standards for grooming and personal presentation may be related to

Professional Appearance and Grooming for the Workplace

Proper grooming and professional appearance are important to gain not just positive impression but also respect in the workplace. First impressions matter and the way you look and carry yourself create impact on people you get along with in the work setting. Proper grooming and professional appearance is important to both men and women. Lack of these may lead to poor image and may interfere with your chance of getting good impression and positive feedbacks from your workmates and superiors.

Professional Standards in the Workplace

In today’s competitive and modern business world, it is highly essential to adhere with professional appearance and grooming for the workplace. If you have the desire to look your best at all times in social and professional settings, you need to keep in mind the following basic guidelines for good grooming in the workplace:

1. Wear business suits in basic colors. 2. Always be neat and clean including your teeth, fingernails, face, hair and even your shoes. 3. Keep your pockets empty and as much as possible avoid tinkling coins or keys and bulges. 4. Avoid eating candies, smoking cigarettes and chewing gum when you are inside the office. 5. Use portfolio case or light briefcase when carrying important documents with you instead of compiling these documents in folders and carrying these between your armpits. 6. As much as possible get rid of tattoos and body piercings for these will just make you look untidy and unprofessional. 7. Wear light perfume and cologne and minimize using lots of jewelries.

It is also highly important to maintain professional appearance and image at all times. Proper grooming and professional appearance can certainly make you stand out and be ahead of the competition. You can achieve these by following these helpful tips:

Make Sure To Wear Clean And Presentable Clothes

Have separate clothes for hanging out and going to the office. It seems to be unprofessional if you wear clothes with holes and stains in the workplace. Wear the cleanest and most presentable outfit when going to work for this will surely help you look your best. However, you need to still comply with the dress code set by your company.

Invest on Iron and Dry Cleaner There are some clothes that require pressing or special care by a reliable dry cleaner. Pants and other clothing look better when they are professionally pressed.

Dressed Conservatively If you wanted to establish a credible and respectful image, you need to dress conservatively in the office. In the case of women, they are advised to avoid using clothes that are revealing. Clothes must be in proper fit and length to ensure confidence and comfort upon wearing.

These are just few of the many ways on how you can achieve ideal professional appearance and grooming for the workplace. Individuals also have to note that personal hygiene must be practiced in the workplace and not just at home. Professional appearance can further be enhanced by reporting to work early, wearing the best smile often and displaying positive attitude.

Navigating Grooming Standards in the Workplace

By Business Training Media

In the dynamic landscape of the modern workplace, the issue of grooming standards has become a focal point for both employers and employees. Employers often seek a polished and professional appearance from their workforce, while employees may have varying perspectives on personal expression and individuality. Striking a balance between these divergent viewpoints is essential for fostering a healthy and inclusive work environment.

Defining Grooming Standards:

Grooming standards encompass a set of guidelines that dictate the acceptable appearance of employees in the workplace. These standards typically cover aspects such as attire, personal hygiene, and overall presentation. However, the implementation of grooming standards is not without its challenges, especially when it comes to navigating the intricate web of federal laws that govern employment practices.

Federal Laws and Employee Rights:

Federal laws play a crucial role in shaping the landscape of grooming standards in the workplace. Employers must be cognizant of these laws to ensure that their standards align with the protection of employee rights. The discussion explores how federal laws, particularly those related to religious and disability accommodations, as well as race and sex discrimination, can impact the imposition of grooming standards.

Understanding Religious and Disability Accommodations:

Religious and disability accommodations are pivotal considerations when establishing grooming standards. Federal statutes safeguard the rights of employees to express their religious beliefs and accommodate individuals with disabilities. The article delves into the legal intricacies surrounding these protections, providing insights into how grooming standards must be crafted to respect employees' rights in these areas.

Addressing Race and Sex Discrimination:

Grooming standards must also navigate the terrain of race and sex discrimination statutes. Employers need to strike a balance between maintaining a professional image and avoiding discriminatory practices. The article analyzes relevant legal cases to illustrate the impact of grooming standards on race and sex discrimination claims, shedding light on best practices for employers.

Real Cases: Grooming Standards in Litigation:

A comprehensive understanding of grooming standards in the workplace requires a look into real cases that have been litigated in court. This section explores notable cases where grooming standards became a focal point of legal disputes. By examining the outcomes of these cases, readers gain valuable insights into the practical implications of grooming standards and how they intersect with federal laws.

