How to Stand Out By Fitting In

NOTE:  This is an AfterPharma guest post, written by one of the most sought after Personal Branding Coaches in North America, Roz Usheroff.

HOW TO STAND OUT BY FITTING IN

“It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances” -Oscar Wilde.

Positioning yourself in an interview so your best attributes shine through and give you an advantage in the hiring process is one of the toughest things to do. I want to make you aware of soft but important skills you can use to make your hard skills stand out, specifically how to use non-verbal cues such as appearance, and the clothes you can choose to subconsciously direct an interview, as well as how to ‘read‘ an interview to know it’s going well.

It’s All In The Details

When I began to market my consulting services to larger companies, I used to scout those companies by visiting their lobbies to see how people dressed, spoke, and acted so that I could gain some insight into their culture. By mirroring the attire of the most polished people in the company, I was able to instantly establish a comfort zone with interviewers and, more often than not, I would win the contract. All by trying to achieve the effect that, in the interviewers mind, I was already “one of them.”

Create and maintain a signature look

Clothing is the outward expression of the inner person. It’s important to dress in a way that sends the right message but also looks effortless and natural. It’s better to be overdressed than under.  The darker and more solid the color, the more elegant and authoritative. With the possible exception of creative fields like advertising or computer programming, it’s best to stick with navy, black or grey.

For Women:

You have a choice between a pantsuit or a skirted suit.  Again, do your homework. For example, when Andersen Consulting recruits on college campuses, the firm recommends skirted suits for the first two rounds of interviews, with pantsuits acceptable for the third round. Take your cue from your research into the company and its culture. The cardinal rule is that it’s all about your fit with the company.

For Men:

Coordinate your shoes and socks with your suit.  Socks should match either the shoes or suit color, and be certain that your shoes are freshly shined. The belt and the shoes should be the same color, and the socks should be executive-length so you don’t expose hairy legs. If you carry a briefcase or bag, it should also be clean and well kept. And please, no tie clips, pocket protectors, suspenders worn with a belt (!) or thick rubber soles with a power suit.

Wear your tie as your signature. It should be silk, and elegantly knotted, like a full or half-Windsor. Choose the type of tie depending on your audience. The more conservative interviewers typically appreciate stripes and repetitive small patterns. The tie should not extend below your belt. And please, refrain from wearing short-sleeved t-shirts or singlets under your shirts if they are of a thin weave. You don’t want the interviewer to think, h-m-m-m-m, fearless executive by day, longshoreman by night.

The Four Food Groups

As my mother used to say, there are four main food groups: hair, teeth, hands and feet. They are your biggest assets in making a professional impression, and the first things people notice. Everyone should have a recent, stylish haircut, freshly brushed or dentally cleaned teeth, well-groomed nails and polished shoes.

For Women: Avoid noisy and oversized jewellery; opt for a more refined look and make sure your shoes are in perfect condition. No scraped heels or scuffed leather. Makeup is a must; not to look like a runway model but to demonstrate that you have confidence. Eye contact is critical in a job interview so invest in subtle shades of color to showcase your eyes. Wear black mascara for definition and some blush with lipstick or lip gloss to accent your look. Nail polish completes the frame of this picture so choose a subtle color rather than black/purple selections. Ditch the long fake extensions and keep your nails at a conservative length. Carry a simple handbag, and keep it in the same color family as your shoes or clothing.

Directing the Interview

My good friend Debra Fine is the author of the bestselling book “The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep it Going, Build Rapport and Leave a Positive Impression”. Among the tips she offers for tilting the interview table in your direction are these two gems:

•    Be a good listener.

Come across as relaxed and at ease. Smile and appear approachable, making eye contact and responding with verbal cues to show you hear what the speaker says. Verbal cues include these phrases: “Tell me more.” “What happened next?” “Give me an example of what you mean,” “How did you come up with that idea?” and so on. Using these and similar cues shows you are an “active” listener.

•    Dig Deeper

Take your time during conversations to ask follow-up questions that dig a little deeper. For example, if someone just described their company’s new IT policy, ask about the previous policy or what the company hopes to gain by implementing the new policy. You are showing your interest in the company while planting the seed that you are thinking about the company’s future success.

•    Reading the Cues

Its takes skill to read lips, and a genius to read minds. But during the course of an interview, we all give off clues about what we think of the person across the table. This is an opportunity to read between the lines, according to Lynn Hazan of Chicago based recruitment firm Lynn Hazan and Associates. She says you know it’s going well when:

1. They show positive body language like nodding, smiling, learning forward and jotting down information about you.
2. They say that there are some other people they would like you to meet. They may even introduce you to people following your first interview.
3. They discuss events surrounding the company and how you would fit in.
4. They ask about your availability and ask if that works for you.
5. They share specific information about the role that you know will help you in future interviews within the company.
6. They use positive words like, “Yes, go on …,” “This is good …” or even “I like what I am hearing, tell me more …”

Final Note:

The biggest mistake people make once they have achieved their immediate job objective is to fall victim to amnesia. By that I mean, after a few months on the job, they gradually forget all those good practices that got them where they are and become too comfortable, in attire, attitude and actions.  This is dangerous. You risk senior management not noticing you, or worse, noticing you have become like everyone else, when they thought you were coming onboard to shake the fruit out of the trees.
Maintain and try to raise your standards. Seek out an image consultant if dressing isn’t your strength. And remember to be consistent in dress and behavior in each interview.

Wishing you visibility, polish and to be the chosen candidate.

Roz

About Roz:

Since 1990, Roz Usheroff has been one of the most sought-after personal branding coaches in North America, working with leaders of Fortune 500 companies, executives, managers, sales teams and individuals.

Founder of The Usheroff Institute and author of “Customize Your Career,” Roz infuses her clients with the strategies and insights necessary to understand the dynamics and subtleties of professional communication, impression management, the art of personal leadership and business savvy and gender protocols. Through her seminars and keynote addresses, Roz helps clients maximize impact, deliver results and distinguish themselves in today’s competitive marketplace.

Her corporate client list includes Xerox, Pfizer, SAP, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, Frito Lay, Bayer, Siemens, Xerox, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Irving Oil and U.S. Department of Justice. She has delivered keynote addresses to associations such as MPI, Society of Pharma and Biotech Trainers, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Westchester Chamber of Commerce, SHRM of Florida, Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, and International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP).

Her popular two-day public conferences, “The Art of Wow,” for females and “Projecting Executive Presence” for leadership development are held several times a year.

Roz is often called upon by the media to comment on workplace, training and gender issues, and has appeared on national radio and television (NBC, CBC,
Canada AM, Venture and BTV) and has been featured in articles in the print world.

Born in Montreal, Roz completed her degree in Small Business at the University of Toronto and maintains offices in West Palm Beach and Toronto, Canada.