May 2002

The Importance Of Looking The Part

Welcome to my Career in Your Suitcase website. I hope you like it's new look. Nadine Taylor, who designed my book, Career in Your Suitcase 2, has taken over as webmaster and we have decided to celebrate the success of this, my latest book, with a makeover.

Back in January I attended a workshop given by Gail MacIndoe entitled Brand You. Gail invited us all to turn to the person sitting beside us and tell them, honestly, what our first impressions had been of them, when we first spotted them, earlier that day. I sat next to Jane, who told me I looked friendly & accessible, but that my outfit made me look dull and dowdy. I was mortified. I had always thought my dark brown skirt suit made me look professional, and that the dark rose shirt, illustrated my colourful personality. I was wrong.

It was at that moment that I realised how important it was not only that we ask for feedback, but that we do ensure that we look the part and that we dress appropriately. I walked away from that seminar to throw away that skirt suit and get some advice on style and colour. If you too would like to make the most of yourself, why not contact Karen French,who is case studied on this website?

Not only did I revamp and weed my wardrobe, thanks to my local Color Me Beautiful expert Carolyn Hederman, but I also decided to ensure my business card showed who I really was too. The first thing I did was to think about my name. For all of my professional life I have put my full name, Joanna, on my business card and in my byline as a journalist. Yet still, more than 15 years on, I think twice when someone calls me that. To my friends and family I have been Jo not Joanna since I was 13. So I put the name I like to be known by on my card, and I printed it in red. I believe in positive thinking, and in the power of brainstorming your dreams with a bunch of friends. I call this 'blue sky'. I put that on my card too. And now the cover of my latest book, as youknow, uses this same theme, as does this website.

Eleven months on from Gail's workshop I wear a red leather jacket to work and introduce myself as 'Jo'. I believe in blue sky and I tell people that too. I am what I am. Are you?

Jo Parfitt
Believe in blue sky

On the road this month
You will find me on 20th November, at 6pm, at the WIN meeting in Amsterdam, which is taking place at the Holiday Inn. I'll only be in the audience, but I will have my book with me. If you want to find out more please contact my friend Mary van der Boon, who is taking me along.

On 21st November I'll be at the Expatica 'Best Practices for Managing Your International Workforce' conference,at the Universiteit Nyenroden, Breukelen, Holland. I look forward to hearing my good friend Mary van der Boon and Hilly van Swol speak. I have five vouchers that will save 50 Euros off the fee if you are interested.

You can find me on 22nd November, in Brussels, where I am running my exciting new course, by popular demand. It is called The Expatriate Writer and will be held at IFL, Hotel Metropole from 9.30 to about 3.45 pm and costs just Euros 70. Contact me for more details. A few places left.