In the past 10 years, we have experienced Friday casual and business casual days. However, a more formal business casual has been seen in the US in the last year. Now we appear to be morphing into a relaxed professional image.

This look requires a jacket type blazer or collared shirt for women. Men wear either a jacket with shirt or shirt and tie. The fashion industry has also been listening by providing more professional garments made with softer materials and a more relaxed fit. Remember a true professional looks and feels comfortable with their clothing choices.

Note: Avoid wearing these top five business casual disasters at work:

1. Clog mules – wooden shoes without backs
2. Low hung pants for both women and men
3. Palm trees on shirts for men
4. Multi earrings (3 or more)on both ears 
5. Leggings for women with a short top

If these items are in your closet, save them for the weekend only.

Eyebrows are critical because they shape your eyes and in most cases frame your facial expression. Two sets of interesting eye brows belong to Michele Obama and Mitt Romney. Often, Michele’s seem very sculptured. Mitt’s are so close to his eyes, it makes it difficult to read his eyes.

Clients often ask questions about their brows. Here are a few tips on how you can work with them to further enhance your eyes.

For women only:

Shape

The eyebrow color should enhance the skin tone and either match or complement the hair color. For example, blondes often use a taupe or light brown coloring.

Looking natural

Use a pencil to define the eye brow. Then touch it up with a brow brush.

Keeping the shape

It is important to have brows tweezed to keep their shape. It is better to under rather than over tweeze. My preference is hand tweezing versus waxing.

For men only:

The biggest challenge for men with dark eyebrows are in two areas: over growth between the eyes and/or the hair being so thick it partially obstructs eye movement. Tweezing in both areas will shape the eyes.

In some cases, folks like their eyebrows to be very distinctive because it helps define their unique brand. My thought is that if it shows as a positive feature, then it’s ok.

It’s important because your eyebrows send a message even before you speak.

According to a recent piece in the Chicago Tribune the most over used resume buzzwords are: creative, organizational, effective, extensive experience, track record, motivated, innovative, problem-solving, communication skills and dynamic. One of my favorite cliches that didn’t make the list is team-player.

Having written and read hundreds of resumes, I would agree with this assessment. Try and minimize these words on your resume. Especially:

Motivated (everyone is motivated otherwise they wouldn’t be applying for jobs)
Problem-solving (all work involves solutions to issues)
Communications skills (everything we do is related to communication skills)

You might want to use them if they are part of the job description. For example, if the job description reads, “Innovative Sales Manager needed for the Southwest Region,” you can describe yourself that way. 

The key to a writing a good resume is to use examples that show the meaning of those clichés by citing real experiences (like these examples from real resumes):

Secured financing for $1.4 million facility using comprehensive forecasting models; assisted in VEDA and SBA approval process. (innovation and problem solving skills)

Directed the technical application integration project using 6 Sigma methodologies which reduced transit times for China, US and Singapore from 36 to 21 days, saving $100K. (organizational, communication and dynamic)

Plus, these lines show what hiring managers really want to see- specific accomplishments.

Contact No Cliche Copy (www.noclichecopy.com) for a reasonably priced pro resume and cover letter.

Steve Wyrostek
Owner- No Cliche Copy

In the US it is considered the norm to offer a handshake when first meeting someone. In some cases a hug may also be appropriate. However, in other countries greetings are different. Since business is international, it would be good to know the greeting customs used in different countries.

Here are some examples:

India

This is land of Namaste. Place your hands in a prayer position at the chest, point your fingers upward and bow slightly while saying “Namaste” (nuhm-uh-stey).

South Africa

The traditional South African greeting is a standard handshake grasp followed by a shift of hands to an upward position, then back to the standard grasp – all in one fluid motion.

Japan

One bows from the waist with palms on the thighs and heels together. A bow ranges from a nod to a 90 degree bend at the waist. Levels of respect are indicated by the depth and duration of a bow. A small head nod is casual and informal.

When you visit these countries, using their greeting customs will be noted as a sign of respect.

In today’s business environment, especially in a small office setting, when is casual conversation just gossip? There is a fine line between both. First, it really depends on the office culture and the intent of the individuals involved. What might be an innocent comment can become very inappropriate.
 
I like casual conversations to be non-personal and non-controversial. So, wishing someone a nice day is easy versus saying you hope the individual feels better about a personal situation.

A good example about interpretation of intent occurred recently when I asked a new person in the office where she came from. I meant it like did she live in the area. However, this person thought I was asking about her heritage.

Talking about the weather is not a bad topic to get the conversation rolling on a non-controversial note!

David Gregory, Ted Danson and Newt Gingrich have been on television a lot lately; David Gregory and Newt Gingrich because of politics and Ted Danson for starring in the CSI series.

They look terrific in their gray, almost silver colored hair. It is combination of skin tone, style and clothing color choices. Plus, all three men sport contemporary haircuts and youthful mannerisms.

If you see gray-haired men and they exhibit these characteristics, you will sense their intelligence, confidence and elegance, also.

Brad Pit was recently interviewed. One phrase from that interview sticks out in my mind: “When you are interesting to yourself you will be interesting to others.”

Being involved in different projects and remaining constantly refreshed helps you stay connected and relevant. One tactic is to move out of your comfort zone and try something new. Folks I find the most interesting are the ones always attempting new experiences.

The primary purpose of business holiday parties is to celebrate and strengthen relationships. But, they can also be a gregarious time where too much information is shared and too many alcoholic beverages consumed.

Conversations at these events are best when the discussions are about current events or safe subjects like best restaurants, movies or books. Also, maintain a strict two cocktail limit.

Keeping these things in mind will help ensure the holiday parties work as positive relationship strengtheners.

In the spirit of being green, re gifting can work when you give to someone not in the same circle of friends or business. A gift can be re-gifted if it is less than six months old, does not have an expiration date (like food and wine) and has never been used.  However, the most important thing is that the person who receives the gift will know its value and use it.

I am often asked what I think of holiday motif clothing, sweaters, ties and pins, etc.

It really depends on the situation and the culture of your organization. For family affairs, a great example could be seen in the December 7th episode of Modern Family. One of the family members was dressed in a holiday sweater and he loved it. Other family members did not wear any holiday styled clothing and were fine with that, also.
  
So, if you want to wear a holiday styled piece of clothing and look smart in it, here are some guidelines:

Do:

• Less. If you want to wear red or green to be in spirit, a little color will go a long way. For example, wear color in a sweater or scarf as an accent with camel as a foundation color. For Christmas tree, Santa Claus or candy cane designs, small prints are more elegant than large size ones.

Don’t

• Do top to bottom in red. Recently I saw a young woman wearing bright red shoes, hose and skirt. Choose one, not all three.
• Wear Santa hats, reindeer and ornaments in the hair at the Christmas party.

Follow these simple rules and you can be in the holiday spirit and retain a touch of fun.