I’ll try to control it. Earlier this week, I read a short article in The Week, “The Dying Art of the Job Interview.”

Here’s one sentence from it: “Recruiters say one in five recent grads displays unprofessional behavior.”

Well, there’s unprofessional behavior, and then there’s flat-out ridiculous behavior. The article goes on to mention a recent college graduate applying for a position (and a good one at that) at American Eagle, who “brought her cat along, set its crate on the interviewer’s desk, and played with it.”

In what world would any candidate, for any job, much less an educated college grad, think that could be acceptable?

Apparently, the Millennials (Generation Y) are faring poorly during job interviews, and even those who get hired are still highly unprofessional their first year on the job, according to a survey by the Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania.

Taking phone calls, texting during interviews … really? Why? Has the cell phone become such an addiction for this generation that a job candidate can’t even bear to turn his or her phone off for the duration of the interview?

Has talking on the phone and texting become so ubiquitous, so fused into their awareness, that they have absolutely no idea that there are situations when it simply isn’t appropriate? If this is, indeed, the case for these young people, that is a very sorry situation.

This type of unprofessional behavior shows a recruiter or HR person pretty quickly what that person’s priorities and level of professionalism would be once hired.

Would you hire a college graduate that answered his phone, texted, or brought a pet to an interview? I sure wouldn’t.

BRODY offers professional development training and coaching for those who want to gain a competitive advantage and move ahead in their careers. But what are we (as a society) to do with those who are so clueless, they can’t even get a career going in the first place, despite years of an expensive college education? Will colleges nationwide have to institute how-to-interview classes, or teach other basic etiquette skills that their parents should have taught?

And speaking of mom and dad … what about this generation’s parents? They should know better, but apparently they’ve taken to meddling with their kids’ schooling and potential careers on such a large scale that it’s been given a name: helicopter parenting. Like helicopters, they hover overhead — and make way too much noise.

For instance, one 20-something man went on an interview, and before he was even hired, his father called the interviewer to try and negotiate a better salary! (The offer was taken off the table completely.) I’m dumbfounded by this type of behavior.

It seems that not only is finessing the job interview a dying art, but common sense has fled the country along with it! Sometimes, I feel that the information I offer in my books is something we should all know already — until I see how many people obviously still need it.

Parents, if you really want to help your kids, why don’t you teach them the appropriate ways to act on an interview, how to negotiate a good salary, and then let them have their own experiences. They will ever fail and learn from their mistakes, or succeed and feel more confident.

It’s a cliché, yet true at the same time: Experience is the best teacher.

I’ll continue this discussion in my next blog post. For some great office workplace behavior tips and strategies, check out my book, Help! Was That a Career-Limiting Move?

The post Job Interviews Still Require Putting Your Best Foot Forward (Career Advice part 1) appeared first on Brody Professional Development.

You know what I’m talking about … you’re at a lunchtime networking function and the person standing next to you at the buffet line is telling you about his or her business, but standing so close to you that you can tell what the person had for breakfast?

Remember the classic episode on “Seinfeld” about Aaron, the close-talker? He was literally in Jerry’s face, making him very uncomfortable.

It may be funny on a TV sitcom, but I can’t think of a better way to alienate potential clients, irritate your bosses, give the opposite sex the “creeps,” and pick up a bad reputation as a “space-invader.”

Is standing too close really that bad of an infraction? In a word, yes.

A friend once told me a story about standing on a balcony talking to someone. The other person kept moving closer, breathing in my friend’s face as my friend kept backing up, until finally she was pressed up against the railing. She reported fighting the urge to leap off the balcony to escape the unwanted intrusion into her personal space.

Not only does standing too close make others uncomfortable, it’s considered rude behavior or worse. It can be considered aggression or even harassment, and if there’s any touching involved, it can be considered sexual harassment. This type of behavior is simply not tolerated in today’s corporate America, so err on the side of caution.

So, how close is too close? Well, interestingly, that varies by country. Here in the U.S., a distance of anywhere from two to four feet feels appropriate for business connections. So, if you are doing business in other countries, you might want to investigate the norm for that culture.

