Times are tough as thousands of Americans are on the hunt for a new career due to being laid off. Still, thousands more are just graduating college and are new to the workforce. That said, it is important to know a thing or two about business etiquette as it may mean the difference between landing a job versus making it easier for the next person in line to land it. The following are some simple steps to help refresh your memory as to what is and isn’t acceptable to possible employers.

Business Etiquette 101

Prep- First impressions are lasting impressions. If you are attending a career fair or a job interview, make sure that you know what the attire is for the event. You can never go wrong by dressing more on the conservative side. Make sure that you hair is styled neatly and that you look presentable. Turn your cell phone off or to silent.

Punctuality-Invest in a watch and/or an alarm clock. Know what time the event or interview starts, and plan on arriving at least 10 to 15 minutes early. If, for some reason, you experience a delay in getting to your appointment on time, make sure that you call your contact to let them know that you will be arriving late. While it is not ideal to arrive late, alerting the other person will demonstrate responsibility.

Body language- When you speak to someone, make eye contact but don’t stare at them either. Smile, use good posture and carry yourself with confidence. If you smoke, avoid doing so before a first meeting with someone or an interview. Do not chew gum either, and avoid looking around too much as it will suggest a lack of interest.

Introductions- When you are first introduced, stand (if you are seated) and be sure to shake hands firmly while making eye contact. Also, if the other person introduced themselves, include his or her name in your greeting (i.e. “Nice to meet you, John.”)

Remembering these simple rules will most certainly help you regardless of  whether or not you are going to your first job interview or a business meeting.

In an article published by Alison Diana of Informationweek.com, the majority of consumers want to interact with businesses via social media outlets. However, less than one-third of companies actually have any type of social media strategy in place. Thus, we have a problem. So, then why aren’t businesses picking up on their consumers’ desire to connect?

This information on the many missed opportunities to use social media in business comes from a recent report put forth by Siemens Enterprise Communications in conjunction with leading research firm, Yankee Group. In the study, results showed that the average customer satisfaction with current business interactions via social media was just 65 percent while one third of businesses do not allow the use of social media at work or aren’t aware of their company’s participation in social networking.

Tsk. Tsk.

Overlooking social networking or merely passing social media off as a “waste of time” or boiling it down to goofing off on Facebook or Twitter is hardly the case. If used properly, social media can draw in tons of traffic to a website or help put a business that would have otherwise been an ‘unknown’ on the map for the first time.

All you have to do to see social media in action with a business is look at the recent ad campaign put forth by Old Spice. Old Spice found a clever and creative way to employ the use of several top social networking site: Twitter, Facebook and YouTube (all user-generated) in order to strengthen their brand. Some may view Twitter as pointless, but when you look at what Old Spice did with their Twitter page, they actually took the time to interact with their followers. It was the perfect example of listening to the consumer and then responding (in real time) to their demand.

Selected highlights from the study

• 70 percent of consumers want access to company experts and support via social media channels and trust company information provided to them via their social networks.
• Nearly 60 percent of customers feel company outreach via social media would improve their loyalty to that company.
• Most customers feel that companies should be monitoring social media for customer feedback.
• 50 percent of respondents use social media daily or several times a day.
• Nearly 70 percent of employees feel they need better tools to track and manage social media for business, and would like the ability to initiate a Web conference automatically from a chat discussion at work, inviting people from within their social and work networks.

To read more about the study, click here. In the meantime, consider what sorts of social media practices your business is employing at the moment. What could you be doing better? What sorts of demands do your customers/clients want? Perhaps the most important thing to consider is the power that social media has to leverage your business above the competition. Never underestimate this!

(Digital Journal via InformationWeek)

Are you entrepreneur material? The following are several questions you can ask yourself in order to get an idea:

• Am I passionate about any one thing?
• Am I a dreamer?
• Am I always looking for other opportunities to better myself?
• Do I have a problem with authority figures?
• Do I want to be in control?

While these questions aren’t necessarily a means to an end, it seems as if most entrepreneur-type people lean towards these sorts of tendencies.

Start Thinking Like an Entrepreneur

With the last couple of years in the middle of a recession being rough on a lot of people, many have had time to re-think their career goals. What’s even more is that some of these people have decided to throw caution to the wind as they pursue their lifelong dreams and goals to be their own boss. Of these people, some have succeeded while others have floundered. But what is it about successful entrepreneurs that puts them a step above the rest of us in the scramble to work for ourselves?

In order to be an entrepreneur, you have to start thinking like one. The following examples are just five ways in which you can begin the process of thinking like an entrepreneur:

1. Don’t Fear Failure- Failure is often how we learn our toughest lessons. Don’t view it as a failure, but as a way in which something didn’t work. Learn something from the experience and try again.
2. Be Innovative- Too often, you will find that several people have had the same idea while one person really stands out. What is it about that one person who stands out? What ideas do you have that others don’t?
3. Be Gentle to Those Around You- If, one day, you make it big, there is no doubt that you wouldn’t have done it alone. Everyone has been successful in some aspect of their lives has had to accept help at some point from others around them. Be kind to these people when you are on top because should you falter, you may need their help.
4. Be Confident; Not Cocky- No one likes an ego-maniac. Similarly, however, no one will take you seriously if you lack confidence. This is a delicate balance that you must master while remaining somewhat realistic in your expectations of yourself, your business and others around you.
5. Be Persistent- If it was easy, everyone would do it.