Bare necessities: 5 Essentials for every Young Professional

1. A Resumé: You should ALWAYS have a copy of your most updated resume within reach. Be sure your resume is an accurate and honest representation of your abilities and your qualifications. It should be as close to perfect as possible (free of typos, consistent formatting, etc.). Print it out and comb over it line by line before you distribute it to others. Be sure your contact information is always up to date.

2. Business Cards. I think this one is a given especially since business cards are so cheap and easy to come by. Dont believe me? Imagine this, you meet someone at a networking event and they do not have their cell phone. How are you going to give them your contact information? Write it on a napkin? Heck no! Politely offer them your business card and take down their information. Follow up within 24 hours with an email or a phone call (NOTE: texting and calling are not the same and should never be used interchangeably) and continue to build from there. After a few months of communicating you can look back and say it all started with a business card.

3. Mentor: Find someone who has been where you are or someone who is where you want to be. Do not be afraid to reach out to them and make a genuine connection. They have valuable information and you should make use of them as a resource. Having a great mentor will make an incredible difference. They can light your path and become lifelong friends. Hey XW *wink*

4.A tailored suit: Don’t just buy a suit in your respective size. Take it to a tailor and have it cut to fit you. Your waist may be a size 2 or 32 but you may need your pants hemmed. You WILL be able to tell the difference. Although you will have to invest a little more time and money in tailoring your suit, consider it an investment in your future. Click here for tips about "looking the part" of a YP from HUSL Today.

5. The perfect handshake. Handshakes that are too firm make you seem like you're trying too hard and a soft handshake is just annoying (especially for men). Practice yours with friends you trust until you reach the oh so important middle ground. Well my friends, I know this list is by no means exhaustive. What do you consider essential to your success in your profession? Did I miss anything? Do you agree.

The floor is yours. What things do you think have been essential to your success? What do you consider a bare necessity? Share it amongst friends

Words to Know

Today's word to know is:

irascible (adj.) :

Definition : easily angered or provoked, irritable

Examples in context :

A grouch is irascible. The students generally abused substitute teachers, but they knew that even substitute teachers become irascible on Monday mornings. an irascible old man an irascible response

Source: English-for-students.com

Investing in your Appearance! TIP #2 for Males: Make your clothing work for you!!!

Men’s apparel. The choices are endless and a suit is no longer the only choice for a professional look. You may choose to don a suit, or slacks with a blazer. Regardless of your preferred attire, keep in mind that it is an investment and you should treat it accordingly. It is recommended that you wear mid-calf length socks with your loafers, preferably darker hues. Black loafers with white socks should only be worn by people on stage as they perform 80’s music. As for the shirt, you can never go wrong with long-sleeves in white, conservative stripes or a solid light blue. Polo shirts should be tucked in and are acceptable for casual occasions. No matter your final choice of apparel, remember the Golden Rule: your apparel should add to your appearance,not detract from it.

After you’ve chosen a quality article of clothing, your next concern is a proper fit. If you are not sure of your size, ask a tailor take your measurements. Once you know your size, your shopping experiences will be more pleasant. Do not be afraid to have your clothes altered. Men who are shorter or taller than average, may find it difficult to find clothes that fit and should account for the cost of altering garments in their budget. The investment will be worth it. A pair of jeans or slacks that fit properly will go a long way. You will feel more comfortable in clothing that fits thus allowing you to increase your confidence. Eventually, there will come a time when you can glance at an article of clothing and know it is your size. Until that time comes, you will improve through trial and error.

Note: I do not claim ownership of the above photos. I found them on google...where else?

Investing in your appearance: TIP #1 for YP males-Quality over Quantity

Quality is the precedent. Make use of the best quality textiles when it is possible. I realize the best fabrics are more expensive, but they are good choices for a number of reasons including their durability. Clothing made from better quality fabrics may repel stains better or be more wrinkle resistant. Having a wardrobe comprised of quality fabrics is not only for the rich and famous, it is also an essential tool for a YP. Beware of expensive clothing that are made from cheap materials; a price tag alone does not guarantee that the article is made from the best textiles. In fact, you will pay extra for designer labels which are not always the best merchandise. Department stores and boutiques will arrange their merchandise so that it will make the most money. The newest products are placed near the aisles while products from last season are bumped near the back of the store. This is why you will find most of the clearance items in the back of the store. The items are put together in such a way to encourage you to purchase the entire outfit as opposed to the one pair of slacks you came into the store for. You can learn to navigate the arrangements if you become familiar with the store’s selection. By doing so your shopping trips will be more efficient as you will already know how to find what you are looking for. I encourage you to shop around and to check online for exclusive bargains and coupons that you may not otherwise know about.

Note: I do not claim ownership of the above photos. I found them on google...where else?

Investing in your appearance: THE GOLDEN RULE!!

The Golden Rule: Your appearance is an investment. It should never be a distraction, it should complement your features while exemplifying that you are sophisticated and well-groomed. Before you begin to assess your wardrobe choices, you should always consider the occasion. You are not trying to stand out for your innovative fashion sense as professional attire is classic and does not change according to fashion trends. Choosing the right attire is important regardless of whether it is for a job interview, or for happy hour after work. When in doubt about any aspect of your look, observe what similar genders in your profession wear. If you are a new employee, during the interviewing process be conscious of the attire of current employees. Peruse company dress code policies and take note of company pictures (if available). For invitation-only events, the invite is a great gauge for the apparel. It is better to be a little overdressed than underdressed. The advice for obtaining a professional look has been bifurcated according to gender.

Photos: Google