Looks Matter – Maintenance & Operations

Posted by Betsy Pruitt

The Business of You is made up of the same departments as a traditional company. Simply flipping the script on how you see these departments in your own life can be key to taking your career to the next level. Today, let’s look at Maintenance and Operations in the Business of You.

It’s unfortunate, but looks matter. We judge people, products, and businesses instantly solely based on their looks. When they make a bad impression, they have to fight extra hard to convince us that they are great despite appearances.

The Maintenance and Operations departments of a company make sure the company’s facility looks sharp and that the company functions properly on a day-to-day basis. In a nutshell, they keep up appearances. Likewise, the Business of You needs to look good in person and on “paper”. We may not agree with the rules, but it pays to play along.

Looking Good In Person

Maintain a Healthy Weight – According to a study in Health Economics, obesity could lower a woman’s annual earnings by as much as 6.2% and a man’s by as much as 2.3%. Ouch!
Dress to Fit In – When it comes to business, it’s much better to blend in than stand out. In a CareerBuilder.com survey, 41 percent of employers said that people who dress better or more professionally tend to be promoted more often than others in their organization.

Looking Good on “Paper”

Get a Resume Critique – How your resume reads is just as important as your experience. If you know someone in marketing or public relations, get them to review your resume. They’re experts at highlighting strengths and minimizing weaknesses.
Stay Current on the Web – You only get a few seconds to inspire confidence on the web, so make sure your website doesn’t look like a MySpace page from 1999. Use a current photo on your LinkedIn profile (no 1992 Glamour Shots) and if your blog hasn’t been updated in 2 years, don’t promote it on your profiles or website.

What are some other situations where looks matter in business? Post a comment.