I've been quiet here lately due to some hectic schedules, but I have had the opportunity to do some reading so you'll see a few book reviews pop out here soon.
I'm starting with a book I really enjoyed - Lizandra Vega's "The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land the Job You Want." A long time ago, I read a book called "Dress for Success" but the copy I had was written in the last era of 70's attire. This book reminded me of that, but was far better than I expected.
Put your best foot forward (and keep your shoes on!)
As you can tell from the title, Vega's book is focused on helping you make a great impression as a job hunter. I was impressed with how holistic her approach is, as it covers everything from soup to nuts. For example, you'll become educated on:
- how to market yourself;
- what to wear, and how to match your attire to the company where you're interviewing;
- how to make the most of your physical characteristics;
- how to prepare for a job interview;
- how to behave in the interview;
- how to follow up, and more.
Vega is clearly an expert in her field, having spent many years in recruiting and working as a career and image coach. The practicality of her advice is definitely rooted in real-world experience.
The style is very clear and easy to read, and there are plenty of visual examples in each part of the book. Perhaps the most entertaining aspect of the book is Vega's collection of horror stories, which show just how much some people need this kind of help!
For example, you might be amused with stories of coffee spills, foot odor (hence the admonition to keep your shoes on), shocking remarks people make, and other interesting things she's encountered in her career.
Not looking? It's still applicable.
I'm not job hunting at the moment (I received a review copy of the book), but I still found a lot of value here to help me re-think the image I portray at work. There are some things I can do to "up-level" my image and remove some of the rough edges for sure. I may not do them all, but at least I'm more conscious of the areas I can improve.
If you want a full run-down, check out the table of contents from The Image of Success, or visit Lizandra Vega's web site.