By Joe Giacomin, Managing Director, Automotive

(248) 453-0092 | jgiacomin@asgteam.com

Making A Good Impression: Is it Out of Style?

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression”, said Will Rogers.

To this very day, it remains clear in my mind…as I prepared for a first interview with a top 50 corporation. Here I was, age twenty-three…facing a mirror and trying my best to finish off the perfect knot in my necktie. Over time, with a lot of practice and by observing and learning from people I admired, the business attire segment of my daily routine became almost second nature.

Weeks, months, years – every working day, I was out the door in a tailored suit or sport coat, dress shirt (neatly pressed) with a complementing tie and polished shoes in good condition. Along the way, I learned that spending a lot of money didn’t guarantee the best appearance. I discovered that neat, clean, well-coordinated, and tailored could supersede the mega expensive or the hot trends of the day. Fewer items of good quality would hold up and stand the test of time.

The same was true in casual settings. Dressing appropriately for the situation and taking a few extra minutes to ensure proper hygiene is always a safe bet. Fast forward to 2025: I have a closet full of suits, ties, and wonderful shoes acquired over time, most of which now sit untouched.

In the business world, casual Friday has moved on to casual every day. We tend to “suit up” for client presentations and corporate events, but I have found that the last time I visited a client company in full business attire, the company President greeted me wearing a pair of well-worn Levi’s and a sports coat.

I’m confident that a fair number of businesspeople won’t be dressing like they were in 1999 any time soon. However, is it possible that the pendulum has swung too far toward casual wear, to the point where it has become a bit too casual?

Just for grins, try wearing business attire now and then and make note of the reactions. You might hear things like: “Who died?” …or “Are you going on a job interview?”

Kidding aside, you may also be pleasantly surprised by some of the positive feedback you receive. It makes an impact. While I continue to advise job candidates to wear appropriate business attire for interviews, plain good judgment should be the rule in any situation…matching the occasion with the proper type of attire.

In summary, it’s not about designer clothing and a lot of flash. Your image can still reflect your personal preference with a focus on being well-groomed, pressed, and coordinated.

Whatever choice we make, putting some thought and care into our presentation will be to our advantage …and is always “in style”.

Add end: I got the job.

A Passive Job Candidate: The Strongest Hire?

The Company Story. As an executive recruiter, when I embark on a new assignment, learning about job requirements and desired qualifications is certainly customary and necessary to conduct a search for qualified candidates. I like to refer to it as the price of entry.

While these are important components of building a recruiting plan, I also ask a lot of questions about the company, its culture, products, technology, advancement potential, and profile of the person the new hire will report to. I make it a priority to learn as much as  possible about the company history and talking points that may not be found on the company website…including asking: “Why should a happy, highly successful person want to resign from their company and join yours?” 

I pay close attention to the answers because these comments, coupled with the additional information gathered, help form the basis for the story I plan to tell. Great candidates can surface under a variety of circumstances… including people who are employed but seeking a change, and those who are unemployed for a litany of reasons. It’s the successful candidates who are not actively seeking a change who can often be the real difference makers.

The Passive Candidate. This person (not actually a candidate, yet) is not in the job market, is successful, well-regarded in their industry, and happy with their employer.

As we reach out and initiate contact with these contented, successful professionals, we begin to share the story of our client company, and the features and benefits offered in the proposed career opportunity.

As the discussion continues, we learn about a variety of things that are important to the individual.

Career advancement? Product offerings? Compensation? It may be as basic as location…or possibly working remotely.

Our mission is to genuinely convert a passive prospect into an engaged, sincere candidate.

A successful, passive candidate willing to submit to a first interview, not because they are unsatisfied with their present company, but because she is intrigued by the proposed opportunity.

The initial interview is an opportunity not only for the candidate to present their qualifications, but also to ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the role, the company culture, and the person they would report to. Following the first interview, we advise the candidate to evaluate the opportunity and if the hiring authority is on board, to decide if they would like to move forward in the interview process. 

Moving a top candidate through various procedures that a company establishes when hiring will be important for the employer and the candidate. Both are learning as they go, and either moving forward …or backward. The company is watching closely…but guess what? That top performing superstar is watching, too.

If the interview process concludes with an offer…and acceptance, the opportunity for the newly acquired person to be a roaring success is quite high…simply because they are a proven success who joined their new employer for the right reasons.

For the sports-minded… think about it this way: Imagine you are the General Manager of a major league baseball team, contracts did not exist, and you could reach out to any superstar and present an opportunity to join your team. Think of the possibilities!

The good news: In “major league business”, you can do this. Play Ball.