Rights and Obligations: Employees, Co-workers, and Customers:

Implementing grooming standards necessitates a clear understanding of the rights and obligations of all parties involved. This section explores the responsibilities that employees have toward their co-workers and the employer's customers. It highlights the delicate balance between individual expression and the expectations set by the employer, providing guidance on fostering a harmonious workplace environment.

Crafting a Grooming Standards Policy:

Armed with knowledge about federal laws, real-life cases, and the rights and obligations of stakeholders, employers can now embark on crafting effective grooming standards policies. This section offers practical tips and considerations for developing policies that align with legal requirements while promoting a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

Relavent Training:

To further enhance your understanding of grooming standards in the workplace, consider enrolling in the online course Defining Grooming Standards in the Workplace: Rights and Responsibilities by Lorman. This course covers key topics such as federal laws impacting grooming standards, navigating religious and disability accommodations, addressing race and sex discrimination, and crafting effective grooming standards policies. By enrolling in this course, you'll gain valuable insights and practical skills to navigate the complexities of grooming standards in the contemporary workplace.

Final Thoughts:

Defining grooming standards in the workplace is a nuanced endeavor that requires a delicate balance between employer interests and employee rights. By understanding the legal landscape, learning from real cases, and considering the rights and obligations of all stakeholders, employers can establish grooming standards that contribute to a positive and inclusive work environment. The journey towards well-crafted grooming standards begins with knowledge, and the recommended course serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to navigate this intricate terrain successfully.

Copyright 2024: Business Training Media

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Workplace Grooming Policy: The Professional Look

Even at the office, there is a dress code implementation. This policy encourages a polite and professional work atmosphere by providing clear standards for appearance and grooming. Having a clean, well-groomed team fosters a productive workplace atmosphere and enhances how our brand is perceived. The workplace grooming policy covers grooming supplies, personal grooming, hairdos, beards, and accessories.

By preserving these standards, employees contribute to developing a polished and pleasant workplace that encourages professionalism and self-assurance. Each office respects ethnic and religious cultures while maintaining a commitment to the company’s values. Make the office a welcoming and appealing place for everyone to work by working together.

Defining the Workplace

Over the past few decades, technology, workforce demographics, and organizational structures have transformed the workplace. Modern workplaces foster efficiency, teamwork, and creative problem solution. Remote and virtual workplaces, coworking spaces, and digital platforms have joined traditional office buildings in the modern workplace. Organizational principles, culture, and practices now define the workplace as well.

Workplaces also establish their own sets of standards and policy. One of which is the workplace grooming policy.

Grooming Policy

The workplace grooming policy focuses on personal grooming, hygiene, and dress code guidelines to create a professional, respectful workplace, promoting employee pride and self-confidence. Here are the personal grooming, hygiene, and dress code guidelines:

• Employees must maintain a high degree of personal cleanlines s, which includes taking regular showers or baths and dressing in clean clothes.
• Deodorant essential for a pleasant, odor-free work environment.
• Moderation is key when using perfumes and colognes.
• Employees must practice good dental hygiene , including routine brushing, flossing, and breath freshening.
• Maintain professional hair maintenance without eye strain, ensuring cleanliness, style, and condition.
• Maintain clean, short nails for food handling and sensitive materials.
• Employees should avoid excessive jewelry and accessories for safety .
• Employees are expected to present themselves in a way that reflects the company’s values and is consistent with their jobs and duties in a professional manner.
• Business casual attire allows employees to maintain a tidy and professional appearance.
• Employees who are forced to wear uniforms should always keep them neat and in good condition.
• Closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times, presentable, appropriate for the workplace, and clean.
• Avoid distracting body art and tattoos with tasteful, non-offensive designs.

Employees can request reasonable accommodations if they adhere to the company’s core grooming and dress code standards, promoting a positive, professional, and cohesive work environment, fostering pride in the company’s values.

Workplace Grooming Policy: Standards for Employees

Business impressions matter. Employees’ appearance affects how clients, coworkers, and the organization regard them. Personal grooming, including dress and cleanliness, conveys competence and job pride. Employee grooming is crucial to projecting competence, reliability, and trustworthiness. Here are some of the workplace grooming policy that you must know:

Guidelines for Hairstyles and Hair Grooming

Haircuts and hair grooming are essential for keeping a polished and professional appearance in the job. Companies have set their rules to ensure an environment that is harmonious and respectful:

• Hairstyles should be neat and well-kempt , free of excess frizz or an untidy appearance.
• The right hair length for the job should not hinder eyesight or pose a safety risk.
• Maintain professional, conservative natural hair color and dye.
• The use of hair accessories should be understated and should enhance rather than overpower the appearance.
• Male personnel should maintain well-groomed beards that don’t go past the jawline. Moreover, properly trim mustaches and beards.
• Religious and cultural head coverings must adhere to workplace safety standards as well.

