There’s no perception you should be more aware of than your own. All it takes is Googling a name to get an insight into your character or about seven seconds on average in person before someone has summed up a judgement of your character. Having joined BlueSky PR this week it’s fair to say making a strong first impression has been something of a priority, as it would be for any new starter!
These three tips are yet to fail me when in the pursuit of creating a positive perception:
Awareness of Your Online Image
Have you ever Googled yourself? If not then you should probably open a new tab and do that now, it really is that essential! It’s now a given that your potential employers may do some online research to find out aspects of your life that your CV may not discuss. This doesn’t have to be a negative thing, in fact there’s a great opportunity to use this to your advantage.
For example my LinkedIn profile is currently being used and abused to showcase any past activities that may be of interest in a professional context. I have a First Class Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree, just over a year’s worth of experience in the communications field and also work with a charity supporting women in male-dominated industries. These are aspects of my life I’ve made a point of being visible online to help shape a positive perception.
Be an Optimist
“Optimism is the most important human trait, because it allows us to evolve our ideas, to improve our situation and to hope for a better tomorrow.” – Seth Godin
Being an optimist doesn’t necessarily mean being consistently happy, as it’s only natural to occasionally not be. However I strongly believe that positivity is contagious, and by practicing the art of seeing the positive in every situation you could be helping to improve not only the quality of your own life but those around you also.
Take an Interest
I love to meet new people, it’s fascinating to me that no two people in this world are the same and you can learn something new from everyone. This is absolutely the mind-set I started my week with. Attempt to ask questions and stay curious of your surroundings. Not only could this be a testament to your enthusiasm but it’s also a great way of shaping your own solid perceptions of the environment round you.
The main aspect of my new role at BlueSky will consist of successfully securing coverage for clients, and whilst I believe enthusiasm, optimism and being conscious of my presence online are traits that will assist in shaping a positive impression with clients as a new starter, I’d also say the latter two are attitudes I try to take towards my daily activities regardless of my situation. This is my perspective of the beginning to an exciting new journey, that I look forward to further pursuing. Watch this space!