Professionalism BasicsProfessionalism Basics

What is it?What is it?

Your professional image is the set of Your professional image is the set of qualities and characteristics that qualities and characteristics that represent perceptions of your represent perceptions of your competence and character as judged competence and character as judged by your key constituents (i.e., clients, by your key constituents (i.e., clients, managers, professors, colleagues). managers, professors, colleagues).

Professionalism Basics:Professionalism Basics:Respect for OthersRespect for Others

Recognizing that other peoples time Recognizing that other peoples time is as valuable as yours (being on is as valuable as yours (being on time, cancelling appointments or time, cancelling appointments or meetings ahead of time if you cannot meetings ahead of time if you cannot make them)make them)

If you have chosen to attend a class, If you have chosen to attend a class, meeting, conference, presentation--meeting, conference, presentation--pay attention.pay attention.

Professionalism Basics:Professionalism Basics:Respect for OthersRespect for Others

Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Follow Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Follow through is important!through is important!

If you are unable to meet a project goal or If you are unable to meet a project goal or other expectation let those involved know the other expectation let those involved know the new timeline and that you are working on it. new timeline and that you are working on it. Don’t just ignore.Don’t just ignore.

Take responsibility for your behavior—Take responsibility for your behavior—successes and failures.successes and failures.

Professional CommunicationProfessional Communication Every interaction you have with a potential Every interaction you have with a potential

employer/ grad school/professional reference employer/ grad school/professional reference counts!counts!

What does your email address, voice mail, cell What does your email address, voice mail, cell phone ring, email content say about you? phone ring, email content say about you?

Think about every point of contact a professor, Think about every point of contact a professor, employer, graduate school may come into employer, graduate school may come into contact with you.contact with you.

You should be using a professional email (your You should be using a professional email (your WSU email) and professional tone in emails with WSU email) and professional tone in emails with your professors – they are your references!your professors – they are your references!

Professional DressProfessional Dress Invest in one good interviewing outfit if you Invest in one good interviewing outfit if you

are applying to jobs or graduate schools.are applying to jobs or graduate schools.

Even if the workplace is very casual you Even if the workplace is very casual you should still dress conservatively and should still dress conservatively and professionally for the interview. professionally for the interview.

Maintain professional body language. (Don’t Maintain professional body language. (Don’t slouch, bite your nails, pick at your hair, skin slouch, bite your nails, pick at your hair, skin and/or outfit constantly…)and/or outfit constantly…)

Networking EventsNetworking Events

What’s appropriate?What’s appropriate?

Introduce Yourself!Introduce Yourself!

When you recognize someone and When you recognize someone and he/she does not recognize you.he/she does not recognize you.

When attending a gathering, When attending a gathering, business or social. (for example the business or social. (for example the career fair)career fair)

When seated next to someoneWhen seated next to someoneWhen the person introducing you When the person introducing you

does not remember your name.does not remember your name.

Professional Communication Professional Communication BasicsBasics

Good eye contactGood eye contact

Firm HandshakeFirm Handshake

Practice introducing yourself-have a Practice introducing yourself-have a “one minute commercial” about “one minute commercial” about yourself and your goals that you tell yourself and your goals that you tell potential employers potential employers

One Minute CommercialOne Minute Commercial

List accomplishments—paid, unpaid, work, List accomplishments—paid, unpaid, work, education, life, experiences… education, life, experiences…

List your most important skills and List your most important skills and strengths…strengths…

What are you interested in doing? What are you interested in doing? Internships, job openings, company Internships, job openings, company information…information…

Tie these aspects together to create a Tie these aspects together to create a consistent message about who you are. consistent message about who you are.

When communicating When communicating professionally do not:professionally do not:

Monopolize the conversationMonopolize the conversation Say negative things about a person, Say negative things about a person,

company or productcompany or product GossipGossip Use profanityUse profanity Tell lots of jokes or use sarcasm – Tell lots of jokes or use sarcasm –

remember these people don’t know you remember these people don’t know you yet and may not realize you are jokingyet and may not realize you are joking

Talk about controversial issuesTalk about controversial issues

Follow UpFollow Up

#1 Tip– don’t forget to do it or avoid it!#1 Tip– don’t forget to do it or avoid it!

The majority of students (and people in The majority of students (and people in general) neglect to follow up with those general) neglect to follow up with those who they exchange business cards with.who they exchange business cards with.

If you get a business card, it’s appropriate If you get a business card, it’s appropriate to follow up the next day.to follow up the next day.

