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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 2
PROFESSIONALISM 4
PROFESSIONAL BRAND 6
DRESS FOR SUCCESS 9
MEN’S PROFESSIONAL DRESS 10
WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL DRESS 10
RESUME 13
PART ONE: NAME AND EDUCATION 15
PART TWO: RELATED EXPERIENCE 15
PART THREE: ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE 15
PART FOUR: SKILLS 16
ADDITIONAL TIPS 16
COVER LETTER 20
SOCIAL MEDIA 24
WRAP UP 26
AUTHOR’S NOTE 27
REFERENCES 28
1
INTRODUCTION
You want to prepare for a career fair, but don’t feel so ready to face all the companies and
established professionals out there. Your resume is incomplete, you don’t have a cover letter, you
have no idea what you’re going to say and no clue of what to wear. You either procrastinated on
seeking mentorship, or you lack the resources to begin with. This is where C
onvincing People to
Take You Seriously comes in and guides you through the process of developing your knowledge
of professionalism. This handbook provides all the information you need to help you prepare for a
career fair, interview, networking event, job searching, or just for your own reference. From
covering topics ranging from resumes to networking, this handbook strives to educate people and
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PROFESSIONALISM
What does it mean to be professional? According to the Merriam Webster dictionary,
professionalism is defined as:
Professionalism (noun) | pro·fes·sion·al·ism | /prəˈˈfeSHənlˌˌizəm/
1. The conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a
professional person
2. The following of a profession (such as athletics) for gain or livelihood
In other terms, professionalism is a major part of adulting. Being a professional is showing or
carrying the image of yourself that you want your employers to see. It’s the reputation you want
for yourself in the workplace– the personality you can comfortably and proudly show your
employers. It can also be a means of carrying yourself in a way that can impress others, validate
your credibility, and show that you mean business. Many people have the misconception that
professionalism only matters in business fields, but that is far from the truth. Professionalism is a
huge factor in the workplace regardless of occupation or field of study. These values are upheld in
all fields including engineering, medical, science, and business.
Whether you believe it or not, you most likely already know how to be professional. Research done
by Valérie Cohen-Scali found that a lot of professional skills are transferred from the behaviors
people pick up in school and at home. From a young age, people begin their professional
development when they distinguish different ways to act at home and at school. By separating
their behaviors to determine what is acceptable in the house to what might not be okay to do in
school, people find themselves making conscious decisions on how to act in each setting. So,
even if it may seem like a daunting task to learn how to be a professional, it would probably
require less work than you’d think.
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PROFESSIONAL BRAND
The first thing to consider when creating your professional identity is establishing your
professional brand. To define “professional brand,” Forbes Contributor Joseph Liu explains that:
“Personal branding is a way of establishing and consistently reinforcing who you are and what
you stand for in your career and life. Everything you do either strengthens or dilutes the personal
brand you’re trying to create.”
Building your own professional brand is a form of internal public relations in which you create
what you want to be known for. Think of celebrities in a sense that some of them are infamous
for causing commotion and controversy, like Britney Spears in 2007. On the other hand, other
celebrities win the hearts of the public by maintaining a clean record, such as J.K. Rowling.
Despite the two belonging to different worlds of the media, it is still easy to say that Britney
Spears and J.K. Rowling carry vastly different personas that is displayed for the public.
In developing your own professional brand, there are three steps you can take:
1. Build experience: W
hile it is important to rack up on work experiences relevant to a
specific career of your choice, it is also beneficial to try other jobs to expand your skill set.
You definitely don’t want to be a one-trick-pony forever, so it is crucial to step outside of
your comfort zone and gain other skills that are still applicable to your general career
interests and goals. This will allow you to be well-rounded and more useful in the
workplace.
2. Be open and communicative: D
on’t be afraid to speak up or ask questions. Often times,
we can blend in with everyone else and can be easily forgettable, but that can be changed
by a simple statement or question during a meeting. In order to be noticed by others, you
need to express yourself. However, it’s also important to keep in mind that you don’t want
to be too expressive. Talking for the sake of talking benefits no one, including yourself. Be
sure that everything you say has meaning and most importantly, makes sense.