Now, I don’t want to assign any particularly devious motives to space invaders. Some people simply have no sense of personal space, were raised differently, or just don’t have a clue.

Here’s a great rule of thumb: If you’re close enough to accidently spit on the other person while speaking —- you are too close! Back up.

If you notice the other person you are talking to leaning backwards, or even taking a step back — please, please, please do not take a step forward toward him or her. This is your clue, oh clueless ones, that you are too close. Back up!

If you are so close that you can feel the other person’s breath on your face or neck, then he or she can feel yours as well (and smell it, too). Take a breath mint and back up!

Perhaps you think leaning in shows you are interested and enthusiastic — you’re right, but still keep a respectul distance!

Perhaps you think standing really close is a great way to bond, or create intimacy with the other person. Think again — this can backfire badly. In reality, it makes others feel anxious, squeamish, alarmed, defensive, and sometimes even violated.

Perhaps you think the person you are talking to is really attractive and you just want to get closer. If it’s a business situation, this is inappropriate one hundred percent of the time. So get over it!

CBS’s “The Early Show” did a neat little experiment about personal space. Their correspondent, Taryn Winter Brill, went undercover in the streets, elevators and buses of New York City to find out what happens when people get too close. Watch the result on YouTube.

What do you do if you are the victim of a space invader, and backing up doesn’t work? Do you grit your teeth and bear it, or would you say something? Let me know!

The post Personal Space Invasion – A Business Faux Pas of Galactic Proportions appeared first on Brody Professional Development.

This really isn’t the first time I’ve heard this same type of information about deeper voices. As political campaign managers have long known, a deep voice is perceived as a favorable leadership quality. People are instinctively more likely to trust a candidate with a deep voice, whether they are aware of it or not.

The fact is, that everything about you — from your resume to your body language, to your wardrobe and your grooming, and even your voice — are part of one complete package. That package does make a difference in how others perceive you, and ultimately affects how far you move ahead in your career. Is it fair that appearance, clothes, body type, hairstyle or voice make a difference? Perhaps not, but that’s the world and reality in which we live.

We can blame some of this perception on our fairly superficial and beauty-based culture, but we’re also inherently programmed by nature -— what the study calls “biological evolution” -— to find certain physical attributes more attractive, more desirable, and so on. It’s unrealistic to believe that subconscious programming as well as biological imperatives (survival of the species) don’t affect us.

Here’s a pretty fascinating quote from Associate Professor Bill Mayew of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, who conducted the study: “Our results advance a relatively new area of research known as biological economics, by documenting that a trait known to indicate success in biological competition is also associated with success in the competition for top corporate employment.”

If you don’t have a particularly deep, resonant voice, how can you compensate? Or, do you need to compensate? Do you have to work harder in other areas?

After all, your voice is your voice, and although voice training can make some difference, it won’t take you from Olive Oyl to Morgan Freeman. (Now there’s a voice! It’s no wonder he was chosen to play God in the film “Bruce Almighty” and its sequel.)

You can learn to control your pitch and bring it into a lower range. I recommend that in my book Speaking is an Audience-Centered Sport: How to Create and Deliver Presentations that Make People Sit Up, Take Notice, and Beg for More!

By the way, when we’re stressed or nervous our pitch tends to rise.

Here’s an exercise to lower your pitch …

Repeat the following three sentences, each time consciously speaking in a lower pitch:

1. “This is my normal pitch.”

2. “Do, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do.”

3. “This is my normal voice.”

Can you hear a difference between the first and third sentence? It might feel awkward at first, but if you practice this exercise 10 times a day for six weeks, you will have much greater control over your pitch. Who knows, you may even wind up in the next study of CEOs with deep voices.

Order a copy of Speaking is an Audience-Centered Sport here! BRODY also offers Voice & Diction coaching.

The post Does the Pitch of Your Voice Affect Your Ability to Communicate Effectively? appeared first on Brody Professional Development.

• The verbal aspect has to do with what you actually say, the words you use and the message you’re trying to get across.

