Page 16 - I-Plants Magaine April 2021 Issue #4 v 4

PLANT TECH

Presenting a professional image

FOR TECHS

For years some technicians have had a hard time being
respected and treated as professionals.

By Kathy Fediw, LEED AP ID+C, Happily retired!

I n fact, it’s the topic of the Look like a pro
very first trade journal
If you want to be treated as the professional
article I wrote nearly 30
you are, you need to look the part. You may
years ago. I started my
career as a tech and was not have much to say about the style or
color of your uniform, but you have a choice
mistaken for the janitor as to how you will wear it.
more than once (nothing wrong with being
a janitor, just not my job.) Some of us have Make sure your clothes are clean and
learned the hard way that if you want to be pressed. Tuck in your shirt and wear a belt
perceived as a professional, you have to so you don’t look like a slob. Have clean,
look and act the part. decent, comfortable shoes. Keep jewelry to
a minimum.
It doesn’t take a lot of money or effort but
it does take attention to the details. You Gentlemen should shave or keep their beard
may need to put aside your own sense of or mustache trimmed. Keep your hair
fashion, style and comfort in order to be trimmed and clean. Ladies should wear a
viewed as a professional. You can touch of makeup, keep their nails
wear what you want, and talk trimmed, and hair clean and
and walk however you want, trimmed. If you color your
when you’re off duty. But hair, keep up with the
if you want to be treated color so you don’t have
as a professional then 3 inches of dark roots
you have to follow the showing. Start the day
unspoken rules of fresh and clean even if
business etiquette and you don’t wind up fresh
dress. as a daisy by the end of
the day. Wear a watch and
be on time. Slacks or shorts

16 Making The New Normal Better!