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3. Network beyond your immediate team: G
etting your name out there beyond the confines
of your own team is beneficial in numerous ways. By meeting other professionals, you
expose yourself to more opportunities that can help you further your career and goals.
Although it’s important to meet all of the qualifications a job requires, sometimes knowing
someone in the company can give you an advantage over other applicants.
Your professional brand becomes a major representation of the type of employee, coworker, and
person you are, which is why it’s important to keep in mind that everything you do in the public
eye can affect your branding. Although there’s no right or wrong way to create your professional
persona since it’s dependent on your own personality and qualities, here’s a checklist of things
you should try not to do in order to maintain a positive image.
TRY NOT TO…
● Overshare private information
● Oversell yourself (by lying or claiming that you have certain skills when you don’t)
● Come off too strong or overconfident
● Assume you’re better than your peers or coworkers
● Criticize others without keeping yourself in check
● Forget your moral values
Everyone’s professional persona is different, and we have to embrace that. Diversity of
personalities in the workplace allows for people to learn how to interact with all sorts of different
people, ideologies, and communication methods. By building your own professional brand, you
will be able to find how you can fit into your workplace comfortably and advance in your career.
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DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Aside from acting professional, you have to take the next step and look professional. Since
everyone has their own sense of style, there’s no single correct way of dressing professionally.
However, there are definitely some things you should not wear, such as graphic t-shirts and
sweatpants. Think of it as a “dress to impress” or situation. If you dress like you want to be taken
seriously, then people would most likely acknowledge that.
First, we need to distinguish the differences between “professional” and “business casual” attire.
Each organization determines its own dress code conduct, so you would just have to gauge or
ask what’s appropriate for your work environment. In most cases, it’s safe to stick with
professional attire. If you don’t know what the style expectations are in your workplace, start
conservative and use your peers or supervisors as reference. Business casual, on the other hand,
does not mean the “casual” we are most likely all familiar with. Business casual is a way of
maintaining a professional appearance in comfort without going all out in a suit and tie. Although
all workspaces operate differently from one another, these dress standards are upheld by many
companies in numerous industries.
Let’s start with some of the general DON’Ts of professional wear:
● No sneakers
● No jeans (unless employer allows it)
● No visible tattoos or piercings (unless stated otherwise)
● No neon or flashy colors
● No sandals
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MEN’S PROFESSIONAL DRESS
The professional dress code for men is the conventional suit and tie, paired with a
solid-colored dress shirt. To appear more professional, match the color of your blazers and
slacks, and complement your look with a lighter colored dress shirt under. Generally, a suit with
mismatched pants and jacket is not recommended. As for shoes, men can choose from various
different styles including (but not limited to): Oxford, Derby, Brogue, Monk Strap, Loafer, Chukka,
Chelsea Boot, Plain Toe Cap Toe, Wingtip, Round Toe, and Chisel Toe. Colors should be neutral
and clean, such as black, gray, blue, navy blue, or brown. In terms of ties, your best bet is to stick
with simple patterns and colors. In more specific detail, the bottom of the tie should just barely
cover the entire belt buckle and should never be too long or too short. As for shirts, men’s dress
tops should almost always be ironed and tucked in. Refer to the checklists below to see the
acceptable clothing pieces for each category:
Men’s Professional Attire Men’s Business Casual Attire
❏ Full suit with matching jacket and ❏ Pressed, collared, long-sleeved shirt
pants ❏ Polo shirt
❏ Pressed, collared, long-sleeved shirt ❏ Tie
❏ Tie ❏ Dress slacks
❏ Dress slacks ❏ Black socks
❏ Black socks ❏ Belt
❏ Belt ❏ Close-toed shoes
❏ Close-toed shoes ❏ Light accessories (like a watch)
❏ Light briefcase or portfolio case
❏ Light accessories (like a watch)
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be shorter than right above the knee. It’s recommended to wear matching tops and bottoms since
it will make your look appear more cohesive. Shirts can range from button-down tops to
sleeveless or short sleeved blouses. Regardless of the style of shirt, no cleavage should be
shown. If you wear dresses or skirts, pantyhose might be a good additional piece to wear
underneath for comfort. Heels are normally no higher than three inches, and they should not be
open-toed. If you choose to wear makeup, it should be minimal and conservative as opposed to
nighttime clubbing makeup. Depending on the organization, hair is suggested to be kept as
natural colors only, meaning brown, blonde, or black. If you wear jewelry, try to keep it simple. For
example, wear studs for earrings and try to avoid large hoops. Unconventional jewelry and
piercings may also be inappropriate for the workplace, such as nose rings and tongue piercings.