• The vocal aspect consists of not just the pitch of your voice, but the loudness, confidence, and speed at which you speak.

• And the visual aspect, of course, would be how you look, how you’re dressed, how you’re groomed, your facial expressions, body language, etc.

Which would you say is the most important of the three? I suggest that it’s the visual.

Your appearance, body language and general demeanor are causing everyone in your audience or meeting to form impressions about you before you ever even open your mouth — whether they are consciously aware of it or not.

If this first impression is not a positive one, it will be hard to compensate for it, no matter what you say and no matter how well you say it. Of course, if you are dressed and groomed impeccably but speak like an idiot, your positive first impression can be easily destroyed. If you start with a negative first impression, however, it’s that much harder to move beyond it.

Get in front of this by doing the things that will help you form a good impression.

Dress in a way that’s appropriate to the situation. A keynote at a conference requires a bit different wardrobe than a weekly meeting at which you’ve been asked to make a presentation. And although in general, wearing a suit conveys more authority than a sports coat or blazer (I’m talking to the men here), if you are presenting a keynote in Hawaii and everyone in the audience is in a short-sleeved shirt, showing up in a three-piece Armani might just be a bit over the top, making you look overly formal or even standoffish. So, give appropriate clothing some serious thought.

TIP: If you are speaking at a conference, ask the organizer about the color of the backdrop. If it’s navy blue, and you show up in a navy blue suit, no matter how well-cut or stylish it is, you will virtually disappear.

Female speakers need to remember that the attention should be on their presentation, not their legs; cleavage; eye shadow; big, bold clanking jewelry; etc. Yes, we know you’re gorgeous and fashionable … but you don’t want that to be the main thing anyone remembers about your presentation (unless you happen to work in the fashion industry, which has a whole different criteria for business attire).

It seems like every business professional must already know these kinds of things, right? So, why keep mentioning them?

Well, I recently went to a meeting with a new client. Several of that client’s vendors were also at the meeting. Although the client and her staff were dressed casually, in jeans, I and most of the vendors showed up in business attire, casual yet professional. The women were in skirts (not minis!), and the men in suits –except for one female freelance writer who showed up in “mom jeans,” an old, too short and too tight sweater, and shabby shoes.

No one said anything to her face — but several comments were made behind her back. And many months later, the subject of her unprofessional attire came up again when discussing her for another project. Of course, her clothes don’t affect the quality of her writing, but what they do is suggest that she is not quite professional, doesn’t quite know how to handle herself with a client, or doesn’t quite take her profession or her clients seriously.

Want to learn more and avoid all these pitfalls? Get all the particulars of the three Vs and more in Speaking is an Audience Centered Sport.

The post The 3 Vs of Presentations — The Importance of Visual, Verbal and Vocal Elements appeared first on Brody Professional Development.

The gist of the article is exactly as stated in the title. The burger mega-franchise has been getting complaints about surly employees and low rankings for its customer service in industry reports, and they want their employees to step up their game.

As expected, comments were many and outspoken. Some managed to blame the situation on the economy, on President Obama, and of course — no surprise here — most were firmly against the fast-food giant and its wage policies. These folks insisted that if good old “Mickey D’s” paid a bit more, they’d attract a higher quality of employee.

Do you agree with this line of reasoning?

I thought these comments were completely missing the point. In fact, when it comes to blame and finger pointing, I think those who do it are always missing the point.

After all, do you have to be paid a certain amount to do your job with grace and good cheer, and if so, what is that amount?

Must minimum wage equal shoddy work and a bad attitude? If you are not happy with your employer, your salary, or your duties, does that provide an excuse to take it out on your clients/customers?

What ever happened to the concept of a personal “work ethic” and personal accountability?

Now, don’t get me wrong. This post is not about McDonald’s, the restaurant chain’s compensation, their employees, or any of their perceived “faults.”

Instead, I want to make a case for exemplary work and a great attitude, regardless of your position or your salary.

This is even more important if you hope to rise to the top of the corporate food chain, shatter a glass ceiling or two, and receive the recognition and compensation you feel you deserve.

