No matter what the social event—whether it’s a social gathering, business meeting, or company function—you’re meeting new people and sizing them up. And they’re doing the same with you. Did you know that people make judgments about each other within the first minute they meet? Those first impressions can easily become lasting impressions. So what do you want those first few seconds to say about you?

When first impressions make the difference, it’s important to understand how you come across to others. Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., is the founder of Quintessential Careers, a leading career development site. He shares his tips and insight on the way we impact people, whether it’s in person or on paper.

First Impressions Made in Person

Attire

Whenever you’re meeting people for the first time, whether you’re networking, attending a business meeting, or dating, it’s essential to look the part. In other words, dress for the specific occasion, even if it means doing a little research up front. Think of how you want to be perceived by the people you’re about to meet and dress accordingly, advises Dr. Hansen.

Grooming

Hair should be neat; not the wind-tunnel look. For women, less makeup is always better than too much, and a light perfume or cologne is acceptable, but be careful of overwhelming the people in the room with the scent. Keep in mind that being well-groomed can make people think you’re efficient and reliable, while being unkempt and untidy makes people think you’re disorganized.

The Handshake

Make it simple. Extend your right hand and grasp their hand gently but firmly. No bone-crushers, and certainly no four-handed, one-hand-over-the-other shakes. Definitely no sweaty, clammy, or wimpy handshakes, either. If necessary, carry a handkerchief in your pocket and wipe your hand before you do the meet and greet.

Conversation

The world doesn’t revolve around you, and neither should your conversations. Be sure to engage the other person when you talk, and use their name for emphasis. You can, of course, talk about yourself, but don’t make the whole conversation about you, and keep stories short. Look for common ground with the person you’re talking to, and share stories about that common interest.

Attitude

Nothing works better in any situation than having and expressing a positive attitude. Let your enthusiasm for any new situation show, and leave your problems at the door.

First Impressions Made on Paper

Cover Letters

Your cover letter might be someone’s first impression of your personality and professionalism. Keep it short—that means no more than four or five brief paragraphs. In your first paragraph, create a dynamic and powerful opening that explains why you are writing. Always address the letter to the recipient by name. “To whom it may concern” shows that you have little knowledge or interest in the company. What’s the worst mistake you can make? Misspelling the person’s name. Second worst mistake? Misspelling anything else. After all, if you’re not careful about your own business, why would anyone think you’ll take care of theirs?

Résumés

Aim for a single-page résumé, but don’t cram every single detail into a page with zero margins and tiny type. Make use of white space and go to an additional page only if absolutely necessary. Organize your résumé to reflect your most recent job at the top and include dates of employment. Use bulleted sentences, not paragraphs, to describe your work experience. Résumés are read quickly, and bulleted sentences are easier to read than long paragraphs. And be sure to spell check carefully. Misspellings and grammatical errors tell employers you aren’t detail oriented.

Business Cards

For business card first impressions, the most important element is the design and format. Except in special circumstances such as creative professions, colors—of the paper and the text—should be conservative. The same holds true with the typeface—use basic fonts that are easy to read. The design should be simple and tasteful, advises Dr. Hansen. And it should include your key contact information.

That’s why Avery Two-Sided Printable Clean Edge Business Cards make such a great first impression. Both sides are matte coated, so you can print vivid color and sharp text on both the front and back of the card. You’ll have all the room you need to communicate important information about you and your business without giving the card a crammed appearance. Armed with Avery Business Cards, and these tips, you’ll be able to create a first impression that will also be a great lasting impression.


Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., is a professor of marketing at Stetson University, DeLand, Florida, and founder of Quintessential Careers, a leading career development site. To learn more, go to www.QuintCareers.com.

Choosing a new scent for you or for another person can almost be compared to science. There is a lot of research and trial and error involved. Fortunately, you are already aware of what your personal tastes are.

The hardest part involved in picking a fragrance is sorting through the perfume counter in a department store with all of your olfactory senses in one piece.

Applying a scent to your skin is the most vital part in testing a variety of fragrances. You should always remember to apply the fragrance on one of your pulse points.

Right afterwards, leave the location or go do something else for about twenty minutes. This will give the fragrance ample time to react to your body chemistry and mature.

This is important in how to shop for a new perfume because there are times when you may find the top note of a fragrance appealing however as it reacts with your body chemistry, the middle and base notes may change greatly and become un-appealing to you.

If however you still enjoy the aroma of the fragrance after you after done this, you may classify it as a potentially new scent for your collection.

You should also note that it is not a good idea to test more than two or three fragrances at any given time. Always apply the fragrances to pulse points however make sure they are not near one another. This is so that the fragrances do not mix.


Perfume Gifts
Choosing a fragrance for another person and determining what they will like is not always an easy task. The most important thing you can do is to ask perhaps their spouse or someone else close to them what their tastes may be. You can also determine a new scent they may like by finding out what fragrance they currently wear.

You could always opt to purchase them a complimentary product in the same fragrance they already wear or to buy them a gift set. The gift sets typically contain cologne, lotion and at times a body powder or shower gel. You could also try telling the salesperson at the store the fragrance your friend wears and ask them to suggest another perfume in a related scent.

If you are unable to find clues as to what your friend may prefer in a fragrance, you may look towards their personality traits for help. Who a person is can really clarify what their signature scent might be. There is such a wide variety of scents and fragrance families, that having a clue to your friends personality may be exactly the insight you need in determining what scent is for them.

If your friend is overtly feminine, a fragrance that comes from the fruit or floral family might be something she would love. However, if she evokes sultry self-confidence, she might prefer a scent that is bolder.

Oriental fragrances that are spicy and contain musk or cinnamon are probably more to her taste. A woman who is more down to earth or your typical homebody would be apt to love a woody or mossy fragrance.

An endless romantic who embraces the dynamics of love would find a fragrance with floral notes combined with citrus or perhaps a light dash of oriental perfect for her needs.

Before you purchase a fragrance for someone else, make sure you know of the store’s return policy. This is just in case you do not pick a scent that your friend likes.

It is important to note that you should not rely on the small scented scraps of paper that you can spray perfume on to test.

They do not offer a true representation of what the fragrance is really like. If you have any questions as to the scent of a fragrance, ask for some samples.

Those samples are the perfect size for a couple of applications and allow you to make a good decision when it comes to making a fragrance choice for you or a friend.

Once you've made a decision - shop. You may find quite a variance in price for the same fragrance from store to store. Also once your sure about your decision check online. Many online retailers like PerfumeDolly.com sell 100% genuine perfumes at a considerable discount even when you factor in the shipping.

Special Thanks to Beauty And The Bath