Some job seekers reject as superficial the notion that appearances matter in an employment situation. In practice, one’s physical appearance, virtual representation and relationship reputation all matter a great deal. Successful older job candidates will pay close attention to the image they project in person, through their electronic and offline communications and in their social media appearances.
Physical Appearance
Dress-for-success consultants, books and articles have been around for decades. At one time, there were simpler rules for how a businessman or woman was expected to dress. Even blue-collar workers would own at least one suit. In fact, some would even refer to their outfit as their interview suit. Today, the advent of business casual, variations by industry and other conventions have made knowing how to dress for a job interview more challenging than ever. Still, the common-sense expectation to dress neatly, cleanly and appropriate to the industry and job is timeless. Older job seekers, especially, should pay special attention to their attire, hairstyle, eyewear, accessories and makeup lest they be dismissed as out of touch.
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
That said, it can come across as a bit desperate to dress significantly younger than one’s age. When in doubt, one should consult a well-dressed friend for candid advice on what needs attention and potential upgrading of their personal appearance. Results are best for the job seeker who can present the best version of themselves possible.
Communications Branding
The same attention that is given to physical looks must be given to one’s electronic appearance. An item as simple as one’s choice of email provider can give clues to one’s relative modernity. While the functionality might be adequate, an AOL, Yahoo or MSN email suffix can make one look dated relative to a Gmail or iCloud account. An employer or recruiter might conclude that with seemingly no changes to one’s email provider over the past 15 years, the candidate lacks technological knowledge or curiosity.
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
Similarly, a job seeker must have a professional-sounding email. There is nothing inherently wrong with a light-hearted email like RangersFan@ or ILoveBeyonce@, but why take the chance of seeming trivial? John.Smith58@ is a far safer bet. Unless you are looking for work in a creative industry, resume formats should be conservative and conventional and email backgrounds, if used, should never seem frivolous. No business employer wants to see colorful backgrounds, flowery fonts or kitten stationery when corresponding with a job candidate. Finally, job seekers must ensure that their voicemail greetings are professional and clear. “This is Susan Jones, please leave me a message at the tone” is far more effective than “You missed me; you know what to do.”
Social Media Image
In terms of social media presence, one’s LinkedIn profile must be updated with a professional headshot, current professional information and, ideally, flattering references from co-workers, customers and former supervisors. Facebook or Instagram photos and comments should be screened for appropriateness using a “Who might possibly be offended by this?” standard. No employer wants to see a job candidate boozing it up, even if it is New Year’s Eve, nor do they want to see political rants, regardless of one’s preferences. Delete or at least hide from your timeline anything that is conceivably controversial. Even if all your friends love or hate President Donald Trump, for example, make sure your feeds are free of rants and references that are distracting to your candidacy. Likewise, offensive tweets must be deleted. There is no guarantee an employer will research these sites, but there is no way to be sure they will not.
[See: 10 Ways Social Media Can Help You Land a Job.]
The author and motivational speaker Assegid Habtewold said, “When we generalize and judge people quickly without taking ample time, we’ve chosen a shortcut. It’s superficial of us, and a lack of wisdom.” His observation is true, of course, but a job search is not a time to stubbornly insist on seeing the world the way you wish it would be rather than the way it is. The journey to your next professional challenge will be much smoother if you pay attention to presenting your best self personally, virtually and through your written and oral communications.
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The Older Job Seeker’s 3-Step Makeover Plan originally appeared on usnews.com
