There are many people who don't argue with this and who want to dress correctly for the jobs they seek is to impress superiors in the jobs they currently hold. They find it impossible, however, to choose clothing that meets that goal. For example, a man might go to a clothing store, see a suit that is "dark," and, without carefully examining the material or style, buy it. When he wears it at work, will he notice that it may be made from cheap material, have strange-looking dark lines through it, and further embellished with gold threads? For the same money, that man could have bought a basic gray or blue it that, while not representing. Savile Row, is appreciate for the day's business.
One thing to keep in mind when buying a suit for business, especially if your wardrobe is limited, is to choose fabrics that are wrinkle-resistant. You certainly don't want to drive an hour to an interview and arrive wearing a suit that looks as if you slept in it. When determining whether a suit is sufficiently resistant to wrinkling, crumb the sleeve with your hand. If it doesn't snap back pretty much to its original shape, don't buy it.
I always advocate that when writing a resume, people who are unsure about their grammatical and spelling alls seek the advice of someone who is comfortable with those things. Evidently, most people don't bother, because I receive thousands of resumes a year that confirm this. The same principle holds true when choosing clothing for business. Acknowledge that you do not have a good eye for it, and seek the advice and active help of someone who does. There's nothing embarrassing about that. If you have a friend or family member who is obviously successful in the mainstream of American business, and who seems to dress properly for it, ask that person to go with you when you shop. It isn't necessary to o to a high-priced clothing store. We are a nation of factory outlets; these places offer a wide selection of clothing with low prices, and with someone accompanying you who understand the way you should look, you can walk away without breaking your budget, and with the kind of clothing that is always appropriate.
Don't trust a salesperson to give you the proper advice. By the same token, don't rely only on your spouse to elect your apparel, unless he or she has a proven track record in choosing the right clothes for business.
Take the time and interest to evaluate your wardrobe on a continuing basis, just as you would your investments. Your closet contains an important investment. What's in it will determine, to a significant extent, hi well you do throughout your career. Keep your clothes good order, especially if you have few of them. Keep track of what you wear each day and what shirt and tie you wear with a given suit, or scarf with a dress. Be always the lookout for sales through which you can replenish items in your wardrobe that have seen better days. As I've often said, looking for a job is a job, and everything that contributes to it should receive your serious attention.
No matter what you choose to wear in the way suits, shirts, ties, and dresses, it is inexcusable for anyone seeking greater success in business to be unkempt, and allow his or her clothing to be less than neat and clean.
What image is presented by a job seeker who com to an interview with shoes that are scuffed? Obviously, keeping shoes shined does not take money, aside from the cost of a can of polish and a brush. Those of us in the personnel services industry see it every day, ties with stains on them, frayed collars, impressed suits, socks that fall down around the ankle bone, dresses that no long fit, dirty fingernails, smeared lipstick, body odor, hair the same position it was when the alarm clock went off-all giving the distinct message that these individuals do not care enough about the jobs they're seeking to con into the interview neatly groomed and properly dressed.
If you're the sort of person who cannot abide the conformity I'm suggesting here, think of it this way: if you' dressed inappropriately, and have not paid particular attention to your grooming and hygiene, you create a situation in which you must be uncomfortable. Remember any comment about public speakers who have a button dangling or a spot on their shirt or blouse? You owe it to yourself only to be dressed in a manner that is appropriate to the company and position you're seeking, but to give yourself advantage of at least knowing that the way you look is perfect. If you know that, you are then free to express your ideas, to sell yourself based upon your credentials, expense, and knowledge-to present to the interviewer that we treasure in this society.
If you have unruly hair, take the time and spend the money with a barber or hairdresser who knows how to keep it.
Get some expert advice on what hairstyle is most suitable to you. Don't trust your own judgment; most of us have trouble seeing the real us in a mirror.
If there is some obvious and distracting feature, consider plastic surgery. I'm a person who believes that most plastic surgery is frivolous and only feeds an overly frightened vanity of the recipient. On the other hand, if it is part of you that genuinely gets in the way of your looking confident, there is nothing wrong with seeking the services of a competent plastic surgeon who can correct that you perceive as a defect. That same defect may say nothing to someone else. If it hangs you up, seek a solution. As I've often said, this is not a dress rehearsal for your life. This is the only life you've been given.
Looking right-dressing right-says one thing about each of us. It says we take pride in who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. To a prospective employer, the communication of that pride means a great sale. A person exhibiting concern about outward appearance is likely to be perceived as having the same concern with the jobs he or she is called upon to perform. If I have taken the time and paid attention to how I present myself at prospective employer, it may be assumed that I will pay the same attention to how I look when I am to meet with an important client.
People seeking better employment in their own fir or with another, must be prepared to look their best at times, even at the end of a long day.
If your days are full with a succession of interviews consider carrying a "survival kit." You may want to convert part of your attaché case into an overnight bag. Include in it a comb, brush, nail file, razor, make-up, mouthwash, some small paper cups, after-shave lotion mild perfume, deodorant, a few wash-and-wipes, perhaps a washcloth, some disposable shoeshine polish, a tool brush, toothpaste, and anything else that will help y spruce up when it comes time for an important interview. Get to the interview early and use the rest room for freshening up.
Check the weather forecast before you leave the house in the morning. If there's a possibility of rain, take a lightweight raincoat that fits into your attaché case and/or a small folding umbrella. That may seem axiomatic, but all you have to do is look around on a busy city street on a rainy day to see how many people don't prepare for the weather. There's nothing worse than running into an interview wearing a drenched suit and apologizing for the water you're dripping on the floor. If nothing else, it indicates that you're not someone who plays ahead.
If you're the type who insists upon doing your own thing, do it. But do it on your own time, or be ready to accept the negative consequence in the business world.
Years ago, someone related to me a story that hi great meaning to that person; the story makes a useful point here.
This person was driving along in a car on which he was having trouble making payments. He'd come from a long day at the office. It was hot; he couldn't wait to get out of his suit, which he wore only because it was an inappropriate suit for the business he was in.
He saw a hitchhiker in the distance. He drew closer; he saw that the hitchhiker was a young man with very long hair, who obviously carried on his back all of his sessions. The man in the car had an immediate reaction: "He's got the right idea. He's a free spirit."
Then, as the driver passed the hitchhiker, he glanced the rear-view mirror and saw the hitchhiker make a scene gesture because he hadn't been picked up.
The moral to the driver was clear. The young man is saying, "Let me do my own thing, in my own way, it give me a ride."
We can't have it all ways. Getting a better job in this world, crazy or not, involves analyzing what's expected of us, both in performance and in the way we dress and present ourselves. If you really want a better job, do same as the Romans do during the period of time in which you're employed, and invent your creative styles of dress or lifestyle on your own time.
A final note on dress for business. According to John Olloy, who wrote the definitive book on the subject, dress for Success, never wear a green suit. I'm not sure why this is so, but his advice has always been worth listening to.
Reminders on Appearance
First impressions are based upon the way you look.
Learn how to dress properly. Don't leave it to chance.
Your business is you. Invest in yourself. Look right.
Be "your own person" on your own time when comes to fashion.
Dressing right doesn't mean a big wardrobe, I choose carefully.
Stick to basics. Lean toward the conservative side.
Avoid excessive jewelry and makeup.
Skip the fashion fads.
Take the advice of friends who know what prop business fashion is.
Keep all clothing clean and pressed.
Create a small kit of personal items and include it in your briefcase when going for job interviews.
