ExitBuddy

Do You Know What Signals You're Sending at Work? - On Careers (usnews.com) : 3. What you wear. "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have" is an old saying for a reason. You might get away with wearing jeans and ratty shirts in your role, but if the people above you look more polished, you'll probably go further by wearing more business-like clothes. Fairly or not, people have an easier time picturing you managing others, doing higher-profile work and dealing with clients when you look polished and well put together. Rather than thinking of the dress code as telling you the minimum you can get away with, think of your work clothes as telling other people how you'd like to be perceived.

Sam the Salesman Sam has been told that he needs to sell himself during the interview, so he's been practicing assertive, borderline aggressive, language. He is ready to go. The interviewer asks why he is interested in the job and without pause, Sam lists all his qualifications. His answer does not include anything about the job requirements, nor does he include any knowledge about the company's recent growth. His answers are so rehearsed, they sound slick. Mid-interview, Sam attempts to close the deal prematurely by asking "When do I start?" The Fix:  The interview is an opportunity for Sam to sell his skills, but he should pay more attention to the employer's needs and wants. Today's sales people are problem solvers and take a consultative approach. If Sam included how his  skills and experience  matched up with the job description, he would appear more interested. There is a fine line between being too pushy and confident. Rote answers come across a...