3 simple ways to instantly appear successful

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David Beckham

Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images

David Beckham.

People decide if you're successful within five seconds of meeting you.

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It's called "thin slicing," or the psychological tendency for people to make almost instantaneous assumptions about you.

It happens all the time, including at work. Research suggests that colleagues and would-be clients make snap assessments about your earning potential, chance of getting promoted, and level of success.

For example, in a 2011 Canadian study, 87 university students were shown photos of a man in professional or casual dress, and were asked what they expected his workplace outcomes to be.

The differences were obvious. Not only were the well-dressed men expected to make more money, they were expected to be promoted more rapidly. Meanwhile, the sloppily dressed guys were expected to receive more verbal harassment at work.

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What can we do to sidestep negative judgments and instantly appear successful? Scroll down to see what the experts advise.