Employees help create a cohesive and professional work environment that represents the company’s values and fosters a positive image among coworkers and clients by following these hairstyle and hair grooming requirements.

Dress Code Expectations for Attire and Accessories

Offices make the dress code requirements for clothing and accessories to preserve a polished and professional look while allowing for individual expression. Following rules regarding dress and accessories are expected of all employees.

• Employees should wear clean, well-fitted, and professional attire.
• Employees can dress more casually on days designated as business casual as long as they still look polished and professional.
• Employees who are compelled to wear uniforms are expected to keep them well pressed and in good condition.
• Encourage understated jewelry, avoid distracting items for productivity and safety.
• While working, you can wear smartwatches, but you should only discretely use them.
• Minimize visible piercings for safety.

Personal expression is valued, but not compromising professional image or creating distractions. Dress code expectations foster a cohesive, respectful work environment, enhancing company reputation.

Personal Hygiene Requirements

Personal hygiene is crucial for a healthy workplace, requiring employees to follow guidelines.

• Showering or bathing regularly is essential to staying clean and fresh.
• To provide a pleasant and odor-free workplace, deodorant use is required.
• Employees are required to maintain good oral hygiene by frequently brushing, flossing, and utilizing breath fresheners.
• Washing your hands correctly is essential for keeping a hygienic workplace and preventing the transmission of germs.
• While scents are OK, they should only be used sparingly to prevent upsetting others.
• A clean, well-groomed head of hair can help you avoid any potential hygiene problems.
• Maintain clean, short nails when handling delicate items.

Employees maintain personal hygiene for a healthy work environment and professional atmosphere. These procedures promote overall health and show our dedication to upholding a tidy and professional workplace.

Facial Hair and Grooming Expectations for Men

Expectations for men’s facial hair grooming are essential for a polished, businesslike image in the job.

• Keep facial hair clean, precisely clipped, and well-groomed to avoid having an untidy or disorganized appearance.
• Men may sport goatees, mustaches, or beards, but they should maintain them in a conservative and professional manner.
• Maintaining facial hair requires routine maintenance to maintain it neat and appealing.
• To guarantee the safety of personnel, facial hair should not get in the way of the appropriate fitting of safety equipment like respirators or masks.
• Beard oil or other grooming treatments can be used to keep facial hair looking well-groomed and clean.

The male workforce supports a cohesive and professional work environment by adhering to specific facial hair and grooming standards. The company’s dedication to projecting a professional and respectful image to clients and coworkers is evident.

Nail Care and Restrictions on Nail Art

Employees must maintain clean, well-groomed nails, following guidelines for personal grooming and restrictions on nail art.

• Employees should maintain neat, clean, and free of dirt and debris nails that are well-trimmed.
• Keep nails at a practical and reasonable length to avoid obstructing work tasks or posing a safety risk.
• While it’s important to express yourself, nail art should be tasteful, not overly distracting, and suited for work.
• Employees handling food, delicate items, or machinery should refrain from having long or acrylic nails since they may provide hygienic or safety hazards.

These steps foster a favorable reputation, guarantee worker safety, and uphold a unified appearance consistent with our organization’s ideals.

Appropriate Use of Makeup and Cosmetics for Women

Encourage women to use makeup and cosmetics professionally, following guidelines in the workplace.

• Cosmetics should enhance face characteristics without being extremely dramatic or obtrusive, giving off a natural-looking appearance.
• Opt for neutral, well-balanced makeup colors.
• You can use foundation and concealer to achieve an even skin tone, but you must thoroughly blend them for a seamless appearance.
• Apply eye makeup tastefully and conservatively, using products like mascara and eyeliner.
• Select traditional hues of lipstick or lip gloss that go well with your complete cosmetic appearance.
• To preserve a comfortable working atmosphere for everyone, fragrance-heavy cosmetics and fragrances should be avoided.