Refer to the checklists below to see the acceptable clothing pieces for each category:
Women’s Professional Attire Women’s Business Casual
❏ Neutral colored skirt or pant suit ❏ Fitted blouses, sweaters, cardigans
with matching blazer ❏ Dress slacks
❏ Pressed, collared button-down shirt ❏ Close-toed shoes
❏ Close-toed shoes ❏ Socks
❏ Socks ❏ Belt
❏ Belt ❏ Simple makeup
❏ Nude (skin-tone) pantyhose
❏ Simple makeup
Overall, what you wear is an important indicator of the type of professional you are. If you
look like a mess, people will assume you are a mess (even if you’re not). It’s easy to forget what
constitutes as business casual and business professional, but just keep in mind that business
casual is just business professional with one of the article substituted. Instead of a full suit with
blazer and slacks, you are given some space to wear something else to substitute it. For men, you
can just ditch the blazer and wear the collared shirt with a tie. For women, you can go with a
simple cardigan instead of the blazer. Just keep in mind that everyone has their own sense of
style, and each company has their own standards for dress conduct. Not everyone has to look
exactly the same, so have fun exploring your style!
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RESUME
As you figure out what to wear and how to act, you should keep in mind that what you look like on
paper matters as well. One of the most important documents you’ll need in your professional
career is a resume. A resume is a one-page summary of your work experiences, skills, education,
and goals. It’s the most requested document in any job search or application process. Recruiters
look through these resumes to determine which applicants would be the most suitable for the
position. They consider factors such as work history, education, accomplishments, and relevant
skills.
The organization of your resume is the most important factor in creating one. Since recruiters
look at a single resume for an average of six seconds, you need to be sure you’re accurate and
concise. All the information on your resume should be deliberately chosen to showcase the best
of your abilities.
Here are the key features to include on your resume:
● Your name (needs to be easy to find)
● Contact information (phone number, location, email)
● Education
● Relevant work experience
● Skills and interests
Aside from those key points everyone should include in their resume, there is no one correct
template that everyone needs to follow. Everyone’s resumes look different, and it’s dependent on
the job you’re applying for, the industry you’re going into, your experience, and your goals. For
example, people applying to jobs that require creativity allows them to submit graphically
designed resumes. For jobs like data science and education, you might need to create a
curriculum vitae (CV) that tracks the full timeline of your career, covering every detail of your
education, work, and experience without the restriction of length. As you apply for different jobs,
you might need to revise your resume to make sure your skills are related to the qualifications the
employer is seeking.
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Although there’s no definite way of structuring your resume,
this example gives you an idea of what a generic resume format consists of:
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PART ONE: NAME AND EDUCATION
To break down this resume, we can start off with how the name is clearly centered on the top
center of the page. Below the name is where the contact information is, which is the phone
number and email. The location is conveniently located following contact information, which
makes it easy to see what area this person is currently residing in.
The education section is short and straight to the point. You mainly need to state your degree and
expected year of completion. For some people, if your degree isn’t relevant to the job you’re
applying for, you can also move this section to the bottom of your resume.
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descriptions should also be three points, just enough to get the jist of the type of responsibilities
you were held accountable for.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
When it comes for formatting resumes, the most important factor is organizing the words on
paper. By using lines to separate sections makes it easier for the eyes to skim through the whole
document without guessing what content goes where. You also want to aim to make good use of
your space. Try your best to fill up the page. If you don’t have enough content to fill up the page
from corner to corner, play around with the font sizes and effects. However, keep in mind that
small text in your resume should not exceed font size 12, and titles should not be bigger than 14.
