Real Executives Make Their Best First Impression
When looking for an executive job, first impressions matter; and like it or not, decision-makers will notice whether you're real, a fake or a wannabe. Here are 10 tell-tale signs:
Please, take these with a grain of salt to allow a little humor.
- Real executives have their own website. Fake executives use their ISP, LinkedIn, FaceBook and other free providers. Wannabes don’t have a website.
- Real executives send email from TheirName@TheirWebsite dot com and TheirWebsite dot com works. Fake executives send email from TheirName@TheirWebsite dot com but TheirWebsite dot com doesn’t work. Wannabes send email through hotmail, gmail, msn, aol and the other free email providers.
- Real executives print their letters and resumes on Cranes paper at $40 per ream. Fake executives find something nice like Strathmore for $20 a ream. Wannabes spend $4.
- Real executives have their stationery and business cards engraved using a hard metal die. Fake executives use offset printing or thermography. Wannabes use a LaserJet.
- Real executives send thank you notes on engraved, monarch-size stationery. Fake executives use nice, regular-size paper. Wannabes send an email.
- Real executives make sure their telephone connections are perfect all the time. They use a hard-wired landline whenever possible and a headset with a microphone boom. Fake executives use VoIP to save money and hope you won’t notice the slight drop in quality ... or they use a speakerphone (an insult) so they can type with both hands. Wannabes use a cell phone evenings and weekends when airtime is free ... or they ask you to call them back on a landline.
- Real executives have a high-speed internet connection. Fake executives use minimal slow-speed connections. Wannabes camp on to their neighbor's connection.
- Real executives are fully licensed on the latest versions of Microsoft Word and Excel. Fake executives are one or two generations behind and can’t read some attachments. Wannabes have a bootleg copy.
- Real executives know the value of a first impression. Fake executives take shortcuts hoping no one will notice. Wannabes don’t know the difference.
- Real executives never look tasteless and cheap. Fake executives occasionally look tasteless and cheap. Wannabes always look tasteless and cheap.
The take-away: If you want a real executive job, be a real executive.
