Win Your Next Job With Three Essential Interview Skills

I found this article by Deborah Walker, CCMC which is a wonderful outline in very simple terms about how to ace your next job interview and get the job for which you are applying.

Win Your Next Job With Three Essential Interview Skills – Hcareers.

What about President Obama Bowing to the Japanese Emperor?

I have heard many pundits talk about the bow that President Obama made when he met Emperor Akihito and that it was too low and not reciprocated by the Emperor.   I have seen the photo of the greeting and it seems that President Obama was taught a general truth about greeting the Japanese but didn’t take into consideration the reality of the relationship.  It is considered appropriate to bow when meeting a Japanese national and generally the lower the bow, the more respect one is showing to the other.   But, if you are going to shake hands, both parties shake hands standing tall since shaking hands is a Western greeting not a typical Japanese greeting.   The Emperor shakes the hands of Western citizens who are his guests because he is respecting the Western culture of greeting.  IF the Emperor bowed to President Obama, then the President should have also bowed, and low to show great respect.  Since a handshake and no bow was offered, the handshake should have been the only greeting.  The etiquette rule is to follow the host.

My assessment (giving a huge benefit of the doubt to President Obama)  is that the office of protocol at the White House probably gave him his instructions about how to greet the Emperor after looking at the protocol book giving him “by the book” information.  The important parts of protocol that the protocol professionals who are informing the President should know are, what the rules are and how to amend them to act upon the expectations and reality of the situation.  President Obama wasn’t informed of the expectations, just the book rules.   What a shame for our country that he is not better prepared to act on the world stage.

Previous presidents in the same situations have acted with more aplomb, more graciousness and with better representation of the people of the United States.  I can only hope these will be lessons learned and not repeated.

You’re invited: Dining Skills for the Savvy Professional (DC metro)

NEVER lose another deal – blow another job interview – or miss out on another high-level opportunity – because of a totally preventable dining etiquette disaster! Etiquette in business is much more than knowing which fork to use when dining or how to greet clients when at lunch. To be sure you don’t get embarrassed in business, you must present yourself as a savvy professional to be taken seriously, move ahead more easily, and win more often.

In a fun and active atmosphere, learn the skills you need to navigate through casual and formal dining situations. Learn how to recognize and use all types of flatware, table settings, conversation topics, toasting, handling mishaps, host and guest duties and much more. Four course meal included in participant fee.

Personally led by international etiquette and protocol expert Cynthia Lett, this program has been called “Engaging, smart, funny, and incredibly useful and relevant to any level of professional in any industry.”

DATE: December 2, 2009

TIME: 6:30pm – 9pm

VENUE: Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center, Bethesda, Maryland USA

REGISTRATION: $175

Register Here:

http://www.professionalsavvy.com/dining-skills-for-the-savvy/

How To Work A Room With Ease

BWSmallBiz — Etiquette October 9, 2009, 5:00PM EST text size: TT

Tips for networking among strangers

Jan Feindt

By Louise Lee

Small Biz

HUNGRY?

If you arrive hungry or thirsty, hit the buffet first. Eat quickly, finish, and only then start working the room. Don’t try to juggle a drink, a plate, and business cards, and shake hands. Wash or thoroughly wipe your hands before you get started. Who wants to shake a sticky hand?

I WANT IN

If two people are deep in conversation, don’t interrupt. “Wait for one of them to turn toward the room, and that’s your signal,” says Cynthia Lett, an etiquette expert in Silver Spring, Md. Then make eye contact with one of them and introduce yourself. He should introduce you to the other person, but if not, do it yourself. Repeat your full name, which the other person may not have caught.

PLEASE MEET…UHHH

You’re introducing someone you just met and can’t remember her name. Own up to it, says Lett. Look her in the eye, smile, and say, “I’ve met so many interesting people and your name is on the tip of my tongue. Please remind me?” Don’t try to wriggle out with, “You two know each other, right?”

GOTTA GO

If you want to check out of a conversation, try: “I know you want to meet others, and I’m glad we had a chance to speak. I wish you well with your project.” If you intend to get back in touch, say so, even just with a simple, “I’ll give your office a call next week.” If you shook hands at the start of the conversation, extend your hand again. What if you sense that the other person wants to exit? If she’s looking over your shoulder, take the hint quickly, say that you hope you’ll meet again soon, and turn away. And if someone practically dumps you midsentence? Let him go. Don’t follow.

