Why do many people have what seems to be an irrational fear of elevators? Perhaps it's due to the inevitable relinquishment of control upon entering. You push the button for your floor, but what's to stop others from commandeering your vertical mode of transportation and introducing several other floors? Your trip is now lengthened and taking you to places you didn't intend.
If life gives you a bunch of lemons, what are you supposed to do? That's right, make lemonade. Likewise, you shouldn't let a packed elevator turn you into a sourpuss. A well-prepared elevator speech can give you the upper hand if you choose to seize the opportunity to promote your company or personal brand.
Topic: Elevator Speech Origins: The term is most likely American due to the usage of 'elevator' as opposed to 'lift'. An exact date or time period of origin for its usage is relatively unknown. Entrepreneurs compose a pitch that sums up their product in a concise, yet enticing manner. The objective is to grab the interest of a potential investor or client in just a short elevator ride. It is an important tool that describes the unique aspects of a brand while accentuating its beneficial uses for the audience. A successful elevator pitch should leave the listener intrigued and wanting to learn more.
Today's Term: A good elevator speech is something that any forward-thinking company or individual should have prepared. Salesmen and inventors may have crafted the art, but this is a tool that can cultivate growth for the presently employed as well as the job seeker. Consider someone who has been with a company for a year or two and unexpectedly they find themselves sharing an elevator with the CEO or standing next to the Chairman of the Board on a lunch line. What's more beneficial for them, small talk about the weather, or a strong, brief statement about their personal contribution to thier department supplemented by intriguing facts about a current project they are working on? In order to excel you need to be prepared to be your own promoter. Take the time. Sum up the unique accomplishments and characteristics that make you valuable. Be proud. Tell others why you deserve to be where you are and then intrigue them with where you are going. Do it right and by the time you wrap up your speech, they will want to come along with you. Common Uses: Networking events, career fairs, industry-related conventions, company events, performance assessments Examples: Some great tips and samples from Microsoft, A strong example and a weak example, An interesting new swing on the idea: Twitpitch
Happy New Year to all! Good news! There is a buzz from the pipeline that contract, temp, and direct hire placements are on the rise. Are you ready for your new career? We will have a series of tips to get you geared up and ready to go! If you are not using social networking, start! Most recruiters and hiring managers are using social networking sites such as Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter in addition to the job boards to find talent. Today we are sharing the basics on how to get started on Linkedin.
Part 1 - Creating a Linkedin profile as an alternate resume to snag a new career or project
Profile Dos: 1. Complete your profile 2. Create an eye catching headline 3. Keep your profile up to date with current experience and projects 4. Edit your public profile to include your full name and add that link to your resume 5. Add at least 5 specialties to your experience and search criteria 6. Ask for at least 2 recommendations for each employer or project 7. Personalize your summary to show your character and personality
Profile Don'ts: 1. Add a profile picture that is NOT a professional representation of you 2. Post a web link of your work that is not live 3. Ignore your inbox (it could contain messages about a new opportunity) 4. Add too many past employers - keep it fresh and related to your current job search
Additional tips: 1. Change your profile status often in order to stay in the forefront of everyone's mind 2. Add a Word doc or pdf of your resume to your profile (use the Linkedin application) 3. Increase networking opportunities by joining Linkedin groups related to your search and community
Whether you're a small business owner or are employed by a large company, you know the ever-growing need for websites, social media, business cards, and general marketing correspondence as part of your career or business success plan. It’s absolutely critical that you portray an attractive and well-put-together professional image on any and all interactive outlets where you will be promoting yourself.
If you use LinkedIn or Facebook then you know exactly what it's like to come across someone without a photo – their existence seems dubious and you don’t care to get to know them any better, am I right? Lack of a photo is starkly unprofessional and says the individual couldn't be bothered to make an effort... could they be hiding something?
Of course what’s worse is when a person puts up a bad picture, one that’s outdated, unclear, unflattering, or misrepresentative in some other way. I've actually met people in person who looked nothing like how they portrayed themselves in their online profiles. Not only did I NOT recognize them when we finally were face-to-face, but I formed a professional opinion of them which was not nearly as strong as it could have been. We don’t want that to happen to you.
Put Your Best Face Forward
Your professional photo must sum up everything about you in a five-second glance. In most cases, people who see your headshot haven't met you yet and you want them to trust you enough to do business with you, hire you, or simply get to know you better from your photo. Trust starts with being honest and up-front about the person you are. And while of course there is more to you than a good haircut or well-groomed eyebrows, your initial outer appearance is truly the deciding factor as to whether or not people will feel compelled to get to know you on a deeper level.
In other words: however shallow it seems, image really does have the power to make or break your business networking efforts. People are going to draw instant conclusions about your personality based on the picture they see online, in your brochure, or on your business card. Like it or not, but you better believe it!