Women workers contribute to a courteous and professional work environment by adhering to certain makeup standards, which reflects our company’s dedication to a consistent and well-groomed image. These principles, which welcome individual expression, seek to achieve a balance between professionalism and personal taste.

Cultural and Religious Considerations

Employee grooming standards help display the organization in a positive manner, but they must respect the wide range of employees’ cultural backgrounds and personal values. Recognizing and honoring employees’ cultural and religious grooming traditions promotes diversity, equity, and workplace belonging. Businesses may enhance teamwork, innovation, and output by encouraging people to be themselves and feel accepted.

Accommodations for Religious Attire and Grooming Practices

Company values diversity, accepting religious beliefs and practices, and allowing employees to practice their religion professionally while maintaining professionalism.

• Employees can dress in line with their religious convictions, provided it complies with safety and work regulations. Recognizing the wide range of religious dress, we honor reasonable requests while upholding productivity and workplace safety.
• Employees can request accommodations for grooming based on religious beliefs, involving respectful discussions to balance observance and workplace standards.
• There is the strictest confidence in all conversations about religious accommodations. Offices urge staff members to speak openly with their managers or the human resources division about their requirements.
• Education and Information: Offices regularly teach managers and employees about religious sensitivity and accommodations to promote a polite and understanding workplace. This training will make all team members aware of the value of inclusivity and courteous behavior.

Offices encourage an inclusive and diverse workplace where employees feel valued and respected for their beliefs by allowing for religious dress and grooming customs. While honoring the principles of their business and maintaining their professionalism, some also dedicate themselves to fostering an environment that celebrates cultural and religious diversity.

Sensitivity to Cultural Grooming Norms and Practices

Cultural grooming norms and practices are crucial for a welcoming workplace culture, recognizing diverse backgrounds and traditions.

• Staff promotes respect for diverse ethnic grooming customs through training and awareness initiatives, ensuring their significance and importance.
• Offices have flexible and inclusive grooming practices that consider the staff’s various needs. They encourage open discussion between management and staff to identify any required concessions that are consistent with cultural norms.
• Discrimination based on cultural grooming or appearance is prohibited; employees are evaluated based on abilities, credentials, and performance.
• Employees are encouraged to discuss their customs and habits with their coworkers as they value cultural diversity. Promoting an inclusive atmosphere enhances office workplace culture and fosters a sense of belonging.
• Offices offer a method for employee feedback so that they can express their experiences with and worries about cultural grooming standards. By maintaining the office practices’ quality, they ensure that they are still sensitive to and mindful of the demands of many ethnic groups.

Promoting cultural grooming norms fosters diversity, mutual respect, and a harmonious work environment by embracing cultural differences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: what guidelines apply to grooming at work.

A: Offices expect every employee to maintain good personal hygiene practices daily. Hair should be combed, tidy, and neatly trimmed or styled. No unruly hair is allowed. Beards, mustaches, and sideburns need to be kept cleanly trimmed.

Q: What is grooming of employees?

A: Let’s dissect it. By definition, grooming is the process through which someone establishes a friendship, trust, and emotional connection with another person to manipulate, take advantage of, or even abuse them. You could believe anything like this will never happen to you, but reconsider.

Q: What are the fundamental goals of grooming?

A: It improves hygiene, health, and beauty and some unhealthy habits like overeating, skipping baths, chewing one’s nails, etc. They may all lead to ailments. They can harm your skin and look as well. Grooming is the idea of practicing good hygiene.

Q: What grooming activities are there?

A: Hair styling, shaving, nail clipping, and nail polish are a few examples of this. Maintaining good health includes proper nutrition, exercise, leisure and recreational activities, sleep, and sleep hygiene.

Q: What does professional grooming entail?

A: Professional grooming involves maintaining your appearance regularly by ensuring you’re clean-shaven and presentable at all times. It includes practicing proper personal hygiene, dressing appropriately for the job, and keeping the workplace tidy.

Q: How does the company’s grooming policy affect the company’s public perception and credibility as a whole?

A: The workplace grooming strategy has a major impact on the company’s image and reputation since it helps present a unified and professional brand to customers, investors, and the general public. It shows that the company cares about its employees and wants them to have a positive experience while working there.

Q: Can workers ask for special consideration if they need to alter their personal hygiene routine because of a health condition?

A: Yes, employees can request modifications for medical or health-related reasons that may affect grooming practices. To promote diversity and compliance with applicable laws, employers must take into account requests for reasonable accommodation relating to a person’s handicap or health.