CARD DEALING

Don’t come out and ask for a card, since the other person may not want to give you one or may have run out, and you don’t want to embarrass her. Instead, say, “How may I reach you?” and let her give you a card or offer some contact information. If someone does give you a card, exchange yours. And there’s no polite way to reject a card you don’t want. Accept it—with thanks.

Lee is a correspondent in BusinessWeek’s Silicon Valley bureau.

“Thank you” – instead of a ticket

Thank you to Open Loops Blog for this interesting post.

I believe that anytime you can say Thank You to someone – for whatever they may have done,  it will be positive for both parties.

Town Experiments With Thank You Notes

News & Observer | A ‘Thank You’ Instead of a Parking Fine: Chapel Hill Takes a New Approach

After the last few posts dealing with saying, “Thank You!”, it was with interest that I noted that the town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina is experimenting with Thank You notes.

When ticketing those who have overstayed their parking meter time, Chapel Hill usually tickets the cars, with each ticket resulting in a $15 fine.  Of all cars ticketed, 33% of them are first-time offenders.  However, town officials decided to try something unique: first time parking offenders will receive a “Thank You” note.

“First-time parking meter violators in and around Franklin Street won’t find a citation on their windshield if their meter runs out.

Instead, they’ll find a note, saying “Thank you for visiting downtown Chapel Hill.”

On Wednesday the town began a “courtesy ticket” program that dismisses first-time violators’ $15 citation.”

The city stands to lose over $12,000 in lost fines, but stands to gain more repeat visitors and shoppers.  In the city that UNC-Chapel Hill calls home, this simple act says to parents, relative, visitors, tourists, and shoppers, “Welcome!”

Personally, I like spending my money where I feel welcome.

What about you?

via: digtriad.com: Thank You Notes Left for Parking Violators Instead of Tickets in Chapel Hill

image: digtriad.com

Manners reborn: why a new generation prefers etiquette to ecstasy …

From the Hearald Scotland

Manners reborn: why a new generation prefers etiquette to ecstasy … * etiquette *  By Edd McCracken

Published on 11 Oct 2009

By Winston Churchill’s logic, being young and conservative is almost unnatural. “Show me a young Conservative and I’ll show you someone with no heart,” he said. But according to a new survey, a startling proportion of young people are confounding Churchill’s wisdom and wholeheartedly celebrating traditional conservative values. They believe in the importance of manners, espouse the joys of the family unit, and, most surprising of all, more than three quarters believe that the country has changed for the worse. The survey found that 77% of 18-24 year-olds believe that Britain has declined in its standards over the last 20 years. Family breakdown, individual greed, and less discipline in schools were given as the three main reasons for this slide. Taking a further leaf from the past, the same age group rated basic good manners as the most important values in society. Vacating your seat on the bus for the elderly, saying please and thank you, and children showing respect came top. Also, when asked what 18-24 year-olds considered important past times for society, the vast majority said spending time with the family on day trips (71%), dining together (64%), and playing traditional board games (66%). The echoes of Conservative leader David Cameron’s speech this week at his party’s conference are obvious. In the course of making his point that “society begins at home”, Cameron asked: “Why aren’t we building homes with enough room to sit around a table and actually eat a meal together.” Does this mean that the young people of Britain are becoming more conservative in their outlook and traditional in their interests? After all, Churchill went on to equate being old and a Liberal with not having a brain. So, has a young generation rapidly matured?

Lois Turnbull, 24, from Kelso, recently graduated from university in Newcastle. She is one of the apparently growing number of young people who believe the country has been in decline. “Certainly over the last 10 years,” she said. “I remember starting primary school – we very much respected the teachers and their word was law. That seems to have gone downhill. Pupils don’t respect teachers anywhere near as much. We need to get discipline back into schools.” She added that while “family values should be at the heart of society” the family unit had been weakened. “The government seems to support single parents more than it does the family unit,” she said. Most of her friends feel the same. “But for a while now people haven’t been listening to the young people,” she said. “We should make it known that we do think that spending time with your family is incredibly important. ” Other young people were more sceptical about the survey. “I wouldn’t have expected so many young people to think the country has changed for the worse,” said Derek Couper, 18, chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament. “But that might just be a reflection of the older generation feeding the idea to younger people that Britain has gone downhill.” Experts in manners and traditional past times have reacted warmly towards the findings, which was conducted on behalf of the Chelsea Building Society.

