Image Management Tips

by Sarah Clark
sarah.clark@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

Shows like “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and “How do I look” have drawn attention to the importance of image in personal and professional relations. It’s become so popular that some are hiring image management consultants to improve their public relations and communications skills.

But what if you don’t have the money to pay an image management professional $100 or more per hour to tell you about style and manners? Be your own public relations guru! With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to projecting a more desirable image through appropriate dress and sharp communication skills.

Examine Your Wardrobe

Follow a style appropriate to your profession. Computer programmers, for example, are expected to be in jeans, polos and t-shirts; however, someone may look askance at a banker wearing the same garb. In addition to cultivating a style that’s appropriate to your work, buy a few new pieces of clothing each season so you aren’t completely out-of-step with current trends. Make sure your clothes fit well (you’d be surprised, it’s harder than you think to find good-fitting clothing). Jeans should not hang too low and suit sleeves and pants should be altered to your measurements by a professional tailor.

Stay on Top of Current Events

Know something about the top stories nationally, internationally, and in your community. A person who is well informed appears more competent than someone who isn’t. It’s okay to discuss politics, but don’t assume your interlocutor shares your views. Stay away from dogmatic comments and try to maintain a fairly upbeat tone of conversation.

Mind Your Grammar

Review your high school or college grammar. A good book for this is Strunk and White’s “Elements of Style.” It’s a quick read that highlights the most common (and embarrassing) mistakes native English speakers make in writing and conversation.

Observe Communications Professionals

Never has television been more inundated with public relations-savvy people. People like Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart have become highly successful based on their facility with image management and self promotion. Watch talk show-divas such as these as well as news-based shows like “Meet the Press” and “This Week” that feature politicians, journalists, and other newsmakers that have been schooled in communications and public relations techniques.

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer who specializes in postsecondary education and career development.