3 simple ways to instantly appear successful

Pablo Cuadra/Getty ImagesDavid Beckham.People decide if you're successful within five seconds of meeting you.

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.

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