How to make a good impression at the office party

By Annette Richmond

November is here, which means the office holiday party is just around the corner. Due to the current economic climate, for many companies the swanky evening bash has given way to more modest afternoon festivities. In some cases it’s a pot luck lunch held at the office.

While each setting brings somewhat different challenges the goal is always the same: look your best and make a good impression. Particularly on the boss.

To help you make the most of your holiday gathering this year, we picked the brains of several experts including image consultants, etiquette specialists and even a fashion stylist.

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Tips on your acceptance speech

By Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

Accepting an award is like walking a tightrope. You need to be gracious, grateful, and humble — but not so humble or self-deprecating that the audience thinks you are trivializing the honor. The warm glow of the occasion can suddenly turn chilly or sour with a few ill-chosen words.

One gentleman I was coaching was due to receive an award from an organization with over 100,000 members. Two thousand people would be in the audience.

"I want to be funny," he told me, "so I'll start by saying how desperate they must be to give me this award." I persuaded him that he'd be insulting the organization and everyone who had ever been honored. We worked together to come up with a gracious acceptance speech, still funny, but one that would leave everyone present feeling great about the evening, the award, and the organization.

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Three ways to boost your networking skills

By Annette Richmond

Everybody knows the key to a successful career is networking. It’s the best way to find a new job, land a promotion or build a new business. Yet, many people are uncomfortable around strangers, particularly when they’re outside their comfort zone. For example, when they’re at a networking event.

Why? First it’s difficult to enter an ongoing conversation. Especially when it’s a party of two who seem particularly engaged. A better way to meet new people is to go up to someone standing alone. If they’re like most of us, they’re just waiting there hoping someone will come over and talk to them.

They key here is to avoid the typical conversation.

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Interview Expert

Professional Image Expert

Carole Martin is a coach with over 18 years in Human Resources Management. She is an acknowledged expert in the use of behavioral interviewing techniques.

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Style expert Bridgette Raes is the author of Style Rx: Dressing the Body You Have to Create the Body You Want and the president of the NYC based style consulting company for women, Bridgette Raes Style Group.

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Resume Writing Expert

Career Development Expert

Annemarie Cross is a multi-award winning, triple certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Management Specialist, Speaker, and Author of 10 key steps to Ace that Interview!

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Annette Richmond, MA, is founder and editor of career-intelligence.com and The Career Intelligencer. She is author of several publications, ebooks and interactive workbooks on career management.

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