One of the things I hate most about clothes shopping is the 360 mirror. You know the ones that show all the bumps, lines, cellulite and those lovely spots that we work hard to ignore or cover?! Guys, you may not get this, but if you’ve ever gone shopping with a woman you may have seen the pain in their eyes from this experience.

No matter which way you turn, you see yet another spot you can’t ignore. You must be honest with yourself or drag someone along that will be honest for you before you buy or when you get home and put the outfit on again, you’ll wonder what you were thinking. Worst case scenario, others may actually laugh out loud when you enter a room wearing that “monstrous” outfit. It then hangs in the back of your closet for the next several years until you get the courage to “donate” it to a worthy cause and finally admit the mistake.

This experience is not unlike job searching. Unless you or someone you trust does a rigorous inventory of your strengths and weaknesses, you’ll never find the outfit (read “job”) that best matches you. I personally think it’s best to have an objective partner help in this process.

In your efforts to help others look for and find work, it’s part of your job to be the 360 mirror. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it or your clients will continue to job search and never really see the true reflection of how they’re seen by others.

Some tips for being an effective 360 mirror:

1. Tell them first that being a 360 mirror is part of your job. Don’t blindside them!
2. Be honest. Don’t pussyfoot around the issue.
3. Represent the employer’s perspective. Not your own! This isn’t about your preferences.
4. Give solutions—don’t just point out the problem! No one likes to be told about an area of concern without hearing what can be done to remedy it.
5. Hold them accountable for making the correction.
6. PRAISE! PRAISE! PRAISE!
7. Notice whatever baby steps they may be taking. They must learn to walk before they can run.
8. Don’t ever give up! You may be the only 360 mirror they have.

Photo by Julie (autumn_bliss)