Guest Post by Sasha Westin, Fabuliss.com
Let’s be honest. The job market is competitive regardless of the economy. And if you’re not being forced to think about your next move, you should still be thinking about it.
When it comes to moving up in your current organization, there is a wealth of information about how to deal with a difficult boss and how to ask for a raise.
But what should you wear? Here are three things to consider when dressing for the road to your promotion.
#1 Determine what you want your image to say.
Gear your image towards what looks successful in your company. Identify those who are successful and observe what they are wearing, how they communicate and what they do that supports their success.
Take a few minutes to write down five to ten image qualities you believe are important for growing within your company. Next, rank them in order of importance.
#2 Assess your image relative to what you want it to be.
Now that you have an idea of the image you want to have, it’s time to assess where you are at. Give each image quality you want a number from 1 to 5 with 1 being needs major improvement and 5 being a great match.
For added perspective, ask someone who you believe will give you honest feedback to rank your image. This could be your manager, someone you consider a professional mentor or a professional image consultant.
Take a look at your completed assessment. If you scored high, you are poised to move ahead with seeking your promotion.
If you scored low, take this as an opportunity to reinvent yourself and do it before you go after your promotion to ensure you put your best foot forward.
#3 Develop a plan to update your image.
Once you understand the gap between where you are versus where you want to be, it’s time to create a plan.
For each area you scored low in, map out a plan to make changes. Your plans can range from “stop wearing so much black” to “hire someone to figure out what my best colors are.”
If your plan is overwhelming OR if you are not sure how to start with making a plan, it is a great investment to seek professional help as you are likely due for a complete style makeover.
A professional image consultant can help you with everything from identifying your best colors, specific recommendations about what clothing styles are best for your body type and measurements to organizing your closet and taking you shopping.
The quality of your work, your attitude and your image are important factors for a job promotion. Take care of your image to ensure it does not overshadow your talent.
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Sasha Westin is a professional image and style consultant and founder of Fabuliss. She helps men and women learn how to create and shop for style that aligns with their personal brand. Color, fit, closets and shopping.
Fabuliss.com, hello@fabuliss.com, 612-554-4629
October 6, 2010
Winning at Work