This document provides guidance on developing a professional image through appropriate dress, makeup, perfume, hair, accessories, communications skills, etiquette, attitude, and networking. For dress, it recommends business suits, conservative colors and styles for both men and women. Makeup, perfume, and hair should be understated. Good communications, a positive attitude, and active networking are also emphasized. Maintaining a professional image builds confidence and positively impacts interactions with peers, customers, and supervisors, ultimately leading to greater success.

1. P R E S E N T E D B Y :
M E L I S S A
S A R A H
J E S S I C A
A Professional Image
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2. Dress for Success
 Wardrobe
 Makeup
 Perfume/
Cologne
 Hair
 Accessories
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3. Women Men
 Business suit with a solid color
under shirt or a white, button
down blouse with a black jacket
 Black or grey pants, or knee
length skirt
 Solid color, close-toed heels or
flats
 Solid color business suit in
navy, black, or grey with a solid
under shirt
 Ties should be conservative
(not too wide or narrow)
 Dress shoes, preferably black
Appropriate Wardrobe
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4. Appropriate Wardrobe: Example
Professional
Dress
Business Casual
Dress
Unprofessional
Dress
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5. Makeup
 Neutral shades
 Beige, browns, light pinks, earthly tones
 Natural look
 No fake eyelashes, blush/cover-up to
match skin tone, No thick eye makeup
 Little or no lipstick
 Tinted lip-gloss, nude lipstick
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6. Perfume & Cologne
 Avoid any scents during an interview
 Wait a few days to start wearing scents after starting
a new job
 Start light with a dab behind ears
 Don’t over indulge
 Allergic reactions
 Nauseating
 Distracting
 Stick to light scents
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7. Hair
 Nicely pulled back
 Groomed, trimmed hair
 Natural hair color
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8. Accessories
 Do not over accessorize
 Rings, earrings, bracelets, hair accessories
 If it makes noise, its not appropriate
 It’s also distracting
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9. Professional Image
 Communications
 Etiquette
 Attitude
 Networking
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10. Verbal / Written Electronic
 Speak correctly
 Listen attentively
 Perfect your writing
skills
 Watch grammar and
spelling
 Manage your online
image
 Social sites (Facebook)
 No text lingo
 Professionalize your
voicemail
Communications
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11. Etiquette
 Make sure to treat each person with respect
 Be pleasant to everybody no matter what the situation is.
 Let people know that you appreciate what they do
 Doing so will boost morale and improve work quality.
 Always return calls; Never be rude or impatient with
anyone on the phone.
 When unable to answer, have a polite message on the
answering machine that will be returned at the earliest.
 Thanking each participant after meetings is a basic
courtesy.
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12. Attitude
 Stay positive
 It’s the core of any good attitude.
 Studies show that praising your coworkers often, setting reasonable
goals and consistently showing gratitude are all traits common in
successful business people.
 Be assertive without being aggressive
 Communication is key! Allow other people to describe their needs as
you’ve allowed yourself.
 Try not to devalue their views; doing so will allow you to stay open to
meeting them halfway.
 Taking the time to listen to your coworkers will make you a team
player.
 Be compassionate when dealing with conflict
 Approach the other person with an adequate amount of compassion
 Keep an open mind
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13. Networking
GOAL:
Understand
their needs
before you
state yours.
Know the
right
people
Listen and
talk with
others.
Be friendly
and helpful
Don’t
dismiss
anyone as
irrelevant
Bring
business
cards to
hand out.
Follow up
on all leads
quickly
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14. Networking cont’d..
Did you know?..
79% of college graduates say networking is an
effective job search tool.
“How to Network” video
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15. Why a Professional Image Matters
 Self-confidence
 Peer interaction
 Customers
 Supervisors
 Ultimate success!
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16. Self-confidence
 If you feel confident in the way you are dressed, you will
feel good about presenting visually.
 Helps a person maintain composure
 Feeling of calmness, and displays poise
 Relies on his or her own judgment despite the
discouragement or influence of others.
 Some ways to become confident
 Be open to new and challenging assignments.
 Do not expect to control circumstances at work.
 Accept that the business world is demanding and fast-paced.
 Develop sense of humor, laugh at yourself and laugh with others.
 Accept criticism; use it as a tool to help improve your skills.
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17. Statistics
92%
8%
Portraying a Positive Image
Proper Business Attire
Poor Business Attire
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18. Statistics (Cont’d)
 41% of employers are more likely to promote who
wear professional attire
 Women who wear tastefully applied makeup earn
20-30% higher incomes
 45% of employers use social media sites to screen
potential candidates
 Facebook—65% LinkedIn—63% Twitter—16%
 Lots more statistics  CareerBuilder.com Network Statistics
 Majority of employers also use WebMii to screen
candidates.
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19. Peer Interaction
 Being sociable
 Shows friendliness,
adaptability, politeness.
 Helps develop a positive
office environment
 Behavior
 Greetings: use formal
titles
 Handshakes: Firm
 Your hygiene
 Most people make
decisions about new
people within the first
thirty seconds to two
minutes.
 A study done by Dr.
Albert Mehrabian at
UCLA revealed:
 37% of first impressions
are based on speakers
tone and voice.
 On the telephone it rises
to 80%.
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20. Customers
 Your professional image when meeting with
customers varies from place to place.
 Do your research, find out the dress code before traveling to a
different state or globally, and match it.
 Reasons for professional image with customers
 Empathy
 Important Information
 Perception
 Employee Retention
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21. Supervisors
 Demonstrate what
professional image is
required in your
organization.
 Dressing the part of a
supervisor, rather than
employee.
 Inspiring others, leading by
example.
 Fair treatment for all.
 Excellent communication.
 Help establish employee’s
leadership styles.
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22. Ultimate Success!
Stay
focused on
your goals
Overcome
obstacles
Accept
failure
Remove
fear and
doubt
Improve
your skills
A
Bright
Future!
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23. Conclusion
With research, we have determined that our
professional image consists of more than just our
“outer appearance.”
Communication, Etiquette, Attitude, Networking and
Dress are key ways in creating a professional image.
Once you have identified the image you want, your
professional life will develop.
Your professional image is
yours to define and create.
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24. References
 http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/careers/2011
/03/what_is_a_professional_image.html
 http://www.jobsite.co.uk/worklife/project-
professional-image-workplace-6900/
 http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelation
ships/a/dress_travel.htm
 http://humanresources.about.com/cs/communicati
on/a/profimage.html
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25. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS??
THE END
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