WINNERSVILLE, USA - We all understand the importance of maintaining a winning appearance in a job search. Looking good has a self-reinforcing effect on candidates: You look like a winner, so you feel like a winner. And you will get hired faster, by better companies, and for more money because you act like a winner. It's what I call duck logic: "Looks like a duck. Quacks like a duck. Must be a duck."
To that end, today's Wall Street Journal has a nice article called "Looking More Awake: A Dermatologist's Tips." Although the article is written for women, I thought you guys might benefit from it, too.
That's right, George Clooney. This is a tough economy! You want to look awake don't you? I've met lots of losers who were asleep at the switch -- but not many winners. And I have never represented a winning candidate whose face looked like an old catcher's mitt.
So pay attention. Here are Dr. Patricia Wexler's top five tricks to conceal dull skin and puffy eyes -- the primary causes of looking haggard in a job interview:
- Get lots of sleep. A lack of sleep can cause the skin to dehydrate, causing it to look thin and blue during your interview.
- Stay hydrated. Use moisturizer and drink lots of water during your job search.
- Exfoliate. After washing your face, use a microdermabrasion treatment to buff away the surface layer of skin.
- Use skin-brightening eye creams that that include caffeine, cucumber, and yeast extract -- all of which deflate puffiness. That's right, guys. It's war out there, so you'll need some camouflage. The best creams will also include botanicals such as white birch and mulberry to lighten your skin and make you appear more awake during those tedious panel interviews.
- Avoid alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeinated drinks a day or two before the job interview. While this time line is my own -- Dr. Wexler notes that all of these things bring swelling to the eyes.
Of course, in a pinch candidates can simply apply ice cold tea bags to their eyes. According to Dr. Wexler, "Ten minutes will do the trick every time."
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