Q: Does the company’s grooming policy make any allowances for specific jobs or divisions?

A: For some positions or divisions, the company may make an exemption to its grooming policy due to unique needs or safety concerns. However, in order to maintain the organization’s general professional standards, any such exceptions should be clearly specified and conveyed to all employees.

Final Thoughts  

Promote a professional and unified work environment by establishing a workplace grooming policy. Setting defined standards for appearance and personal grooming makes it easier to ensure that employees consistently represent the firm’s values and image. In addition to encouraging everyone on staff to uphold professional standards, a grooming policy may foster an atmosphere of respect and inclusivity.

Regularly reviewing and updating the policy to account for shifting cultural norms and employee preferences will make it easier to maintain its relevance and effectiveness over time. A thoughtfully drafted workplace grooming policy promotes a positive working atmosphere for all employees, enhances the company’s reputation, and encourages productivity.

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Personal presentation is how you portray and present yourself to other people. It includes how you look, what you say, and what you do, and is all about marketing YOU, the brand that is you.

What others see and hear from you will influence their opinion of you. Good personal presentation is therefore about always showing yourself in the best possible light.

We all know that you only get one chance to make a first impression. Most of us are probably also aware that it takes quite a long time to undo that first impression—and that if it is negative, we may never get the chance to do so. This page explains some of the skills involved in making a good first impression—and then continuing to impress over time.

Understanding Personal Presentation

Personal presentation is about you and how you present yourself to others.

This includes both in everyday situations and when under pressure, for example, at job interviews. It is best thought of as a form of communication , because it always involves at least two people—the person presenting themselves (you) and the person seeing and hearing you.

Personal presentation covers what other people both see and hear. It includes how you look, what you say, and what you do. It therefore requires a wide range of skills, from improving your personal appearance to your communication skills.

However, all these aspects start from one place: you.

To present yourself well and confidently, you need to believe in yourself—or at least, be able to act as if you do.

Perception is Truth

People who present themselves as confident will be perceived as such by others.

There is also plenty of evidence that once we start acting as if we are confident, we generally feel more confident too.

Confidence—but not arrogance—is a very attractive trait. Having a justified belief in yourself and your abilities helps other people to be confident in you too.

Good personal presentation therefore requires good self-esteem and self-confidence. It means that you have to learn about yourself, and understand and accept who you are, both your positives and your negatives, and be comfortable with yourself. This does not, however, mean that you believe that there is nothing that you can improve—but that you are confident in your ability to achieve, and know how to overcome your flaws.

Paradoxically, therefore, personal presentation is actually not about being self-conscious or overly concerned with what others think about you. People who present themselves well generally do so because they believe in themselves, rather than because they are worried about what other people think. These concepts are closely related to Personal Empowerment .

A complete picture—and a cycle

Personal presentation is about conveying appropriate signals for the situation and for the other individuals involved.

People who lack self-esteem and confidence may fail to convey their message effectively or fully utilise their skills and abilities because of the way they present themselves. However, by improving your communication skills and reducing barriers to understanding, you may also improve your self-esteem and confidence.

Our pages: Communication Skills , Barriers to Communication and Improving Self-Esteem provide more information.

Areas of Personal Presentation

Improving personal presentation therefore requires a look at several different areas.

These include:

Self-esteem and self-confidence – how you feel about yourself and your abilities

Personal appearance – how you look, and how other people see you

Non-verbal communication – your body language, voice and facial expressions

Verbal communication – how you speak and use your words to make an impression

Behaviour – how you behave more generally, including politeness.

Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence

Self-esteem and self-confidence are closely related, but not quite the same thing.

Self-esteem is how you see and value yourself .

Self-confidence is believing in or having faith in your ability , rather than yourself as a person.

Neither self-esteem nor self-confidence are static. They vary as a result of numerous factors, including different situations and the presence of different people, personal stress levels and the level of change. Low levels of self-esteem are often associated with low levels of confidence, but those with good self-esteem can also suffer from low confidence.

To improve your self-esteem and self-confidence, spend time thinking about how you value yourself. Remind yourself of what is good about you, and learn to manage the highs and lows of self-esteem. In particular, try to avoid being affected too much by others’ opinions about you.

It is also worth practising coming across as confident even when you are not, because those who appear confident are not only perceived as confident, but often actually become more confident.

See our pages on Improving Self-Esteem and Building Confidence for more discussion, tips and advice on this area.

