Your Appearance Makes Your First Impression

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Before you can even get a word in or start dictating your core message, you are screened by your audience.  Think of your packaging, just like a product and how you want to convey your personality and competency through it.  Without knowing exactly who you are, your package is all that recruiters or other members of your audience can view.

 Your appearance is in your full control, but how you appear to your audience is in theirs, so focus on how you think they perceive you and you will succeed.  For interviews, dress in a suit, have good posture and have a positive attitude.  Without even using your mouth, your appearance will show interest and credibility.  But to get here, you need to “appear” as though you already have these qualities.  Many people ask me “how do I appear online?” and I always respond “how do you feel you appear”?  I do this because I am interested in their viewpoint before I can give a detailed explanation.  There are far too many people for you not to focus on your appearance.  Through social networks, such as facebook and myspace, you are dependent on your appearance to “get you through the door” with those outside of your network.  For businesses, you must sell yourself, before customers will buy into your corporate brand, which is why you need to “appear” like you have experience and dress the part.

Here are some pointers:

  •    Be consistent with your appearance and personality
  •    Customize your package to reflect your audience
  •    Focus on your unique qualities and incorporate them
  •    Ensure that your packing has a shiny wrapper (think of a gift box)
  •    BE YOURSELF!
Picture of Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel is the Managing Partner of Millennial Branding, a Gen Y research and consulting firm. He is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success (St. Martin’s Press) and the #1 international bestselling book, Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future (Kaplan Publishing), which combined have been translated into 15 languages.

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