Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Professional Image& Etiquette

Cathy ParkerAssistant Director

Career ServicesUniversity at Albany

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Self - PresentationA word about CultureThe way you dressThe way you communicateThings to watch for

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

It’s All About CultureEtiquette is culture specific Work Culture is different from School Culture

Common goal vs. individual goals People of different ages and backgrounds

Not all company cultures are alikeWe are going to focus mostly on US Corporate

Culture

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Multigenerational Workplace People of different ages have different…

Communication and management styles. Meanings of work and loyalty to an

employer. Rewards and career advancement ideas.

These generational values can affect… The behavior of your manager or

supervisor. Policies of a company.

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Professional Dress Dress for the job you want not the job you

have Levels of Dress

Business Tailored Business Casual Casual And everything in

between

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Business Tailored StyleKey element: Suit

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Business Casual Style

Still neat and clean For men

Khakis or dress pants Button down shirts or polo

shirts Casual shoes Sweaters and vests No tie needed

For Women Khakis or dress pants Jean or corduroy skirts More casual sweaters

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

In-between Between Business Tailored

and Business Casual Men

Sports Jacket and tie – not a suit

Khakis or dress pants Women

Jackets – not a suit Skirts – no denim or corduroy Dressy sweaters – twin set

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Casual StyleOK in some settings

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Don’ts for Men

Forget to shaveToo much jewelryForget to tuck in your shirt –

unless casual dressBaggy pantsExtreme hairstyles or

unnatural hair colors (i.e. green, blue, pink)

Hats indoors

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Don’ts For Women

Really short skirts Showing too much skin Sandals are OK but not flip

flops Lingerie on the outside Spaghetti straps Really “young” looks Extreme hairstyles or

unnatural hair colors (i.e. green, blue, pink)

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Spoken Communication Interpersonal

conversation Start out speaking

formally Do not SWEAR Do not spread office

gossip Be careful about saying

anything negative Watch your co-workers –

follow their lead

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Phone Etiquette

Speaker phones Putting someone on speaker phone Mute your phone while others are presenting information

Voice mail This is the company’s message system not yours. A professional message Leaving a voice-message

State your name clearly. Keep the message brief – for longer topics use email Repeat your name and number at the end

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Written CommunicationProof read it!!!

No typos Correct grammar, no slang Business jargon is OK, however

Be careful what you say You don’t know who will read it You don’t know where it will go

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Email is not Always Casual*

– Don’t be cute Acronyms - LOL TTFN Emoticons ;-) 8-} >8-0

– Do not use text message talk– Don’t use lots of !!!!!– Don’t mark everything

urgent– Don’t reply all unless you

REALLY mean to.

– Do proof read it before you send

– Do include a subject line – otherwise it could be deleted

– Do add the email address last – to avoid accidentally sending it too soon.

– Do use proper capitalization and punctuation

*Getting from College to Career, Lindsay Pollak, Harper Collins 2007

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Other things to know

– Your desk and office space You will be judged by your

calendar and wall art Find out what is allowed

and who is allowed to hang them up

– Meetings Be on time Call ahead if you will be late Apologize and don’t make

excuses if you are late or miss meeting

– The technology does not belong to you

Use it for business only The company can …

Read ALL of your email Block certain websites Track your web browsing

history Don’t forward chain letters Don’t browse inappropriate

sites Don’t use company resources

for personal reasons

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Other company rules and culture Spending company money

Business dinners Books and professional dues Office supplies

Travel Which airlines and hotels are allowed How loose are expense reports

Work schedule What are the “real” work hours Do you need to plan vacation time ahead?

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

What to watch Management style:

Don’t be offended if your input is not universally accepted or encouraged

You may need to seek out mentoring rather than have it provided

Policies and procedure: Take them seriously If you need to do something outside the rules, Ask. If

the answer is no it is no

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

What to watchRewards: Not everyone gets a raise; rewards are based

on resultsDress:

Dress conservatively until you know what is allowed at your company

Dress similar to people who are respected Ask about piercings and tattoos

Your parents: Have nothing to do with your job They CANNOT advocate for you at work

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

How Can You Know All This Stuff!!You can’t – so relax

No one expects you to get it all right the first time No one expects you to “just know” How do you learn

Watch your coworkers Ask secretaries Ask your manager Get a mentor

If you make a mistake – apologize and move on

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Being Yourself at WorkBeing part of any “group” is a compromiseCompanies treasure their images or brand

Brand equity = customer loyalty = $$$$$ As an employee you are part of the Brand

A well understood culture gives us guidance on how to handle situations A roadmap for success An expectation of how people will treat you

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

You Have a ChoiceDo you want to look like a native or a tourist?Do you want to be a success or a rebel?Look for a culture that you would feel

comfortable with Start conservatively until you know the culture Use your unique personality to stand out in

positive ways

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

Always Remember the Golden Rule!

In Business……Whoever has the GOLD makes the Rules!

Career Services, University at Albany Science Library G-50 • 518.437.4900 • albany.edu/career • career@albany.edu

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