Career website Career website Online Resources Online Resources Business Etiquette for examplesBusiness Etiquette for examples

Developing your professional Developing your professional networksnetworks

Talk to people you Talk to people you knowknow

Complete informational Complete informational interviewsinterviews

Complete an Complete an INTERNSHIP!!INTERNSHIP!!

VolunteerVolunteer

Job ShadowJob Shadow

Join related student Join related student groups and groups and professional professional organizationsorganizations

Attend events made Attend events made available to youavailable to you

Use your student Use your student status while you can—status while you can—provides entry into a provides entry into a lot of opportunities.lot of opportunities.

On the Job/InternshipOn the Job/Internship

Establishing your professional Establishing your professional identityidentity

Moving Up or Out?Moving Up or Out?Collegiate Employment Research Institute Research Brief 2007, Phil Gardner, Collegiate Employment Research Institute Research Brief 2007, Phil Gardner,

What are the top qualities employers What are the top qualities employers are looking for? Which areas do you are looking for? Which areas do you excel in?excel in?

What are the items that often get new What are the items that often get new professionals in trouble.professionals in trouble.

What is going to be the most difficult What is going to be the most difficult adjustment for you? adjustment for you?

Top 6 Firing ReasonsTop 6 Firing Reasons

Unethical behaviorUnethical behavior

Lack of motivation/work ethicLack of motivation/work ethic

Inappropriate use of technologyInappropriate use of technology

Failure to follow instructionsFailure to follow instructions

Late for work and late assignmentLate for work and late assignment

What Leads to Promotion?What Leads to Promotion?

Taking InitiativeTaking Initiative NetworkingNetworking Self-ManagementSelf-Management Team EffectivenessTeam Effectiveness LeadershipLeadership FollowershipFollowership

PerspectivePerspective Show and TellShow and Tell Organizational Organizational

SavvySavvy Technical Technical

CompetenceCompetence Cognitive AbilitiesCognitive Abilities

InternshipsInternships Be sure to clarify expectations of the internship with you Be sure to clarify expectations of the internship with you

supervisor.supervisor.

Ask about the office culture around use of cellphones and Ask about the office culture around use of cellphones and internet use – personal email/facebook. internet use – personal email/facebook.

Dress appropriately for the office. Don’t be too casual or Dress appropriately for the office. Don’t be too casual or informal. informal.

Even if the environment is casual you still need to keep your Even if the environment is casual you still need to keep your conversation and dress at a more professional level compared conversation and dress at a more professional level compared to being on campus. to being on campus.

Don’t overshare about your personal life!Don’t overshare about your personal life!

CommunicationCommunication

How do I deal with problems or How do I deal with problems or communication break downs at communication break downs at

work/internship?work/internship?

CommunicationCommunication If you are upset by an interaction at work, If you are upset by an interaction at work,

give yourself some time to calm down and give yourself some time to calm down and think before taking action.think before taking action.

On the other hand don’t let something On the other hand don’t let something build up for months and then have a melt build up for months and then have a melt down!down!

Don’t gossip about your annoyance or Don’t gossip about your annoyance or problem with other co-workers. This will problem with other co-workers. This will only increase the problem.only increase the problem.

Approaching Approaching Always best to start communicating directly Always best to start communicating directly

with the person you are having a problem with the person you are having a problem with. Don’t go above his/her head first.with. Don’t go above his/her head first.

When you are calm and have something When you are calm and have something prepared to say approach co-worker in prepared to say approach co-worker in private.private.

Keep in mind the person could have no idea Keep in mind the person could have no idea you are frustrated. Approach with the you are frustrated. Approach with the benefit of the doubt if possible.benefit of the doubt if possible.

Have concrete examples of the problem.Have concrete examples of the problem.

CommunicationCommunication

If a problem continues then approach If a problem continues then approach a supervisor or suggest you both a supervisor or suggest you both present the issue to supervisor.present the issue to supervisor.

Remember to be professional—not Remember to be professional—not personal. Conflict resolution in the personal. Conflict resolution in the workplace is different than among workplace is different than among family and friends.family and friends.

A few helpful resourcesA few helpful resources

www.vancouver.wsu.edu/career WSU Vancouver Career home page—lots of career WSU Vancouver Career home page—lots of career

information such as a local employer directory, information such as a local employer directory, career and major exploration resources, job career and major exploration resources, job searching resources, resume and cover letter searching resources, resume and cover letter examples and more!examples and more!

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/library/wa_organizations.aspxhttp://www.secstate.wa.gov/library/wa_organizations.aspx A comprehensive listing of professional A comprehensive listing of professional

organizations and associations in the state of organizations and associations in the state of WashingtonWashington

Ask a Manager blog www.askamanager.org Ask a Manager blog www.askamanager.org