Three Second Rule

   

The Three Second Rule: 

On Making a Good Impression 

     You have roughly three seconds, to make a good impression on someone.
That is not a lot of time!

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These three seconds can affect your success in the workplace, positively or negatively, before you even speak a word. 

      A future employer, co-worker, or client will judge you firstly on your appearance; the way you look. From your appearance instant judgments are made; the way a person is dressed portrays a mosaic of qualities to the viewer. A well dressed person is more likely to land the job, and become more successful in life, than someone who does not appear professional. 

     According to "Business Communications: Process and Product" written by Guffey, Rhodes, and Rogin, "Your appearance sends nonverbal cues to the viewer (whoever happens to be looking at you at any given point in time) such as hints to your status in society, your credibility, personality, and your overall potential." 

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 If you are polished, and slightly conservative in your style, as the person in the picture on the left is, people will most likely view you as an accomplished, organized, experienced, honorable, skilled, proficient- professional.

 If your clothing is baggy, far from crisp, and a little on the revealing side, people most likely see you as someone who is an amateur, unskilled, unreliable, inexperienced, inefficient, improper, second-rate - unprofessional.

 People are constantly forming quick opinions of others by their appearance. Each time you step out of the confined parameters of your house, like it or not, you are being judged.

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This being said, the word professional is flexible. Someone in a career such as a Home Builder, or a Millwright needs to be protected, able to move freely, and if they are good at their job, they will get dirty. These types of careers have their own accepted, and respected attire that allows them to appear professional while preforming physically demanding tasks at work. Apparel such as steal toed boots, "Big Bill" pants, tool belts, and hard hats are the norm in these types of industries.  

No matter what the career, it is always important to dress appropriately, and professionally as the way you appear, speaks just as loudly to the viewer as the words you say.

                     

               "Your appearance is your business card"
                            

                                                                            

Putting effort into your appearance, is an excellent beginning to being a respected, successful individual in the workplace.