Experts say dress the part if you want the job
The importance of presenting yourself properly in a job interview can't be overstated. Yes, it's about clothes, but think of yourself as a complete package - someone who not only looks professional, but conducts themselves in a professional way. Someone, who, in short, exudes competence and confidence.
First the basics: Experts say dress for a job one level above the one you're interviewing for. Better to be too dressed up than too casual. So that means a women should wear hose, even if you normally don't. Keep jewelry, makeup, fingernails, perfume, and cologne conservative. (Men: take out your earrings.)
Kenny Colbert, president of the Employers Association, a human resources consulting firm, suggests some up-front research. He told McClatchy Newspapers that job-seekers should call the human resources department, ask current employees, or schedule a visit to the office before the interview to check out what others are wearing.
"I dare say, if you haven't prepared for the dress code," he says, "you have not prepared for other things."
A huge no-no is smelling like smoke. Don't light up on your way to the interview. In fact, take a nonsmoker's car if you can. "For anyone who doesn't smoke, you can smell that smoke a mile away," says Meg Montford, a Kansas City executive career coach.
"When you go to an interview, your appearance makes the first impression. But I'd say that's only good for 10 seconds until you open your mouth," Montford told the Kansas City Star. "Then, it's all about attitude. Appearance gets you through the door, but the attitude determines how long you sit in the chair."
Melanie Bowman, student employment services coordinator for Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley, reminds students that attitude means everything: body language, the way you walk, whether you sit up straight, the tone of your voice. The key is to show interest. The company, not your fears, should be at the top of your mind.
And last but not least, be nice to the receptionist, she told the Star. "I tell students, 'Who do you think that the interviewer is going to have lunch with today?' That can kill the whole deal right there."
And if you do land that coveted job, don't slack off in the dress-for-success department. A new poll commissioned by CareerBuilder.com revealed that 41 percent of respondents said that people who dress more professionally are more likely to be promoted than others in the organization.
"If there's anything to take away from this it's just recognizing that the way you dress at work can affect how others perceive you," said Allison Nawoj, a career adviser for CareerBuilder.com.
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Business casual = Business attire?
I read today that a town in Illinois has passed legislation that requires people to pay a fine if they are caught wearing sagging pants in public. I'm somewhat speechless over this issue, but it does provide a good lead-in to today's top story about dressing for the job you want. I've often heard that when you want a promotion, you should dress for the job you aspire to instead of the one you currently hold. But who's to say if the person wearing drooping pants isn't dressing for the job he aspires to? I'd be very distressed if my elected lawmakers started telling me I can't dress in a way i feel is appropriate. Meanwhile - here's some additional food for thought. With so many large companies switching from strict business attire to a business casual atmosphere, is business casual the new business attire? Will young people entering the workforce today even know what traditional business attire means? And does that matter? Let me know what you think.
Strict business attire
Strict business attire is a uniform for conducting business. Business causal is getting off the track of the image that work is serious and requires a certain kind of attention to dress and conduct. Yes, what you wear to work matters. Otherwise people may mistake you for just another Hun yak.
Business Dress
I suggest that anyone looking for a job should read “Mallory’s Dress for Success.” How you dress does have an impact on how you are perceived. I would venture to say that if you had two candidates with equal abilities and background apply for the same position and one came to the interview dressed in “business casual” attire and one dressed in a suit; the one wearing the suit would get the job nine out of ten times.
Business Attire Comment
Hi,
As a young professional, I agree it is important to, you might say, dress for success. However, my generation is not used to this and doesn’t enjoy being made to do so. I find it disconcerting that people put so much importance on what you wear, when shouldn’t it be about your performance? Granted, you should use discretion and not wear something completely inappropriate, but I think employees who are dressed comfortably perform better.
