Two Weeks of Brofessional Etiquette Tips

Ok all you aspiring (and existing) brofessionals: Here are two solid weeks of sick brofessional tips to keep you in top form!

Day 1

It’s A Bro Thing

You just graduated college, and now you’ve got your first “real” job. Or maybe you’ve been out of college for a while, and you’ve already started your professional career. You’ve got your own sense of style, hobbies, and dudely tastes that set you apart, but you’ve got to maintain a professional profile as well. How can you strike this delicate balance between pro and bro? Brofessional is here to help you navigate the professional course, while still maintaining your personality and attitude. It’s hard out there for a bro, but Brofessional’s here to steer you in the right direction.

Day 2

Keeping it Brofessional at All Times

Picture this: It’s 8:30 PM, and you’re at your place. After a long day at work, you have a conference call, so you ditch your suit and tie, change into sweats, and settle down in front of your TV with a sandwich and a bag of chips.
Rewind! Even if you’re not in the office, a conference call demands a certain amount of brofessionalism. Keep the tie on and lose the food – treat the call the same as you would if you were on-site. Dressing for success actually makes an impact, even when you’re not face to face.

Day 3

Dry-Cleaners: A Bro’s Best Friend

On the road a lot for your new job? Living out of a suitcase? The secret to happiness and brofessional success is simple: find a dry-cleaner in every city you regularly visit. Nothing says “disorganized” or “lazy” like a wrinkled pair of pants or sloppy shirt. So next time you fly out, be sure to jet to the nearest dry cleaners as well.

Day 4

Thank You Notes

This one may seem cheesy, but trust us, they’re key to getting – and staying – ahead. Personalized thank-you notes are a touch that will set you apart from many other professionals in a competitive job market. After an interview, receiving a gift, or even after meeting someone, sending them a thank-you is a great way to make a professional impression and keep the line of communication open for future projects.

Day 5

Contact

Though the days of the Rolodex may be over, when you meet someone, make sure you get their card or contact information and store it in whatever filing system you’re using – and P.S.: Your inbox is not your To Do list! Put it in your PDA, an Excel file, whatever works for you, and organize it by subject. Even if you’re not sure where this person may come in handy, you never know when you might need someone with their experience or expertise – and when that day comes, you can just go into your contact system and find them with a few easy scrolls or clicks.

Day 6

The Art of the Facebook Bro-file

You’ve heard the horror stories about people losing jobs or missing out on opportunities because of a few choice Facebook pictures from a wild night in college. Even though you might not know anyone who has experienced this, don’t take the chance that it could happen to you. Regularly monitor your profiles on social networking sites to make sure all content posted on your profile is appropriate and inoffensive. That’s keeping it brofessional.

Day 7

Lose the Lingo

Have you ever been in a conversation and noticed the amount of times someone said ‘like’? It’s the curse of our generation, where ‘like’ practically peppers our every sentence. Fight the stereotype that we’re a bunch of Internet junkies with no grammatical style by trying to count the number of times you say ‘like’ in a day and consciously trying to cut back. It’s hard, but just by being aware of it, you can change the way you talk – and therefore, the way you sound to others.

Day 8

Defy the Bare Minimum

Maybe your office doesn’t demand business dress every day – maybe it’s a business casual type of place. Or maybe some people dress casually. But at critical points in your brofessional career, you don’t want to dress for the bare minimum – you want to dress for success. It’s crucial that early on in your career, you make those key connections and good impressions, so don’t just meet the bare minimum requirements – take that extra step and look like a true pro.

Day 9

Biking It In

Maybe you’re trying to be more fitness efficient by riding your bike to work. But unless you make a few key precautions, this system is good for no one. If you insist on biking in, bring a change of clothes and some deodorant– no one wants to start the day all sweaty, and no one wants to see or smell your rumpled self.

Day 10

Come Early, Stay Late

It’s just a fact of life that you’ve got to earn your cred as a brofessional. So whether you’re starting out a new job or embarking on your career, nothing beats good, hard work. In those early days, show you have what it takes by coming in early and staying late. People will notice, and it will help you gain – and maintain- control of your new position.

Day 11

Keep Your Computer Out Of It

If you have to eat at your desk, take a few minutes to clear an area and eat there. Don’t eat over your keyboard, regardless of whether you have a laptop or desktop. When someone comes into your cubicle or office, do you think they want to type on a grimy, crumby laptop? Of course, it happens sometimes, so if your computer already isn’t in the best shape, try a can of compressed air and/or Q-tips and SUITABLE cleaning fluid (isopropyl alcohol).

Day 12

Make a Great First Impression

This one is simple – when you meet a person, commit their name to memory by mentally repeating it at least 3 times and making up an alliterative sentence. For example, Jen, Jen, Jen; Jen jumps in line for Jamba Juice every day. Use it at least once before you part ways, and make sure to score their contact info for future endeavors.

Day 13

NSFW

If it’s not suitable for work, don’t do it! Click on that link later, watch that video at home; no matter how tempting, just say no. This will help you avoid potentially awkward and embarrassing situations and maintain brofessionalism.

Day 14

Polish Your Shoes

Another easy one – it may seem ridiculously obvious, but you’d be surprised. Make sure your good impression is from head to toe with shiny, shiny shoes.