Lastly, be sure to maintain a consistent style throughout the document. If you’re going to use
three points for each job description, then use three for the rest of your other jobs. Stick with one
font style for the whole resume, and be sure that the margins are even on all sides. In terms of
time-order, it’s always best to have your most recent and relevant work history on the top and
descend from there. That helps to show what you’ve been up to most recently.
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Now that you know what an effective resume format looks like,
here’s an example of a less practical resume:
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Compared to the first resume example, this second one clearly lacks structure and clear
formatting of the content. As opposed to looking like a resume, the latter almost resembles a
grocery list.
Here are some points to note about this second resume example:
● There’s a name, but no contact information
● “Work Experience” is the only category of experience
● None of the jobs include positions or locations
● The responsibility descriptions are not descriptive enough
● Some of the job details are irrelevant
● The number of bullet points are inconsistent
See if you can spot any more discrepancies!
After comparing the two resumes, you are likely to have a better understanding of what generally
works and what doesn’t. However, as previously stated, every resume is unique to each person,
so if yours doesn’t look like the example provided, you should not worry! Research more examples
and explore what works best for your own style. If you lack confidence in your resume, don’t
forget you can turn to friends or family members to proofread for mistakes or to provide
suggestions on how to show yourself off in a better light. With a solid resume, you would leave a
memorable impression of yourself to employers from just a single sheet of paper.
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COVER LETTER
Following resumes, a cover letter is the second most requested document during the job search
process. A cover letter is where you can introduce yourself in a more personal way during a job
application. Cover letters are where you get to express your own personality and introduce
yourself to the person who might hire you. The goal is to make a lasting impression and stand out
in a good way. Instead of being restricted to a few sentence fragments and lines on your resume,
cover letters allow you to explain how your past experience has prepared you for this new job
you’re seeking. Cover letters are generally one page and take on the format of a multi-paragraph
letter. An effective cover letter brings in elements of your resume and expands on the information,
highlighting your achievements and how you can benefit the company you’re applying for.
Before you write your cover letter, it’s best to look at the requirements of the job you’re applying
for and assess which of your qualities work adhere to what they’re looking for. Like resumes,
there is no official format for cover letters, since each cover letter is carefully crafted for every job.
This means you can’t strictly follow pre-written templates and fill in the blanks.
Though there isn’t a specific structure to follow, here’s a breakdown of a popular method of
formatting your cover letter:
1. Memorable introduction
You can start off by introducing yourself, giving some background information, and
setting the tone for the rest of the document. You want your goals to be clear and
concise, but be sure to not sound overly eager!
2. Specific, organized examples of relevant work history and accomplishments (think of
bringing up some resume content to support your statements)
You should relate these experiences to how they can benefit the company or the job
you’re applying for. Try not to recite your resume again, since they should already
have access to that. Don’t waste the person’s time by repeating yourself as well. Be
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sure to introduce strong points and really sell yourself through your credible
experiences.
3. Concise conclusion with a call to action
Make it clear that you are qualified for this position, and you intend to work hard for
it. Provide your contact information to invite them to contact you. Be sure to thank
them in the closing statements to show that you’re considerate of their time.
Cover letters are beneficial in allowing the recruiter or employer to see the more human side of
you. Unlike resumes and other credentials, cover letters grant you the freedom of expressing a
different perspective of yourself and your professional brand.
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To give you a better idea of what your cover letter could look like,
refer to this example:
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SOCIAL MEDIA
With the emergence of new technology, people are connecting with one another at an
exceptional high speed. Social media can be used to connect with friends, family, and even
co-workers. Keep in mind that with the internet, what you put out there will always be out for the
public eye. This means you need to be aware of the type of content you expose to the public,
especially if you have co-workers in your digital network.
While establishing your social media presence, you have to always consider your professional
brand. What do you want people to think of you? What kind of interactions do you want to have
with others? Social media platforms are powerful tools to network and build relationships with
others. If used carefully, you can even land interviews and jobs just by connecting with another
professional!
Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even Youtube are increasingly becoming
more popular every day. People generally use those websites for entertainment and leisure, but
platforms like LinkedIn, AngelList, and BranchOut, give people the opportunity to take their
professional personas to the internet.
To give you a glimpse of how to present yourself on the internet, follow the DO’s and DON’Ts of
the chart below:
DO:
● Showcase your personality ● Establish your voice
● Interact with others ● Make your presence known
● Engage in conversations ● Have complete and active profiles
● Share posts and other people’s ideas ● Interact with your audience
● Promote your work
● Practice positivity
● Model good behavior
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DON’T:
● Be fake ● Share sadness
● Reveal confidential information ● Talk trash about your employer,
● Use foul language co-workers, friends, etc.
● Get involved in drama ● Feel the need to be on every network
● Spam
● Excessively use hashtags
● Be a know-it-all
Technology can be used as a tool to enhance relationships, gain knowledge, and expand your
professional network. In order for social media to truly benefit you, you need to be wary of the
consequences that you might face if you misuse it.
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WRAP UP
Now that you’ve read about the various factors that go into developing your professional identity,
you should have a better understanding of what professionalism is all about. This handbook was
meant to guide you through some of the important aspects of becoming a professional, and to
provide examples to further illustrate the expectations people will hold you to. By addressing
topics like professional branding, attire, resume, cover letters, and social media, C
onvincing
People to Take You Seriously acts as an introduction to the multiple facets of the professional
world. Being a professional may seem like a huge, intimidating process, but you most likely
already have everything down! This handbook will guide you in the right direction while you
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AUTHOR’S NOTE
My final research project aims to inform readers on professional etiquette. I focused on
topics such as professional branding, professional attire, resume and cover letter writing, and
social media behaviors. Initially, I wanted to create more graphics for my handbook to create a
more visual experience for my readers. However, I realized that I had a lot more information to
cover than I had anticipated, and decided to keep it simple. I still attempted to make careful
aesthetic choices through fonts, colors, diagrams, and charts, but I decided to eliminate excessive
images in the end. The way I formatted and wrote this handbook is supposed to appear as
professional in itself because I wanted to gain credibility. The language I used throughout the
document is very casual, mainly because my target audience is young adults (including but not
limited to: high school students, college students, and new graduates). The sources I found were
sprinkled in throughout my project through the concepts I explained.
As for the content of my handbook, I tried my best to separate each section by topic and
go in depth from there. As I was writing this handbook, I realized there’s so much more to cover
than I thought. Although I’ve already included a lot of information, there’s still so much more to
discuss in terms of these topics. That’s one of the limitations of this handbook. I attempted to
cover the main points of each subject, but the nuances of these topics are much more than I
briefly explained in this handbook. I also wanted to cover more concepts such as networking,
interview etiquette, and email composition.
Overall, I enjoyed creating this handbook and I hope that it helps people with developing
their professional identity. I hope it answers a lot of the common questions regarding
professionalism, and I am eager to see how this type of handbook would be useful for future
young professionals.
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REFERENCES
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephliu/2018/04/30/personal-brand-work/#6bd0786e72
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14. Ogilby, S. M. (1995). The ethics of academic behavior: will it affect professional behavior?
15. Peluchette, J. V. E., Karl, K., & Fertig, J. (2013). A Facebook ‘friend’ request from the boss:
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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-career-tips-young-professionals-ian-c-read/
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19. Wresch, W., & Pondell, J. (2015). Assessing cocurricular impacts on the development of
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professionalism.
https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/how-to-write-a-resume/.
22. 10 tips for young professionals starting their first ‘real’ job. Retrieved from
https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/10-tips-young-professionals-starting-real-job/.
23. A quick guide to professional dress for men and women. Retrieved from
https://www.sph.emory.edu/careers/documents/ProfessionalDressforSuccess.pdf.
https://zety.com/blog/how-to-write-a-cover-letter.
https://careerservices.princeton.edu/node/1279
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