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Inside the savvy job seeker
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Think—and look—positive. Attractive people get hired
and promoted more readily and earn more money,
according to Harvard and Wesleyan economists,
because they’re seen as more self-confident. Brand
strategist Catherine Kaputa says we can “grow”
confidence by understanding it comes from self-acceptance. “Accepting yourself is the most important ingredient in the self-confidence formula.”
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It’s old-school, but it works: Practice your “elevator
speech,” a short verbal pitch that conveys who you are,
what you do best, and what you’re looking for. Keep
it around one minute, Kaputa says. “Strong, personal,
authentic stories help give your brand credibility and
set you apart from the competition.”
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Brand strategist William Arruda draws on Socrates
when he counsels clients to know thyself—what you’re
passionate about and what your intuition tells you to
pursue. While you’re at it, know what others think about
thyself, too: “Until your brand is validated by others, it
doesn’t have the same power, even if we already know
such things about ourselves.”
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Got a stack of business cards in your pocket? Don’t
forget this tried-and-true low-tech branding tool. Hand
them out after your “elevator speech,” and after any
other networking interactions, to leverage those encounters. Get them made at a local print shop, or online
at www.vistaprint.com or www.printingforless.com.
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You’re not really wearing those shoes to the interview,
are you? What about that circa-1983 power suit?
Invest in a smart, up-to-date set of professionally
appropriate business clothes. If you need help, hire an
image consultant for a “wardrobe audit.” And remember what your mother told you: Stand up straight!
“Command the space you’re in,” says Kaputa. ;