Personal Appearance and Non-Verbal Communication

Personal appearance is the way that you dress and take care of your general appearance.

Much as we may hate the idea that appearances matter, this is an important factor in personal presentation. Whether you like it or not, others will make judgements about you based on how you look, which includes how you dress and your accessories. It is therefore worth taking time to think about what messages you are sending to others in the way that you dress.

Case study: The ‘gravitas bag’

Louise was a young graduate, working in a government department. She had been working there about two years, and had just started working for a new boss, a woman just a few years older than her.

One day, on the way to an important meeting, Louise’s carrier bag, in which she was carrying her notebook and pens, broke on the bus. Her boss laughed, but said to her, carefully,

“ You know, you ought to think a bit about how what you wear and carry affects what people think about you. I’m not sure it gives quite the right impression to wander into a meeting with pens and books spilling out of a split carrier bag—that’s why I keep a briefcase in my cupboard for the days when I’ve worn a backpack into work. This may sound stupid, but I always feel that people may be judging me because I’m both female and quite young. I don’t want to give them any reason to doubt my professionalism. ”

Neither did Louise. The next weekend, she went shopping. On the Monday, she proudly showed her boss a new handbag and matching briefcase—her ‘gravitas bag’, as she described it.

Your personal appearance is closely related to the body language, gestures and other non-verbal messages that you use.

Many people are unaware of how they are affected by body language, and also how they are affecting others. By being aware of positive and negative non-verbal signals, you can improve your image and the way people perceive you.

There is more about these ideas in our pages on Personal Appearance and Non-Verbal Communication , including specific pages on Body Language and Face and Voice .

Verbal Communication and Effective Speaking

What you say and how you say it are both important aspects of how you are perceived by others.

Verbal communication is all about the words that you choose. Those who are good at verbal communication understand the impact of their particular choice of words and choose the right words for the situation and the audience. They are skilled at getting their message across to others and ensuring that it has been received.

See our pages on Verbal Communication for more.

Good communicators also use their voices effectively to convey their feelings, and to influence their audience. Your voice says a lot about you and learning how to use it more effectively has many benefits. There are a number of aspects to your voice, including accent, tone, pitch and volume. Some of these are easier to change than others, but it is worth thinking about how each of these affects your audience, so that you can learn to use your voice more effectively. 

See our pages Effective Speaking and Non-Verbal Communication: Face and Voice to learn more.

How you behave, and not just how you speak, will leave a strong impression on others.

For example, if you are habitually late, you may give other people the impression that you do not value their time. Good time management skills can therefore be helpful in giving the right impression—as well as enabling you to work more efficiently.

See our pages Time Management and Avoiding Distractions for some ideas of to improve your time management skills.

More crucially, your general politeness—to everyone, and not just people who ‘matter’—will create an important impression about how you value others.  This is an essential element of personal presentation. It pays to consider your manners.

See our page How to be Polite for more.

Further Reading from Skills You Need

Our Communication Skills eBooks

Learn more about the key communication skills you need to be a more effective communicator.

Our eBooks are ideal for anyone who wants to learn about or develop their interpersonal skills and are full of easy-to-follow, practical information.

And finally…

It is almost certainly impossible to overestimate the importance of personal presentation, especially in creating a good first impression, but also in giving a longer-term view of yourself.

Improving some fairly basic communication skills and increasing your self-awareness will improve your ability to present yourself well. Knowing that you are more likely to say and do the right things, and look the part, will help to increase your confidence. All these will, in turn, help to ensure that you give the right impression.

This is especially true in more formal situations, culminating in improved communication and therefore better understanding.

Continue to: Personal Appearance Self-Presentation in Presentations

See also: Effective Ways to Present Yourself Well Building a Personal Brand That Will Boost Your Career 8 Ways to Effectively Market Yourself as a Professional

Job Jumpstart

Why personal presentation is so important.

Did you know it takes only a few seconds to form a first impression of someone?

An employer will have likely formed an impression of you before you’ve even had a chance to say hello.

Why is good personal presentation so important when meeting employers?

First impressions are really important when meeting employers. Employers will likely make assumptions about you based on how you look and dress. To make a positive first impression, take some time to think about what message your personal appearance and body language might be sending.

Consider the following:

• Your physical appearance. Are you wearing clean and neat clothes? Is your hair clean and brushed?

Dressing well shows the employer you are taking them seriously. It can also help you feel more confident and professional.

