THE BRANDING ISSUE
TOP TO TOE
AS THE OLD SAYING GOES , YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION . HERE ’ S HOW TO MAKE SURE IT ’ S A GOOD ONE .
G oing on a first date ? Great stuff . But what happens if your first impression is all wrong ? It ’ s a tough world out there , and you probably won ’ t get a second chance . The same goes for that first time you meet a potential new customer or boss . Much as we may hate the idea that appearances matter , other people will make judgements about you based on how you present yourself . It ’ s therefore worth taking time to think about the messages you might unwittingly be sending . Long story short , if you wouldn ’ t sit next to yourself on a train , you ain ’ t gonna get that gig . Let ’ s start at the top :
HAIR Assuming you have some , hair should be clean and tidy . Some customers might see long hair on a bloke as unprofessional , but it probably won ’ t lose you a job if it ’ s the only unconventional thing about your appearance . If there ’ s a raised eyebrow , you could always say you ’ re growing it so you can shave it off for charity later in the year . Bear in mind that long hair can be a safety concern around power tools , so if you ’ re determined to stick with it , a man bun is the way forward ( as long as you know how to rock it ). You ’ ll need to position it strategically to fit under your hard hat .
SMILE There are things that affect your business that are beyond your control . Making a potential customer feel at ease and heard isn ’ t one of them . Make eye contact , offer a sincere , friendly greeting and give a warm smile . While clean teeth and fresh breath might
12 GEMCELL . COM . AU OCT – NOV 2021