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Written for the Employmentpaper.com.
Your Self-Portrait Determines Your Reputation
By: Joyce Bender
Do you know that with a few telephone calls, a good search
consultant, or potential employer can find out more about you than
your own family, close friends, and spouse may know?
Many people believe that the only way they are known to a
prospective employer is by the interview itself, and the references
provided during the interviewing process -- False. So often, an
employer will ask other employees if they know a prospective hire, or
they will confidentially call a friend from the prospective hire's
current or prior place of employment. These "behind the scenes"
references are often what determines a resultant offer or rejection
letter.
Once you enter the workforce, you immediately begin painting a
self-portrait every day, by your behavior and performance in the
office, or in the field. Your performance, attitude and actions
constitute small paint strokes every day of your work life, and in the
end a self-portrait is produced for the business community to
view. Your self-portrait determines your reputation in the
industry.
For example, if one day you are rude to a co-worker, and lose your
temper in the office, two paint strokes have been made to the canvas.
If you help a co-worker, and make a contribution that benefits the
company, more strokes are added to the canvas. All positive and
negative behavior and actions are automatically committed to your
self-portrait. An arrogant individual may not realize how
ill-treatment of colleagues or subordinates clearly defines his/her
self-portrait in the community. The individual with the beautiful
self-portrait always will have the positive career opportunities and
promotions. In addition, that person will receive the most calls from
executive search firms trying to lure them away.
If a retained executive search firm works on a $100,000+ position
in Pittsburgh, the successful candidate will have to be a charismatic,
team-oriented leader with a progressive attitude and a high-level of
integrity. For most retained searches, the character of the candidate
is a key factor in the selection process. Character is equally an
important factor in the selection process for people in all
industries, and in all levels in their career.
People in the business community do not realize how easy it is to
go "behind the scenes" and ask questions about individuals, to find
out what their portrait looks like. The answer to questions about the
person may be, "He's a political animal", or "She's obnoxious", or "He
is a jerk." A "behind the scenes" call that discovers racial, or
discriminatory behavior will exclude that person from any opportunity
with a great company. When this happens, an individual loses a
potential lucrative opportunity based on incidents that have occurred
in the workplace. Your portrait becomes the reputation seen and
discussed by your colleagues, co-workers, and supervisors. If your
portrait is not appealing, you will not receive the big raise,
promotion, or unknown job offer.
Companies today look for much more than technical or job specific
skills when recruiting talent. Companies today look for a positive
attitude, teamwork, initiative, integrity, good interpersonal skills,
and a visionary spirit.
You must work to paint a beautiful self-portrait if you want to
maintain a good reputation in the community. Your reputation is worth
more dollars than any other skill set you possess. Your reputation is
priceless.
Suggestions made by Pittsburgh Corporations for painting a
beautiful self-portrait:
- Maintain a positive attitude.
- Treat everyone with respect.
- Don't climb the corporate ladder by stepping on others.
- Be a team player.
- Participate in company functions.
- Think "outside the box."
- Never compromise integrity.
- Give back to the community by volunteering.
- Demonstrate initiative.
- Be friendly.
You alone paint your self-portrait. Remember, the portrait you
paint will be viewed and known by all. If it is not attractive, you
could lose out on a fantastic opportunity. Guess what? You won't
even know about it.
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