What can you do to stand out at work right from your cubicle, and put yourself squarely on the fast track to meeting (or exceeding) your career goals?

I’ve got six tried-and-true suggestions:

1. If you don’t already have one, get a degree. They’re still worth money in today’s corporate world. Consider taking college classes online or at a local community college to pursue that valuable piece of paper. And let higher-ups know! It shows initiative, shows you’re serious about your career, and shows you are willing to go the extra mile. All good stuff.

2. Take advantage of any training/education/coaching opportunities that your firm offers. You won’t know what they do or don’t offer unless you get your appropriately attired behind down to HR and find out, or just ask your immediate supervisor!

3. Become familiar with the contents of your firm’s annual report, not to mention everything on the website. The more you know …

4. Subscribe to any trade journals and magazines for your industry, and actually read them! If you think they’re dull, well you might just be in the wrong field, but that’s a blog post for another day. Add business newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and business-related books to your reading list.

5. Find a mentor. Little secret: a good, caring mentor who is already successful in your field is worth his or her weight in gold.

6. Participate in trade organizations, and take advantage of any opportunities to write, speak or otherwise develop your leadership potential.

To make your McMark in business (sorry, couldn’t resist), you do need to be a bit single-minded, focused, willing to take risks, and go the extra mile — with or without the extra dollar.

What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear them.

Looking for some business/career/professional development books to add to your reading list this summer at the beach or on your next cruise or vacation? Check out our Success Store.

The post Professional Development Tips: Go the Extra Mile, Even Without the Extra Dollar appeared first on Brody Professional Development.

I’m not talking about looking for another job, I’m talking about getting involved in organizations outside your company that will give you the competitive advantage and skills you need … skills you can easily transfer to your current job, future jobs, and in fact to every area of your life. I’m talking about people skills, speaking skills, organizational skills, risk-taking skills, and all kinds of other leadership skills.

Getting involved is an important investment in your professional development — especially if you feel intimidated, believe you are not “a joiner,” or don’t have confidence in your leadership ability.

Great places to get involved include:

• Organizations your company is already involved in, such as the United Way, or any other charity they work with.

• Company teams — i.e. the company softball team, golf team, etc.

• Professional associations– either specific to your industry, or general, such as the Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Female Executives, etc.

• Community or charitable organizations — like the PTA, your local homeowners’ association, Rotary or Lions Clubs, and many more.

• Your church, synagogue or mosque (or any religious group) -— don’t just attend activities there, get involved.

Remember, it’s not about joining and simply showing up to meetings or sitting on the sidelines, listening. It’s about getting involved. Volunteer for committees. If you are asked to participate in a project, or be on a board, say yes. Aside from meeting interesting people who might very well be useful to your career, you will come out of your shell and grow.

I joined the Mid-Atlantic chapter of the National Speakers Association years ago. For a while, I simply attended meetings and listened, but after a while I was asked to work at the new membership table. I did, and over the years I was asked to do more and more. Eventually, I was asked to take over as president of the chapter.

Was I doubtful and uncomfortable? You bet!

Was I worried about how much of my time it would consume, and just what I was getting myself into? You know it!

Did I accept the position? Of course!

I discovered that I got much more from it than I ever expected, in terms of my personal and professional growth.

Although some people are born leaders, the rest of us need practice. Look for any opportunities to place yourself in a leadership role. Don’t be a shrinking violet when it comes to letting your bosses know what you are up to outside of the office. Even if your current position is not one of high responsibility, knowing that you are capable of — and interested in — taking on responsibility always makes a favorable impression in an employer’s mind.

After all, that old saying is so true: a good man (or woman) is hard to find.

Want to find out more? Check out my professional development books about building your brand and success:

Career MAGIC: A Woman’s Guide to Reward & Recognition, featuring interviews with 30 highly successful women, sharing their self-marketing strategies and words of wisdom. Market Your MAGIC: A Guide to Reward & Recognition.

The post Make an Investment in Your Career by Getting Involved appeared first on Brody Professional Development.