This short article will not cover the specifics of appropriate workplace attire, but it will give broad guidelines regarding the best way to dress for the workplace.
To obtain jobs, to keep them, and to be promoted, employees must dress appropriately for the workplace during their entire career. The manner in which individuals dressed during their school years, for example, is not the manner in which they should dress when they enter the world of work. The manner in which entry level employees dress usually is not the manner in which they should dress if they are promoted to managerial level positions.
Different careers require different types of attire. Sales representatives, for example, have extensive contact with the public. Since companies want to present a good image to their customers, their sales representatives must dress more formally than, for example, clerks who have no contact with the public and little contact with coworkers. As another example, musicians will dress more informally than bank loan officers.
Many companies have dress codes that employees should follow. Employees should not only follow these dress codes, but also they should make sure that their clothing is clean and wrinkle free. Also, those individuals who are in good physical shape usually can more easily find clothing that fits them well.
Those who are interviewing for jobs should attempt to determine how employees in that company are attired at work, as well as how employees with similar jobs are attired. Internet research on the company sometimes can yield pictures that will give this information. Then, the interviewees should dress slightly above that level of attire.
Those who are interviewing for blue collar jobs obviously cannot wear, to the interviews, the uniforms that employees with that company often are wearing. Usually, however, such blue collar interviewees can wear less formal attire to blue collar job interviews. A person who is interviewing for a job such as a mechanic, for example, would not wear a three piece suit to this interview. This does not mean, however, that a recent school graduate should wear flip flops, bermuda shorts, and a tank top shirt to such an interview.
Seniors who do not want to suffer from age discrimination would do well to make sure that their clothing is not out of fashion. Such clothing can reinforce the negative stereotypes that interviewers and managers might have about seniors.
First impressions are especially important during brief events such as informational interviews and networking. Because these first impressions are so important in these brief events, dressing appropriately is critical.
How do you decide upon your workplace attire? Please comment below.
