Wednesday's assignment

Projecting a professional image on the job

Task 1:

In order for us to come across as professionals, we need to project this mage. Click on this link for the Dos and the Don’ts. Write one sentence on each Do and Don’t you have read about.

DO:

1.Do dress to impress - your image matters: abandoning T-Shirts for dress shirts, sneakers for closed-toe, work-appropriate shoes and your backpack for a briefcase or briefbag.

2.Do sharpen your social skills: The guaranteed result is improved personal and professional effectiveness and self-confidence. Sharpening your people skills helps you avoid the behaviors that may be perceived as disrespectful, discourteous or abrasive. 

3.Do get a mentor or sponsor: Be prepared to choose another mentor if the relationship is not helping you achieve these goals.

4.Do build your personal brand - stand out with distinction: Begin by clearly defining what makes you unique, your career goals and what success means to you and what are your strength and weaknesses

5.Do grow and nurture your network: Create a strong profile with a good business photo, send invites to other professionals who share your views and also join groups focused on topics of interest. 

6.Do be likeable - adopt a positive attitude: Being pleasant, courteous and using positive, open body language increases your approachability factor by easing your interactions with others.

Don't:

1.Do not overlook the unwritten rules: There are rules of conduct that will not be written in any performance manual, your job description or code of conduct.

2.Do not be inflexible:  Roles and responsibilities are constantly being juggled and employees therefore have to be more flexible and adaptable to change. 

3.Do not misrepresent yourself:  You are as good as your word, so do what you say and be who you are. 

4.Do not shirk responsibility or point fingers:  Make sure you are clear about your responsibilities and performance expectations.

Task 2:

Watch this video and write down the main idea(s), suggestions, and strategies the presenter wanted to offer.

Task 3:

Compare the reading and the video together; write down the similarities and the differences between them. Ask two of your peers on their findings and again compare them to yours.