Impress Hiring Managers With Executive 'Presence'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 30, 2004 -- There once was a time (in movies, at any rate, if not in real life) when business executives would say approvingly of a job candidate, "I like the cut of his jib." By this they meant that there was something about the candidate that was pleasing to the eye, like a sailboat with its jib sail properly set. While corporate-speak may have changed, drawing subjective conclusions based on a candidate's "executive presence" hasn't.

Some candidates simply seem to have a generally more efficient and positive air about them than others. What elements contribute to this executive presence? How is it that certain candidates can sail into a room and impress their interviewers, while others don't make quite as positive an impact?



There are six elements I see that separate job candidates with a winning presence from those who don't make a strong initial impression. These include:

Physical appearance can add up to having executive-presence. Tall, short, fat, thin, young, old, handsome, homely -- none of these traits is a factor in rating the physical appearance of candidates. What does count is attention to detail and the subtle cues given by body language. Appropriate dress is a must, and it's almost impossible to overdress. Even in a business-casual environment, men should wear a sports coat and women a pantsuit or other business attire. Little things count. A small stain from lunch, shoes that aren't polished or are too polished, a belt fitted to the very last hole, an ill-knotted tie -- all these are signs of potential inefficiency or poor judgment. All add up to improved executive-presence in today�s office environment.

Depth. A confident, neat appearance and the ability to speak well are important qualities, but a lot of charlatans have them. If it's merely the latest potboiler -- or if they've read no books at all -- they're unlikely to pass muster with executive presence.



Listening ability. Good candidates listen with not just their ears, but their bodies and, especially, their eyes. The eyes will show if a question or statement has been fully comprehended and its implications understood. Good listeners also ask good questions. to executive-presence.

A sense of humor. Clearly, there are sound evolutionary reasons why humans developed a sense of humor. It's a survival mechanism that allows us to cope with stress and to interact more efficiently with other members of the tribe, or, as we call it today, the company. Humorless candidates will find themselves isolated in the workplace and, in some cases, feared. Winning candidates don't tell jokes, but they do make observations that show they have the ability to laugh with executive-presence.