Dress for Success: Does It Matter Today? Soft Skills Objective: Students will be able to develop a visual representing appropriate dress and grooming.

Dress for Success: Introduction Mt. Everest Climb Beijing Olympics (2008) Swim How do we really define success? Does it depend on personal priorities? –Sports and adventure –Professional success –Healthy life –Financial rewards –Property owned –Big car, big house –Family –Spiritual Does it change over our lifespan?

Dress for Success: Does it Matter Today? Is there any dress code at all? –Interview –Business meetings –Presentations –Every day work situations We all want to be successful! Dress the part!

Dress for Success: Are there any Rules? Dress - Style - Fashion Occasion Appropriate Grooming and Hygiene Age & Personal Preference Michelle & Hilary 1993

video link- prepare for work Preparing for Work Appropriate grooming and dress is important when you want: –To get a new job, or –To be successful in a job How long should it take for you to get ready for work? What is appropriate for work?

Is “Professional Attire” Always Required? Various environments require different attire How would your dress change for these job interview? –For a entry level retail store –For a summer job as a lifeguard –For a job as a teacher –For a landscaping job –For a internet job, working from home –For a executive position at Citibank –For an office position at Allstate –For a auto mechanic position

8 Dress for Success Current environment (economic crisis) - be conservative Suit: skirt or pants? Or maybe dress? First impression critical –What you wear depends on employer –Style & creativity –Shoes matter

Six Occasions for Wearing a Jacket 1.Meeting a client for the first time 2.Formal presentations 3.Formal meetings 4.Interviews 5.Unannounced official visits happen 6.Appearing in court

June 7, 2009The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM) Workshop 10 Formal Professional Attire: Fashionable Examples

Casual, Fashionable, & Appropriate Dress Gentlemen Ladies video link- appropriate video link -retail store

Informal Work Environment Does anything go? Why is it still important to dress carefully?

13 What About a Dress or a Sweater? When can women wear them? Social functions Less formal workplace, everyday Conferences when not presenting, but preferably with a jacket Some formal occasions (dependent on the design or with a jacket)

June 7, 2009The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM) Workshop 14 More Informal Professional Attire

Transition from Student to Professional There is a step function change from a student to a professional employee No shorts No cut-out jeans No flip-flops No graphic art t-shirts No bare midriff, etc. Really critical when you start You want to be taken seriously as a professional in the office

What NOT to Wear Ladies – Heavy makeup – See through clothing – Exposed undergarments – Tight clothing – Revealing neckline, midriff, thighs – Inappropriate, jewelry Gentlemen – Revealing shirts – Too tight clothing – Too much jewelry Both genders – Too tight clothing – Wrinkled clothing – Too much jewelry – Exposed tattoos & body piercings – Clothing with graphics – Hats, headwear – Strong scents (cologne, perfume)

Inappropriate Dress What is inappropriate dress at the workplace? video link - inappropriate dress

Personal Hygiene video link- personal hygiene

Personal Hygiene Do Clean nails Don’t

Review Your appearance should always be appropriate to the job and the situation

Modified for use by Hickory Ridge High School Credit given for ideas by Dress for Success: Does It Matter Today? Maria A Stuchly Professor Emeritus University of Victoria, Canada