How people view you can be critical to your career progression…many highly experienced and qualified people have difficulty in getting that new job or promotion simply due to their poor image.
Some might view this a being unfair, however let me assure you that fairness has never been part of the recruitment/selection process. It is what you do (and don’t do) in the eyes of others that counts.
The fact that you have never done anything wrong or been involved in workplace conflict etc. does not necessarily mean that you have a good image. In fact you may have no image and that you are viewed as bland or invisible, which is almost as negative as having a poor image.
The personal image that you project to others is vital to any person’s career advancement and this does not excluded ambiverts or introverts (although it may come more easily to extroverts)…if you want to get ahead then you have to promote a positive image.
Let us look at some aspects of a professional image for you to address:
- Personal grooming and hygiene
- Clothes and smart dressing
- Your diction and correct grammar usage
- Your gait and body image…stand tall and straight
- How you talk about yourself…never talk yourself down
- Have a positive outlook on all areas of your life
- Be genuinely interested and help others
- Join groups or clubs aligned to your career
- Maintain a positive and active online social media presence
- Plan ahead and gain the appropriate qualifications and expertise for your next career move
- Become an expert in an area that others are not
- If you miss out on promotions or are consistently passed over by management get another job
- Have a great achievement focused CV
- Learn to love yourself
There is nothing in the above list that is too complex or beyond most people’s ability…a good professional image is developed overtime not overnight.
Don’t let other people or set-backs diminish your “self or professional image”. Resilience and self-belief are marks of maturity and underpin how others view you, either professionally or personally.
