Dress for Success Dress for Success

What is so important about What is so important about dress?dress?

Objective:Objective:

To understand the importance of a first To understand the importance of a first impression.impression.

To be able to describe the appropriate To be able to describe the appropriate dress for a job interview and why. dress for a job interview and why.

To be able to describe appropriate To be able to describe appropriate dress after you have been hired. dress after you have been hired. (Business dress vs. Casual dress)(Business dress vs. Casual dress)

What’s So Important about What’s So Important about DRESS?DRESS?

First impressions are First impressions are CRITICAL!CRITICAL! You are marketing a product – You are marketing a product – YOURSELF!YOURSELF! Dress is the Dress is the first thing an employer seesfirst thing an employer sees when when

greeting you!greeting you! Will dressing properly get you the job? NO, but Will dressing properly get you the job? NO, but

it will:it will: Give you a competitive edge Give you a competitive edge Provide a positive first impression!Provide a positive first impression!

The RealityThe Reality

Should you be judged by what you wear?Should you be judged by what you wear?

PERHAPS NOTPERHAPS NOT THE REALITY:THE REALITY:

You ARE judgedYou ARE judged With the job interview, it’s HOW YOU ARE With the job interview, it’s HOW YOU ARE

DRESSED that sets the tone of the interview.DRESSED that sets the tone of the interview.

How Should I Dress?How Should I Dress?

Conservative is ALWAYS the safest routeConservative is ALWAYS the safest route BUT – do some investigation of the employerBUT – do some investigation of the employer

What you wear should make you look as though you What you wear should make you look as though you FIT INFIT IN with the organization with the organization

If you overdress or under dress, the employer may If you overdress or under dress, the employer may feel that you don’t care enough about the job!feel that you don’t care enough about the job!

Ways to find out the proper dress:Ways to find out the proper dress: Call the Human Resources offices and askCall the Human Resources offices and ask Visit the company’s office and observe the attire Visit the company’s office and observe the attire

current employees are wearingcurrent employees are wearing• Make sure you are not there on a “casual day”!Make sure you are not there on a “casual day”!

Hints for Dress SuccessHints for Dress Success

Make sure you have:Make sure you have: Clean and polished conservative dress shoesClean and polished conservative dress shoes Well-groomed hairstyleWell-groomed hairstyle Cleaned and trimmed fingernailsCleaned and trimmed fingernails Minimal cologne or perfumeMinimal cologne or perfume No visible body piercings beyond conservative ear No visible body piercings beyond conservative ear

piercings for womenpiercings for women Well-brushed teeth and fresh breathWell-brushed teeth and fresh breath No gum, candy, or other objects in your mouthNo gum, candy, or other objects in your mouth Minimal jewelryMinimal jewelry No body odorNo body odor

Dress for Success- WomenDress for Success- Women Wear conservative colorsWear conservative colors

Matching blazer and skirt or pants – dark colors with light colored Matching blazer and skirt or pants – dark colors with light colored blouse – nothing low-cut blouse – nothing low-cut

OROR Dress/khaki slacks (pressed) and long-sleeve button-down shirtDress/khaki slacks (pressed) and long-sleeve button-down shirt

Skirt length should be a little below the knee and NEVER Skirt length should be a little below the knee and NEVER shorter than above the kneeshorter than above the knee

Avoid wearing tight clothingAvoid wearing tight clothing Shoes should be low-heeledShoes should be low-heeled Make-up should be minimalMake-up should be minimal

Lipstick and nail polish in conservative tonesLipstick and nail polish in conservative tones Bring a briefcase rather than a purseBring a briefcase rather than a purse

Dress for Success - MenDress for Success - Men Wear conservative colorsWear conservative colors

Conservative suit or sports coat and pressed dress/khaki Conservative suit or sports coat and pressed dress/khaki slacksslacks

White long-sleeved button-down shirtWhite long-sleeved button-down shirt Conservative silk tie (optional)Conservative silk tie (optional) Polished dress shoesPolished dress shoes Belt that matches shoesBelt that matches shoes

If you have a beard or mustache:If you have a beard or mustache: Make sure it is neatly trimmedMake sure it is neatly trimmed

If you have any visible body parts pierced or tattooed:If you have any visible body parts pierced or tattooed: Remove all piercings and cover all tattoos if possibleRemove all piercings and cover all tattoos if possible

Dressing ON THE JOBDressing ON THE JOB

Once you’ve landed the job…Once you’ve landed the job… Consult your supervisor as to what is acceptable Consult your supervisor as to what is acceptable

dress for his/her departmentdress for his/her department Ask about any “casual days” and what type of Ask about any “casual days” and what type of

dress is allowed on those daysdress is allowed on those days When in doubt, DRESS CONSERVATIVELY!When in doubt, DRESS CONSERVATIVELY!

Examples of Appropriate Attire for Women

Business Casual Attire

Business Professional Attire

Examples of Appropriate Attire for MenExamples of Appropriate Attire for Men

Business Casual Attire

Business Professional Attire

What is too casual?What is too casual?

What is Inappropriate Attire for Work?

