Beware of Distractions

Beware of Distractions Recently I had adiscussion with a colleague abouta blog I had written,Job Interviews and Tattoos andwas surprised that the feedback I received wastheir belief that most potential employers have a negative perception when it comes to tattoos and body piercings.It is highly likely that many of these people are also sporting tattoos and possibly body piercingstoo allbeit, discreetly, as most professionals understand that any potential distractions should be eliminated. Have you seen the Tide-To-Go Interviewcommercialof a man being interviewed that has a large stain on his shirt?An exaggeration, yes, but stilla greatexample of an interviewer faced with adistraction. The interviewer is unableto concentrate, (hearing instead, blah, blah, blah, blah), onanything the job candidate is saying because the stain on the front of his shirt istoo much of a distraction. So too can a sloppily dressed person,a loud shirt, tattoos or body piercings create distractions. It is impossible to make a good first impression if something is getting in the way, a distraction! When conversing with someone sporting a tonguepiercing, are you able to look them directly in the eyes or are you staring in their mouth?If you meet someone with a large tattoo on their arm,do younotice the snakepicture, (and you hate snakes) or will yousee a well dressed,sophisticated, confident person? You love the brightly coloured polka dot shirt that the job candidate is sportingandwhether you want toknow where it was purchased or you are thinking that it is not appropriate to wear to a job interview, it is a distraction and takes away fromfocussing on the candidate and their talents. Yes, some distractions will be negative,butwhether negative or positive, it is the distraction that is the problem.So if you are entering into any meeting andwant to exudeaprofessional, confident and highly successful impression,hide the tattoos, remove the obvious body piercings, change the mohawk hair style, don a conservative suit and make sure you are wearing a clean shirt! Beware of Distractions Recently I had adiscussion with a colleague abouta blog I had written,Job Interviews and Tattoos andwas surprised that the feedback I received wastheir belief that most potential employers have a negative perception when it comes to tattoos and body piercings.It is highly likely that many of these people are also sporting tattoos and possibly body piercingstoo allbeit, discreetly, as most professionals understand that any potential distractions should be eliminated. Have you seen the Tide-To-Go Interviewcommercialof a man being interviewed that has a large stain on his shirt?An exaggeration, yes, but stilla greatexample of an interviewer faced with adistraction. The interviewer is unableto concentrate, (hearing instead, blah, blah, blah, blah), onanything the job candidate is saying because the stain on the front of his shirt istoo much of a distraction. So too can a sloppily dressed person,a loud shirt, tattoos or body piercings create distractions. It is impossible to make a good first impression if something is getting in the way, a distraction! When conversing with someone sporting a tonguepiercing, are you able to look them directly in the eyes or are you staring in their mouth?If you meet someone with a large tattoo on their arm,do younotice the snakepicture, (and you hate snakes) or will yousee a well dressed,sophisticated, confident person? You love the brightly coloured polka dot shirt that the job candidate is sportingandwhether you want toknow where it was purchased or you are thinking that it is not appropriate to wear to a job interview, it is a distraction and takes away fromfocussing on the candidate and their talents. Yes, some distractions will be negative,butwhether negative or positive, it is the distraction that is the problem.So if you are entering into any meeting andwant to exudeaprofessional, confident and highly successful impression,hide the tattoos, remove the obvious body piercings, change the mohawk hair style, don a conservative suit and make sure you are wearing a clean shirt!