Dress for success
I am a middle-aged fuddy-duddy. I do wear business casual most days, but I take pains to look neat and professional. I wear business attire (suits or conservative dresses) to business meetings or when I make a presentation. I am a big believer in dressing for the occasion and dressing differently for different activities. Thus, I think people should wear different clothes to work than they wear to a barbecue, different clothes to school than to the gym, different clothes to a party than to run errands. But as I said, I’m a fuddy-duddy as my teenagers often tell me. BTW, they go to private school with a dress code: slacks (no jeans) and a button-down shirt (doesn’t have to be tucked-in) for boys, knee-length skirts and shirts with sleeves, no cleavage showing, no bare torsos when you move or breathe.
Business Attire
As to your question on business attire, I think it does matter. Regardless of whether we like it or not, you do make assessments about people based on their looks and attire. I know for me personally, I feel more professional dressed up and I am more effective if I am dressed up. I never meet with a client until I am at least wearing “business” slacks and a blouse. It doesn’t matter what kind of client I meet. In addition, in previous jobs, I have had many employees. Those that took the time to look nice, in general were more productive and better employees. So, for what it is worth, I do think it matters.
More government meddling
I read another story yesterday in the Detroit Free Press that the city of Flint, MI now has a policy of charging saggy pants wearers with disorderly conduct or indecent exposure and fining them with up to $500 and giving them from 95 days to a year in prison. What's with these crazy laws? And how do they draw the line? If boys can't show the tops of their underpants, then will they start arresting girls who show bra straps? What about a little bit of exposed cleavage or some bare midriff? What about girls who wear low-riding jeans and show a bit of the tops of their underwear? it seems to me that this law is a dangerous beginning.
Sagging pants law
I think you missed the BIG issue here – bare bottoms.
The “sagging pants” refer to dropping the pants so low that the wearer reveals buttock separation or most of the colorful boxer shorts. This is totally outside the world of accountants applying for jobs! These are people showing so much of their (fleshy) contempt for the establishment that they would not even be applying for an office job.
office attire
I am 57 yrs old. I have a small CPA firm (11 persons) in Lancaster, Ohio. The corporate handbook states that men will wear suits (not pants and a sport jacket) and that women will wear a dress,skirt.or pant suit (with the same meaning as a man--top and bottom match). No shorts/skirts/leggings are allowed. We do have dress down on Thursday and Friday which consist of dress pant/skirt with the corporate shirt/sweater. Each year I will get a young new hire that wants to push me. So far the other women support my position and will talk to the others. However, I find that the quality of dress they will select is poor....(costs too much). This summer I now have two younger ladies that I want to wear pants...they have tattoos on their legs! They do not think that is disrespectful in a professional office! I am soon to revise my handbook and I will attempt to address this situation. Any suggestions?
Tattoos, piercings, etc.
Regarding your question about tattoos, it seems to me very appropriate to include in your office handbook that arms and legs displaying tattoos will be covered in the workplace, and you are certainly justified in doing so if you feel this would make clients uncomfortable. A similar issue arises when companies ask their employees to remove piercings (except in ears) in the workplace.
I would recommend that new-hires are made aware of and agree to the firm policies before they begin the job.
Work Attire
Buisiness and Corporate America have two different views. Although I live in Florida, I work in New York where business attile (Business Suit, ties and for women dresses and tasteful suitpants)is always the norm. In my opinion casually dressed environments lead to in some cases, non productivity, sharp increases in sexual harrasement and passive attitudes. We lost a business edge of sorts during the late 90's and the tech boom. This is the point in history where the casual business atmosphere came to life as a mainstream persona. Our firm saw many firms begin to have dramatic issues in socialization of employees, HR issues and attendance. Not to mention the calibur of people interviewing. Maybe this gernation, as one gentleman on this site said, will not conform bach to standard attire. But, with the global community not affraid about American inginuity anymore, maybe the next gernation may want to explore the possibility of going back to what made us strong. And yes, a business suit does provide a strong mindset, its like going to war and having body armor. Provides respect and dignity. I doubt a pair of slacks and Tommy H hanging off your buttom would give anyone a sense of business warefare. But then, if you don't want to conform young people, you may not be able to purchase that stuff to begin with.