• Your body language . Are you smiling? Making eye contact? Is you posture good?

Positive body language can show the employer that you are genuinely interested in meeting them.

• How you speak to and get along with others. Are you being friendly and polite to everyone you meet?

This can show an employer how well you interact with others around you. This can also show them how you might fit into their workplace.

These tips can help you ensure you make a good first impression:

1. dress the part.

Think carefully about what to wear to an interview.

Show the employer that you are serious about the job by putting effort into your clothing.

So what should you wear? 

• For a professional office job. Wear business attire (clean and ironed). Keep makeup and jewellery to a minimum.
• Casual and less conservative setting (for example retail, hospitality or a trades position). Try to dress up rather than down and go for neat, clean and ironed at a minimum. Remember that what you see workers wearing on the job might not reflect what the employer expects applicants to wear at an interview, so always dress a little better.

2. Do your hair

Make sure your hair is clean and tidy. If it is long, tie it back so it's not in your eyes. Employers have told us that applicants who have untidy or dirty hair do not leave a good impression.

3. Watch your body language

Employers are impressed by job seekers who:

• smile and are friendly
• make eye contact
• have good posture (it makes you appear more confident).

Practise meeting an employer for the first time in front of a mirror. This can give you immediate feedback on how you appear to an employer.

These tools can help you:

Networking and personal presentation.

Tips to help you network and present you best self to employers.

Personal presentation tips

Tips on presenting well at interview.

Succeeding at job interviews

Use this workbook to help you prepare for a job interview.

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How to succeed at job interviews

Appearance and Grooming: 40 Useful Performance Feedback Phrases

Appearance and Grooming: Use these sample phrases to craft meaningful performance evaluations, drive change and motivate your workforce.

Appearance and Grooming are the way one presents themselves in a professional environment or the workplace with the aim of gaining positive impression and respect as well.

Appearance and Grooming: Exceeds Expectations Phrases

• Always maintains a professional appearance in dress and manner of doing things
• Always carries a smile and friendly greeting to share with others in the entire office
• Readily adheres to the company's dress and grooming policy and regulations
• Represents the company well at all the off-site meetings attended
• Motivates team members and always leads the others by example
• Adheres to the traditional culture of honor and respect for one another
• ?Walks the Talk? actions are always consistent with the words
• Dresses in a dignified manner that causes others to respect boundaries
• Engages in mature talk that welcomes feedback from peers and staff
• Respects the position offered always covering the part to be a great example

Appearance and Grooming: Meets Expectations Phrases

• Maintains a high level of cleanliness and arrangement starting from the work desk
• Ensures both genders respect each other and maintains clear boundaries
• Presents a warm, unique look that attracts customers, coworkers, and staff
• Ensures good example is set before other employees especially the newbies
• Dresses the part to create both personal and corporate confidence
• Wears a bright smile every day that lights up the entire company
• Keeps the company culture alive by respecting the dress code
• Does not use grooming that conflicts with the company policy
• Work hard to ensure good looks, and hard work go together
• Determined to keep the workplace a happy and respectable dwelling

Appearance and Grooming: Needs Improvement Phrases

• Does not project an image of professionalism through the dressing
• Highly inconsistent in enforcing and following the company policies and procedures
• Often disrespectful and unfair in dealing with subordinates about their grooming
• Fails to display an acceptable standard of good professional grooming
• Often shows up at work with uncombed hair and in wrinkled clothes
• Does not take any steps to work on the overall impression made
• Tends to use overly familiar terms like kiddo or buddy
• Gossips about the coworkers and picks battles easily bringing conflict in the workplace
• Fails to meet the company's policy on the personal hygiene standards
• Inconsistent in following and keeping major ethical business practices that matter to the company

Appearance and Grooming: Self Evaluation Questions

• What are your personal motives behind your dressing and grooming?
• Do you follow the company policies and regulations in regards to how you should dress?
• Are you introducing a good or bad example to other employees who are watching you?
• Do you respect the professional boundaries that the company has set in regards to dressing?
• Are you satisfied with what you wear and do you show too much flesh?
• Have you taken into consideration the feedback you have received from your peers and staff?
• Are you able to tell others to present themselves professionally without feeling guilty of doing the opposite?
• What is your level of hygiene that you present to others?
• Do your dressing and attitude create a professional atmosphere that attracts people?
• Are customers more attracted to your confidence, skills, and good grooming?

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