It is not what you’ve always thought, many a time we tend to have assumptions and even partial facts based on people’s appearance and dressing. Dedi Maganga, a 33-year-old accountant in Kimironko narrates how he found himself in an awkward situation because of his assumption about a client. “After my graduation I applied for a job in an audit firm in Kariokor, Nairobi. After three weeks, I received an e-mail informing me of the job interview to be held one week later. On the appointed day, I walked to the offices of the company,” Muganga narrates. “At the gate I found a short young man dressed in a creased, untidy suit. In my mind I was very sure that he was a casual worker, probably the gateman. He said “Good morning”. “Morning”, I replied without giving him any attention. He then asked me where I was going and I simply said it was none of his business, following which I entered the office.” “At the office I found a group of interviewers already seated, but I was told to wait for the chairman of the committee who was also the CEO of the company. In my mind I was waiting to see a huge, well-built fellow but to my surprise, I almost collapsed at the sight of the chairman who was the untidy guy I had met at the gate.” Sometimes sellers underestimate their buyers, or overestimate them; the reality usually turns out to be the exact opposite of the first impression. Many people have narrated how they were mistreated simply because their dress code was not up to the ‘required standard’. This is very common in public places and churches; if you are dressed in a fashionable, brand new suit, the chances of getting a seat are higher than those of a casually dressed person. We should learn to respect each individual regardless of the initial impression, because our assumptions may not always be correct. iruikmo@yahoo.com
