Prepared and Poised to Launch
a Successful Career

 

 “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.”     -Michelangelo

 

The definitive checklist for everything new college graduates need to know and do to launch successful careers in the professional business world:  

 

1. Know the proper protocol for introducing yourself and others. Always have a pre-planned self-introduction for every interview and networking event you attend—one that will stimulate interest in you.

2. Shake hands with a firm grip, direct eye contact, and erect posture. Confident body language speaks volumes about your credibility as a person who is going places.

3. Suit up for success. Wear appropriate business attire and always make sure you are well-groomed when you go on a job interview or to a business meeting. Polished shoes translate to attention to detail. A polished appearance opens doors!

4. Cultivate a strong, clear speaking voice. Enunciate your words and do not use slang, foul language, or filler words. Knowing how to communicate clearly and effectively is essential to your success.

5. Polish your electronic and written communications, and your virtual presence.  Be professional: conduct yourself in a business-like manner at all times, using appropriate business language. Use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. And today, it is critical to your success that you are able to present a polished and professional presence online for interviews and meetings.

6. Be professional when using your phone for business.

Always identify yourself when placing and answering a call. Be prepared to leave a voicemail when you place a call, since over half of all calls placed go to voicemail.

7. Know what is appropriate and what does not reflect positively on you when using your social networking tools. Every communication in both the virtual and real world is an opportunity to make a good impression.

8 Master the art of mingling, networking, and making small talk. Being skillful at mingling, networking, and small talk will not only help you get a job; it will also help you stand out in your new job.

9 Perfect your dining skills and table manners. You may be invited to have lunch with a potential employer so that he or she can observe your table manners. Demonstrating fine dining skills and stellar table manners greatly enhance your odds of landing a job.

10.  Demonstrate good manners at all times! Civility counts! People remember and are impressed with people who have good manners.

 

By: Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick

        May 2022