Examples of Unprofessional and Inappropriate Attire

•Midriff baring clothing

•Miniskirts

•Excessively high heeled shoes

•Caps (headwear) indoors

•Very tight clothing

Clothing that reveals cleavage, your back, your chest, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for the workplace, even in a business casual setting.

Slacks, Pants, and Suit PantsSlacks, Pants, and Suit Pants

Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants, and nice looking wool pants, flannel pants, and nice looking dress synthetic pants dress synthetic pants are acceptableare acceptable. .

Inappropriate slacks or pantsInappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, include jeans, flannel (or other material) pajama pants, flannel (or other material) pajama pants, sweatpants, exercise pants, short shorts, sweatpants, exercise pants, short shorts, shorts, Bermuda shorts, bib overalls, leggings, shorts, Bermuda shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as bike clothing.such as bike clothing.

Which is appropriate?Which is appropriate?

A) B) C)

Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted SuitsSkirts, Dresses, and Skirted Suits Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that

are split at or below the knee are are split at or below the knee are acceptableacceptable. Dress and skirt length should . Dress and skirt length should be no shorter than four inches above the be no shorter than four inches above the knee, or a length at which you can sit knee, or a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. comfortably in public.

Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, beach dresses, and skirts, skorts, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap and strapless dresses are spaghetti-strap and strapless dresses are inappropriateinappropriate for the office. for the office.

Which is inappropriate?Which is inappropriate?A) B) C)

Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and JacketsShirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets

Casual shirts, golf shirts, dress shirts, sweaters Casual shirts, golf shirts, dress shirts, sweaters tops, company logo shirts , and turtlenecks are tops, company logo shirts , and turtlenecks are acceptable. Most suit jackets, sport jackets, or acceptable. Most suit jackets, sport jackets, or company logo Jackets are also acceptable attire company logo Jackets are also acceptable attire for the office. for the office.

Inappropriate attire includes tank tops; Inappropriate attire includes tank tops; sweatshirts; midriff tops; shirts with potentially sweatshirts; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; and t-shirts unless worn under shoulders; and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or jumper. another blouse, shirt, jacket, or jumper.

Which is appropriate?Which is appropriate?A) B) C)

D) E)

F)

Shoes and FootwearShoes and Footwear Loafers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather Loafers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather

deck shoes deck shoes are acceptableare acceptable. Wearing no . Wearing no stockings is acceptable if the look is appropriate stockings is acceptable if the look is appropriate to the outfit. to the outfit.

Conservative athletic shoes and sneakers may Conservative athletic shoes and sneakers may be appropriate for some job functions (i.e., be appropriate for some job functions (i.e., umpiring recreational activities) or for health umpiring recreational activities) or for health reasons, but are generally inappropriate.reasons, but are generally inappropriate.

Flashy athletic shoes, thongs/flip-flops, and Flashy athletic shoes, thongs/flip-flops, and slippers are slippers are not acceptablenot acceptable in the office. in the office.

Closed toe and closed heel shoes Closed toe and closed heel shoes are requiredare required in the vocational and recreation areas of in the vocational and recreation areas of facilities.facilities.

Which is inappropriate?Which is inappropriate?

A)

C)

B)

Which is appropriate?Which is appropriate?

A)

C)

B)

D)

SNEAKERS:SNEAKERS: What is appropriate What is appropriate (for those (for those authorized by duty/assignment to wear athletic shoes)authorized by duty/assignment to wear athletic shoes)

Appropriate, conservative athletic shoeAppropriate, conservative athletic shoe

Inappropriate, flashy athletic shoeInappropriate, flashy athletic shoe

Jewelry, Makeup, Perfume, and Jewelry, Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne: Cologne: Should be in good taste, Should be in good taste, with no visible body piercing other than with no visible body piercing other than pierced ears.pierced ears.

Fingernail Length: Fingernail Length: fingernail length fingernail length should not interfere with the should not interfere with the effectiveness and efficiency of your job effectiveness and efficiency of your job performance. Nails should be well performance. Nails should be well maintained with polish or natural color.maintained with polish or natural color.

Hats and Head Covering: Hats and Head Covering: Hats Hats and caps are not appropriate in the and caps are not appropriate in the office. Head Covers that are required office. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.cultural tradition are allowed.

There is a time and a place for all attire. Clothing that works well for the beach, yard work, dance clubs, trips to the mall, exercise sessions, and sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional appearance at work.

Violations of Dress CodeViolations of Dress Code

If an employee’s supervisor determines that an If an employee’s supervisor determines that an employee’s clothing fails to meet these employee’s clothing fails to meet these standards, the supervisor shall ask the standards, the supervisor shall ask the employee not to wear the inappropriate item to employee not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. The supervisor may send the work again. The supervisor may send the employee home to change clothes and shall employee home to change clothes and shall issue a verbal warning for the first offense. All issue a verbal warning for the first offense. All other policies about personal time use will apply. other policies about personal time use will apply. Progressive disciplinary action will be taken for Progressive disciplinary action will be taken for further dress code violations including further dress code violations including termination.termination.