart. Often the chosen makeover subject will work for a company and they’ll interview the boss who says something like ‘I really like so and so and she does terrific work. Unfortunately, with the way she dresses I cannot promote her nor can I put her in front of customers because I’m worried about what they might think.’ Sometimes these bosses have tried, tactfully, to mention the dress issue to the employee and other times they have not. In either case people seem to be clueless that they are dressing inappropriately at work, and more importantly that it’s holding them back. As a rule, people tend to dress too casually, but take note: this is a huge career killer. Sure, people should appreciate you for who you are and the work you do, but that is not how the work world works. Even in the most casual of environments, business casual would be appropriate.

Remember that you don’t know what you don’t know – get a good book on dressing for career success and read it. Adjust accordingly. Believe me, the powers that be will notice. You will be showing respect for yourself, your company and your job, and it doesn’t matter what size the company is. Even someone who wears a uniform can do so with pride – clean shoes, hair and nails, washed and pressed uniform – and there’s always something you can improve. It could be the one thing holding oyu back from being noticed (in a positive way)!

Ask anyone who is truly successful and they’ll dissuade you of this notion very quickly.

After studying success and the wisdom of powerful mentors in depth for over a decade, I can tell you with confidence that it is not inborn talent nor ability that leads to success – it is the cultivation of certain attitudes, behaviors, habits and skills. Even (especially?!) superstars need to hone their craft, giving equal importance to their inner and outer game – they need to practice and improve consistently for many years before they become superstars. This is fantastic news, as it means that anyone can achieve outrageous success. We can all cultivate greatness in our fields, and in our lives.

The first step is to learn what to do and what to avoid. It’s the avoiding part we deal with in this article, as all too often these are things your boss and your friends will not usually mention, but which can hold you back from ever achieving the success you desire. Take note of the following and adjust as you see fit. I’m just the messenger!

1. Smoking -When you go outside to have a cigarette, you come in reeking like smoke whether you realize it or not. No breath mints and no body spray can hide the distinct smell a smoker wafts about. Be aware that this may be limiting you. There are certain and clients your boss cannot send you to, and certain situations where it’s just not going to make a good impression to have a smoker attend, and this can be killing an otherwise potentially stellar career (not to mention an otherwise stellar person!). This isn’t discrimination – it’s the truth. If you’re going to smoke, try and do so outside of business hours and situations entirely.
2. Dress – As the old saying goes, dress for the position you want, not the position you have. This is true and definitely bears repeating here. Ensure your business dress is impeccable, whether it’s a fast food uniform or a full-fledged power suit. Make sure your outfit is clean and your shoes are clean and polished. Never dress provocatively or in a silly manner. Lean towards the conservative and clean-cut when in doubt. As an overall guideline, visualize the successful person you want to be, and dress that way. How can your boss ever see you as capable of more if you don’t look the part? [I will have a new book out soon addressing this very subject, as it is a very important subject which seems to get under-covered. How you dress and present yourself is extremely important to your career success. Look for DRESS FOR CAREER SUCCESS soon!]
3. Socializing, gossiping - Remember that you are always being observed and act with integrity at all times. Show courtesy and professionalism in every situation and to everyone with whom you interact. Never gossip at the proverbial water cooler – not only does this speak badly of your character, it also makes you look like a slacker. Don’t believe me? What do you think of other people who do this?…Now, for socializing: while this is a vast subject unto itself, there are two golden rules. 1) Do not attend too many non-business functions and don’t make a fool of yourself. Eg. Don’t go out for beers with the guys at work every weekday evening and get rip-roaring drunk. 2) Do attend business-related functions and mingle. Use these as opportunities to get to know your industry and its players, and to learn how things work, as well as to make contacts and goods impressions. Aim to come into work the next day and have your boss say “Wow, Johnson, you made a great impression at the dinner last night. I received some compliments on you. Great job!”
4. Mentality – Do you do whatever it takes to get a job done and done well, or do you grumble and complain and say things like ‘It’s not my job.’ In other words, are you a slacker? Most slackers don’t think they are. Do you have a bad attitude, and maybe even blame it on the company? Remember that your work is a reflection of YOU – no one and nothing else. Ask yourself, do I always perform at my best? Do I turn in my work on time and do I do that extra something when I see it’s needed (ie. without being prompted)? Am I the most efficient, hardest-working employee in my company? If a boss needed something done right, and was looking for a reliable, capable person, would that person be me?
5. Who do you identify with? - This tip is somewhat similar to the ‘dress for the position you want’ tip, but different as well. Have you ever noticed how ‘underlings’ gather together and talk about the boss or manager? If you want to move up, do not be an underling. While you may be temporarily holding an underling-type position, you will not stay there for long with ambition like yours. Be sure you observe how management behaves, what their concerns are and how people are expected to perform in your company. This does not mean act like a jerk if your boss acts like a jerk; it means think on a management or executive level and identify with the upper level of your company or business. Try pretending to yourself that you own the business as you make your rounds, and observe what is working and what isn’t. Strive to see the big picture and how you – and everyone else – fit/s into it. Keep watch on your industry and the marketplaces which are relevant. In this way, not only will you make yourself a more valuable employee, you’ll be able to make intelligent conversation with the upper executives when necessary. Believe me, this will make you stand out from the crowd.

These choices form key components of the impression you make on people in your work environment: co-workers, clients and potential  customers, and most importantly, your boss/es.

The best thing you can do for yourself, in any career or line of work, is to cultivate a success mentality. No matter how successful, we should all strive for continuous and intentional improvement in our attitude, social skills, and success orientation. It does not matter whether you are flipping burgers at McDonald’s or selling Mercedes-Benz luxury cars; a person with a fantastic attitude and a plan will go far.

SUCCESS TIPS

Set goals for your work and break them into tasks which will lead you to accomplishing those goals. Prioritize your tasks and get them done. Always be dependable, efficient and known for getting a job done well. The person with a sense of purpose always gets noticed by those who matter most.

When you have a complaint about how things are being done, offer innovative solutions. Think about the challenge and how it might be solved, and include other points of view (including your bosses’) in your consideration. Present your case with confidence and an eye toward possible solutions, especially when those solutions will benefit everyone.

If you’re thinking ‘my boss would never appreciate this kind of behavior’ don’t sweat it. This is about YOU, not your boss. If your current employment situation is less than ideal, strive to be your best anyway. You will gain valuable insight into what you are capable of, and you will almost certainly have other, non-related people open new doors for you based on your performance. 

An attitude of success and purpose shines and gets noticed. Cultivate yours, and you’ll soon be at the top of your game! 

Related articles you may enjoy:

Who Do You Work For?
Communication in Business – Be Prepared and be Flexible

From the blog:

7 Signs You are on the Right Track