Tag Archives: professionalism

Are You Dressing the Part?

The other day I wrote about how “dressing up” can have an impact about how we feel about ourselves and our confidence level as we go about doing our work. There are those of us who love our home businesses partly because we DON’T have to follow a dress code or dress up while we work. Still, I think it is important to take into consideration whether we are really dressing the part for the industry we work in, the job we do, and the people we meet—even if we are in business for ourselves. What are you trying to … Continue reading →

Does Autonomy Compromise Professionalism?

I was talking with a friend of mine recently who does NOT work from home, someone who is happily holding down a traditional job. She asked me an interesting question, however, that got me to thinking about how home businesses are perceived. She asked: “How do people know that you’re a professional operation when you work out of your home? How do they know you’re not just slacking and unprofessional?” There is still a perceived idea that unless there is an office, a boss, and plenty of meetings—work is not getting done. I can understand that a new customer or … Continue reading →

Five Ways to Turn Off Potential Employers

Do yourself and the interviewer a favor, and don’t waste your time or theirs. Avoid these things if you want to make a good impression. Name Dropping The hiring officer does not want to hear how you attended high school with a girl that dated her boss’s grandson. It is generally not a good idea to try to throw names around. If an executive of the company specifically referred you for the position, ask that person for a letter of recommendation instead of dropping his or her name. Acting Too Familiar You do not have a personal relationship with the … Continue reading →