William Hanson, who at 20 is regarded as the UK’s youngest etiquette expert, said he was surprised and heartened by the news that manners were valued so highly by young people. “This is encouraging that young people have realised that manners are a good thing and it will open doors for them, both literal and metaphorical,” he said.

When Insults Had Class

Because I am an etiquette expert, people are careful about what they say and how they say it when around me.  What they should know is that the top experts in proper etiquette understand human behavior well and we find the humor that is apparent in most interpersonal exchanges.  This list was sent to me by a friend who understands this and knows I do too.  I hope you enjoy it.

When Insults Had Class

These glorious insults are from an era before a great portion of the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words, not to mention waving middle fingers.

The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor:
She said, “If you were my Husband I’d give you poison,”
and he said, “If you were my wife, I’d drink it.”

A member of Parliament to Disraeli:
“Sir, you will either die on the Gallows or of some unspeakable disease.”
“That depends, Sir,” said Disraeli, “on whether I embrace your policies or your mistress.”

“He had delusions of adequacy.”

- Walter Kerr

“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.”
- Winston Churchill

“A modest little person, with much to be modest about.”
- Winston Churchill

“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.”
- Clarence Darrow

“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”
- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).
“Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?”
- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it.”
- Moses Hadas

“He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.”
- Abraham Lincoln

“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.”
- Mark Twain

“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.”
- Oscar Wilde

“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend…. If you have one.”
- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
“Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second… If there is one.”
- Winston Churchill, in response.

“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here.”
- Stephen Bishop

“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.”
- John Bright

“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.”
- Irvin S. Cobb

“He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others.”
- Samuel Johnson

“He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.”
- Paul Keating

“There’s nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won’t cure.”
- Jack E. Leonard

“He has the attention span of a lightning bolt.”
- Robert Redford

“They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.”
- Thomas Brackett Reed

“In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily.”
-Charles, Count Talleyrand

“He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.”
- Forrest Tucker

“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?”
- Mark Twain

“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.”
- Mae West

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.”
- Oscar Wilde

“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts…for support rather than illumination.”
- Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

“He has Van Gogh’s ear for music.”
- Billy Wilder

“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening But this wasn’t it.”
- Groucho Marx

Does What We Wear Matter?

Are We Judged By What We Wear?

Can’t people look past my fashion sense and see the real me?

The answer? Rarely.

Researchers have come up with scientific evidence to support the theory that what we wear makes a huge difference in how we influence the world around us. It’s what you always suspected: The guy down the hall who doesn’t know half of what you know and was promoted to Director got the job not with his brain but his wardrobe.  He looked the part so it was easy to picture him doing the job. In situations such as job interviews, court appearances, sales presentations and first dates it is important to make not just a good, but a great first impression for maximum credibility and authority.

Behavioral scientists tell us that the effect of a first impression is a strong one. The judging process takes only seconds and you usually don’t know consciously that you are doing it.  If you make a bad first impression, it could require an enormous amount of effort and time to erase the stigma.

Why not take advantage of the research on human nature and utilize the knowledge to enhance and control how you are accepted? Since about 90 percent of you is covered by apparel, the clothing you choose makes a significant impact. Wearing what is appropriate for the occasion, what fits well and looks stylish and what enhances rather than detracts from your attractiveness can be the strongest asset you have.

Lack of civility is bad example – Washington Times

This wonderfully written article in today’s Washington Times reflects my own opinion about recent incivilities in the sports world reported on in the news.

HAGELIN: Lack of civility is bad example – Washington Times

Shared via AddThis

Protocol Training Seminar Oct. 1&2

If you work in a protocol office or if you plan international meetings, you will benefit from Managing Protocol Issues, our 2-day seminar which will be offered in Bethesda, Maryland on October 1-2 at the Doubletree Hotel and Meeting Center.

I am also allowing individuals who just want fine dining training to join our group for the dining tutorial Thursday, October 1st at the hotel.

To learn more about either seminar, visit www.professionalsavvy.com.  You can register securely online if you like or call our office at 301-946-8208 to register.