Do-It-Yourself vs. Professional Photographer
So does it really matter if you grab your digital camera, stand in front of your dining room wall, smile on the count of three, and put your amateur photography skills to work instead of hiring a photographer?
Well, here’s the scoop - it depends on your goals. There are three main things to consider.
1) If you’re blogging or using social media strictly for fun, then photographing yourself with a basic digital camera is fine.
2) If you use any form of media for business to network with others in your industry, or to facilitate your job search then you must consider a professional photographer with a backdrop, proper lighting, and a high-quality camera. If funds are limited, at least consider a place that can produce passport quality photos. Although most passport photos lack character and can feel like a mug-shot, they’re usually better than in-home staged photos. Passport photo sessions typically only offer one or two shots to choose from.
3) Anyone with a website or who seriously wants to use social media to land a better assignment, impress potential clients or build an online presence, should not settle for anything less than hiring a professional photographer!
Common photo faux-pas that weaken your professional image
An outdated photo. If it was taken more than ten years ago and you don't recognize yourself in it, don’t post that photo anywhere. Failing to update your picture after significant aging, major weight loss or weight gain, drastic changes in hair styles, or noticeable cosmetic surgery makes an on-looker question your integrity. Are you hiding something or simply embarrassed by the way you look now vs. then?
An unprofessional photo. If it was taken with a digital camera as you sat at your desk in front of a cluttered shelf, don’t use it. Anything that distracts in your photo makes it unsuitable for professional purposes!
A poor quality photo. A photo that’s blurry, grainy or was taken in poor lighting is no good for your professional image. Same for low-resolution or pixilated images. None of these will print properly on a business card or brochure, nor will they impress people who visit your website.
You're wearing a distracting and/or unflattering outfit in your photo. Perhaps it's horizontal stripes that emphasize your width or maybe it's a dated look, formal wear, or a swim suit. Anything that leaves people questioning what you have on in the photo is a poor choice of business attire to wear on professional picture day.
WOMEN - You're not wearing makeup, or your makeup is poorly applied. Distractions are detrimental to your professional image. You want to appear neat, perspiration-free, with clear skin, and tasteful makeup that accentuates your best features. There are many products (including Photoshop!) that will allow you to display a professional photo that puts you in your best light.
MEN - You’re improperly groomed. Keep in mind your audience or the people you want to connect with.Impeccable grooming is imperative!Men with three-day stubble, a “uni-brow” (eyebrows that nearly connect in the middle) that has no definition or a really bad comb over will instantly suggest that you’re just as unprofessional when it comes to doing business.
Selecting a Professional Photographer
If you decide present yourself in the best possible route by hiring a professional photographer, you’ll want to keep several points in mind. First, choose someone with a portfolio you can review in advance. Ask if they will include photo retouching in their price and be sure they will give you high-res (for print) and low-res (for web) photos. You really want a true professional with proper lighting, equipment, and references! Also be sure to ask the photographer for a recommendation for a professional makeup artist, most pros will have someone they work with regularly. This isn’t a deal-breaker. If they don’t have a name for you, head to a reputable makeup counter. There is no point in hiring a photographer if you haven’t been properly made up!
Preparing for Your Photo Shoot
Here are a few important tips to keep in mind on the day of your photo shoot:
Wear clean, wrinkle-free, well-fitting clothing.
Do not try a new hair stylist just before a photo shoot.
Request a morning appointment; most people look fresh & energetic before lunch.
Bring your outfit to the shoot with you, don’t wear it there.
Arrive to the shoot 15-20 minutes early.
When it comes to what to wear for your professional photo shoot, it’s more important that you know what to avoid! No busy prints or patterns, nothing shiny, sheer, or lacey. A monochromatic outfit close to your skin tone will wash you out and plunging necklines that show too much cleavage are distracting and inappropriate. If you wear glasses, don’t wear reflective lenses with ½ frames hitting below the eyebrow for your shoot. Choose a full-framed, non-reflective pair instead.
For the best results when it comes to your professional image in a photo and in person, get a consultation with an image expert like KL Moore. Visit KL online where you can view impressive before and after photos in the photo gallery at http://www.klimagegroup.com/.
Origins: The term is most likely American due to the usage of 'elevator' as opposed to 'lift'. An exact date or time period of origin for its usage is relatively unknown. Entrepreneurs compose a pitch that sums up their product in a concise, yet enticing manner. The objective is to grab the interest of a potential investor or client in just a short elevator ride. It is an important tool that describes the unique aspects of a brand while accentuating its beneficial uses for the audience. A successful elevator pitch should leave the listener intrigued and wanting to learn more.
