Catalyst Connects: Workplace Skills for Young Adults — Presentability

Catalyst Connects: Workplace Skills for Young Adults sessions offer a vibrant space for Frederick County youth and young adults (ages 16-24) to connect with peers and gain essential professional skills. Each one-hour session focuses on a different topic from the Workplace Excellence curriculum, providing valuable insights and practical knowledge to support your professional journey. It is a great opportunity to come together with peers who are also starting to navigate the workforce.

The Workplace Excellence curriculum covers 10 topics designed to help young adults develop important workplace skills. Participants who attend all 10 Catalyst Connects sessions can earn a certificate of completion. This certificate, along with the skills learned through the program, can be added to a resume and help demonstrate your commitment to professional development.

Catalyst Connects rotates through all 10 Workplace Excellence topics before starting over, so no matter when you begin, you'll have the opportunity to complete every session, which is required to earn your certificate.

In this blog series you will get a brief overview of the 10 Workplace Excellence topics. Let’s start with Presentability.

Presentability is a worker's ability to display the company image through their appearance and behavior in a way that works for them and their job, while also making their company look good.

First impressions can be the most nerve-wracking part of starting a new job. You want to make a good lasting impression when you walk into your first day!

One way you can do this is by wearing appropriate attire and looking the part. Most companies have a dress code, whether it is a construction company where you have to wear a reflective vest and hard hat or a law office where you have to dress in business professional attire, such as a collared shirt, tie, and dress pants. This information should be provided to you prior to your first day so you can look the part.

Another way to make a good good first impression is through how you act and connect with people. Being confident, polite, and open can be an excellent way to pave a positive connection with your coworkers. Greeting people with a simple, “Hello, nice to meet you! How are you today?” can make a huge difference! Think about how some of your past coworkers that you connected with on the first day. What were some of their behaviors that you can model at your new job?

Greeting people with a simple, “Hello, nice to meet you! How are you today?” can make a huge difference! Think about some of your past coworkers who made a positive impression when you first met. What were some of their behaviors that you could model at your new job?

These steps can help you start your new job off with great presentability and allow you to maintain it as you continue to grow in your job and future positions.

If you want to learn more about presentability and the other Workplace Excellence topics, come by Catalyst Connects every Monday at 3 p.m.! No registration required.