Ms Success

Job interviews can be stressful and frightening. Aside from the pressure of selling your skills and experience to your potential employer, it is difficult to find the right attire and accessories to wear to a job interview.

 Interviews are the ultimate first impression that you leave in the employer’s mind. The employer will judge how you carry yourself along with your overall look. It is crucial to dress professionally to a job interview in order to guarantee a position in the organization that you desire to work at.

A professional interview setting will look for a professional attire. A suit or skirt suits are good choices for this type of an interview. Pair it with a white collared buttoned shirt and neutral coloured heels. Limit the use of perfume or cologne, and make sure to minimize the use of make-up; do not overdo it. It is important to research the organization’s dress code to find out the right attire for the interview.

 If the organization’s dress code is casual, the suit will be substituted with a dress pants and buttoned shirt for men. It is the interviewee’s personal preference whether to add a tie or not. For women, a dress pants or a pencil skirt paired with a sweater or a cardigan are the best options for a casual interview (Doyle, 2017).

 Being interviewed is daunting, confidence is important in this situation. I suggest practicing the day before the interview, and researching the organization’s history, what they do, and the services they offer.

Many of the organizations and corporations in today’s world have dress codes as mentioned in a previous post. There have been speculations over the productivity depending on how the employee is dressing up at the workplace. Whether you are sealing a deal, going for an interview, or taking calls as a receptionist, the way you dress matters and it effects how your boss,co-workers, and/or clients perceive you.

 According to Ray Smith, “using a number of measures, including simulated business meetings at which subjects wore formal and more casual clothing, the studies offer indications that wearing nicer clothes may raise one’s confidence level, affect how others perceive the wearer, and in some cases even boost the level of one’s abstract thinking, the type in which leaders and executives engage” (Smith, 2016)

 In my personal opinion, wearing the right attire to work affects the psychological state and physical appearance of employees. A suit or a skirt suit could give employees the confidence boost in their work and decisions. The confidence can make employees feel powerful and focus on their critical tasks. “Confidence can make a marked difference in how you hold yourself and present yourself in front of others” (Jarrow, 2013)

 People are usually drawn to work with others who look professional; it shows their committed and driven nature. It gives the person you are dealing with a sense of trust and ease that you are capable of taking on a complicated task. Dressing professionally at the workplace shows your organization and the effort put in the preparations to look clean and presentable at the workplace.

Every organization or corporation is different in terms of its services and products, and dress code. Businesses often prefer to set a dress code for their employees. Some dress codes are flexible and self-expressive, and the others are strict and professional. Asking Human Resources about the official dress code is clever, if it is unclear. There are different dress codes, which includes:

Business Formal. This dress code is the highest level of professionalism. If you work at a Law firm, or you meet with clients and employees of higher level, this dress code is for you.

·         Women: Wear a pantsuit or skirt suit in a neutral colour with a white collared, buttoned shirt. Pair the suit with a closed toe shoes in a neutral colour. Preferably, minimize accessories. Hair should be well groomed, and nails painted in a neutral colour.

·         Men: Wear a one to three button suit in a neutral colour with a plain tie or a patterned tie in neutral colour. Pair the suit with a white collared, buttoned shirt and closed shoes in a neutral colour. Hair and nails should be cut short.

Business Casual. This dress code is the most common, which allows employees to add their own personality to their clothes without looking unprofessional.

·         Women: Instead of a full pant or skirt suit, women are allowed to wear a skirt or pant with a blouse or a cardigan. Avoid low-cut shirts or bright colours. Accessories and jewellery are allowed, paired with closed toe flats or pumps.

·         Men: Coloured buttoned shirt worn with or without a tie. Pullovers could be worn over the buttoned shirt. Any dressy shoes can be worn and longer hair is more acceptable.

Casual. Avoid being too casual or creative with your clothes choice if you work for a business with a casual dress code.

·         Women: Blouses, shirts are permitted. Skirts should be at knee length. If HR permits denim, wear dark wash denim only. Open toe shoes is acceptable, but avoid flip flops. All types of accessories are allowed.

·         Men: Denim in dark wash, and straight cut is acceptable, paired with clean sneakers or loafers. Colored polos, or crew neck shirts are acceptable.

Tattoos are common in today’s world. Many people are following the trend of expressing their views through the art of tattoos. Since tattoos have increased in popularity, they have become a controversial topic in the business world. Tattoos are commonly mistaken to be associated with gangs or criminals. Therefore, employers prefer not to hire employees with tattoos who will be dealing directly with clients. The question is, is it appropriate to have your tattoos on display in the workplace? Could it be offensive to clients?

In my opinion, the majority of organizations and corporations have a dress code. Suits are very common for female and male workers; therefore, tattoos are not on display for clients to see. Employers often believe that tattoos will give clients the wrong impression of their company/organization. I believe that the job is about the person who does it, and how much effort they give their clients. The productivity of the company and its growth rely on the individual’s work ethic and determination. The quality of service and products the company offers should be the focus of the company, not about the tattoo the employee has and the message it portrays.

We live in a multicultural country that prides itself in freedom of expression and speech. Expressing your views freely, whether they are political or religious should not be denied by the employers. However, I believe that tattoos should not be shown to clients on the first meeting to avoid bias. Following the meeting and the sharing of business opinions, it is passable to share personal views, i.e. tattoos.

To read more about the topic, click on the following link

As we all know, appearing professional at the workplace is a must. It helps you make a strong statement and gives you a boost of confidence. There is more to professionalism than the way you carry yourself. Professionalism consists of being knowledgeable of what clothes fits you best, and how to pay attention to the little details. I would like to give you tips to help you look as professional as you can at your new job or for an interview with a potential employer.

1.      Know your organization: Get to know the dress code the corporate you are working for follows. Business formal, business professional, business casual, or casual?

2.      Organize your closet: Divide your closet in half. Part for your workplace clothes and the other for weekends and social gathering.

3.      Be appropriate: Make sure you are dressing appropriately for the workplace. For example, females should not show cleavage or overly show skin.

4.      Shop Strategically: Know what you have in your closet and shop based on your needs.

5.      Shop your age: Do not wear clothes that makes you look older than you actually are, or younger than your actual age.

6.      Make-up, perfume/cologne: Make sure you are not wearing too much make-up. It could distract your clients, especially on summer days where your make-up could melt. Take into consideration that some people might be sensitive to strong scents, therefore, be do not apply perfume/cologne excessively.

7.      Details matter: You could be wearing the simplest outfit, but if you add a belt, or a pop of colour, it could bring your outfit to life.