TRA INING
October 2017 | VehicleServicePros.com 41
try on Branding Yourself aft er the Diploma. He
teaches students that they are a brand, just like
a product they buy at Wal-Mart, and they need
to present themselves in the best possible light.
I explain to those coming into our industry
that when others see you for the fi rst time, or in
diff erent environments, they form fi rst impressions.
But it’s not until they actually meet you
and you open your mouth that you cement or
change those impressions.
Johnson shows students
how to separate themselves
from the others applying
for the same job. Th e information
he works to impart
to students enables them to
stand out from the crowd and
learn ways to make themselves
noticed in a positive
way to perspective employers.
The Same Purpose
School dress codes can serve
the same purpose. When we,
as a business and industry, are
involved with schools and advisory
committees, we need to let
educators know how important
the enforcement of simple rules,
like dress codes and tardiness,
are to us and the overall success
of their students.
If schools would enforce
the rules equally among all
students, every day, many of
the concerns we face in the
workforce would potentially
go away. Education’s lack of
enforcement allows students
to believe these rules are not
that important. Unfortunately,
in this business and industry,
these rules are important and
non-negotiable. What’s more,
many are safety related.
Tardiness, which is an
even larger industry concern,
is sometimes overlooked. In
most jobs, three “tardies” will
get you fi red.
Ask any employer what is
the number one reason for
termination. Th e majority of
the time, they will say it is
being late to work. You can’t
run a workforce, make products,
service customers or
maintain the infrastructure
of our country when employees don’t show
up to work.
Role Models
When working with schools or at conferences
with educators and administrators, I notice that
the dress and appearance of some teachers and
administrators make it easy to understand why
students dress the way they do. As educators,
professors and administrators at all levels, your
appearance – your brand – is what others see.
What brand are you conveying? Is it the
brand you want the industry and parents to
see? Remember, water seeks its own level.
Our workforce greatly needs workers. Let’s
give students at every level the tools they need
to enter and be successful in the workforce.
Students,
like a product,
are a brand.
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