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Dress For Success What to Wear to Work

Dress For Success Who – Host, Organization What – Interview, Career Fair, Typical Work Day Where – Location, Region You must know the type of event, where it will be held, what types of organizations will be there and dress appropriately for the situation.

Dress For Success Who – Host, Organization Who is hosting the event CEO or Board Members HR, Recruiters Department Manager Director of Research Type or organization Fortune 500 or a Startup Industry General rule: The higher ranking of the host, the more formal you should be dressed. Startups tend to be less formal and more creative. This is not true of hedge fund startups, however. Do your research. Know the organization(s).

Dress For Success What – Interview, Job Fair, Typical Work Day Professional attire Usually dress a level up from a typical workday at that organization Career Fair Clothing choices should work for multiple industries or organizations Typical Work Day Professional attire with some flexibility Organization and industry specific Under no circumstances is it ok to wear ripped or torn jeans, short shorts, flip flops, t shirts advertising sex or beer., etc. If your grandmother would not approve, it is probably not ok for work related events.

Dress For Success Where – Location, Region Location Region Office Conference Restaurant Region West Coast Midwest East Coast Some events or locations require more or less formal attire. If you are unsure, ask HR staff or conference organizers. West Coast based organizations and sites tend to be less formal.

Dress for Success What to do before the event Research and select appropriate attire Organizational culture Industry Personality and Comfort Plan ahead Clean and Pressed Tailored If all else fails and the organization is local, sit outside as people come and go (start and end of day and/or lunchtime) to see what the employees actually wear to work. No matter what the organization’s dress code, your clothes should fit.

Dress For Success Research the organization and industry Online Colleagues Personal Network Friends Family Professional Network LinkedIn Professional Associations Don’t be afraid to ask.

Dress for Success What to do before the event Plan ahead Clean and Pressed Tailored Proper tailoring often takes at least one week lead time A well tailored, inexpensive suit looks much better than an expensive, poorly fitting one. Cost savings Plan ahead and purchase professional clothing on sale Note about pants: Do not go to an interview or professional event with pants dragging on the floor. Do not go to an interview looking like you’re expecting a flood. Straight leg professional suit pants should fall somewhere between ½ inch and one inch off the floor. Pant hems should not touch the floor. They should not be high enough to see the top of your shoe or your ankles as you walk. Yes ladies, this means you should have a business suit with pants tailored for flats and another with pants tailored for mid height heels. Many women buy one jacket with 2 pair of pants and tailor accordingly. Gentlemen, consider yourselves lucky. If your professional shoes are similar, you should be able to tailor all pants to the same length and mix and match appropriate shoes with any suit.

Dress For Success Select Appropriate Attire Interview – Traditional Corporate Business Professional Attire ONLY Typically very conservative Black, Charcoal Gray, or Navy Suits Polished shoes, usually black Socks should be the same color as your slacks Belt should match shoes Different interviewers have different pet peeves about attire. Old school traditionalists insist your socks match your slacks and NOT your shoes. So if you are wearing a navy suit with black shoes, your socks should be navy. Shoes do not need to be polished to a mirror shine but they should be clean and free of scuff marks. Ladies, shoes should not have excessively worn heels. If you have a pair of shoes you love (in good condition) and the heels are becoming worn, take them to a cobbler. It is easy (and relatively inexpensive) to add a new bit of rubber or leather to the heel of your shoes.

Dress For Success How to Tie a Tie http://www.tie-a-tie.net/ Button Rules for Jackets (Top to Bottom, When Standing) Three Button Jacket Sometimes, Always, Never Two Button Jacket Always, Never Practice tying a tie before the day of an event or interview so you are not rushed or flustered that day. Some of your coat/jacket buttons should be buttoned when standing up. The rules here will help you to remember which buttons to close upon standing. As for jackets, watch Jerry Rice when he stands up (on sports shows, commercials, etc). He follows the button rule (and always looks great).

Dress For Success Shoe Rules for Ladies Heels should be 3 inches or shorter No stilettos No sandals or open toed shoes in conservative offices Hosiery is a must in conservative offices Hosiery should be an appropriate color. Black, navy, or nude tend to work well. If wearing pants, the sock rule applies the same as it does for men. Socks should match your pants and not your shoes.

Dress For Success No Cleavage No Mini Skirts Skirts should be no shorter than one inch above the knee No cleavage (front or back). EVER! Bra straps and Spanx should not be visible from any angle. You should be able to walk, climb stairs, and sit comfortably in a skirt or dress without showing too much. Knee length tends to work best for any professional situation.

Dress For Success Select Appropriate Attire Interview – Corporate (Relatively Casual) Office Business Professional Attire Often best to err on conservative side and dress more traditionally However, some firms (such as Amazon) specifically state that suits don’t impress them Then….. If an organization specifically says they’re not fond of suits, don’t wear one. Show you pay attention and follow directions. You must still dress professionally however. No suits does not mean it is ok to show up in torn jeans and flip flops with sunglasses on your head.

Dress For Success Select Appropriate Attire Interview – Creative Corporate More flexibility with color and style Must still look professional No flip flops, tennis shoes Don’t show too much skin Whatever you wear, you need to convey professionalism and a sense of creative style that fits within the industry or organization.

Dress For Success Select Appropriate Attire Career Fair Business Professional Attire Err on the side of caution Because career fairs have many employers with different dress codes, dress as professionally (and formally) as you can. Less formal organizations understand in this type of situation.

Dress For Success More about professional appearance Bags Handbags Black, Brown, Oxblood Tote or Briefcase or Folio Handbags Should be small to medium in size Neutral color Ladies – Carry one tote or briefcase that holds everything OR Carry a handbag and folio. Do NOT carry a briefcase/tote AND a handbag. Whatever type of bag, briefcase, or folio you choose, keep it clean, neat, and well organized. You don’t want to open a folio and have a stack of papers, cards, pens, etc falling out all over the place. Attention to detail matters.

Dress For Success More about professional appearance Hair and Nails Hair should be clean and well groomed Facial hair must be neat and well kempt Nails should be clean and buffed (short to medium) Polish is not required for ladies but if used, it should be neutral in color (pale pink, beige)

Dress For Success More about professional appearance Makeup Natural, Minimal Neutral The job interview is not the place for trendy makeup

Dress For Success More about professional appearance Scent Antiperspirant and/or Deodorant – Yes Fragrance – No Some folks are extremely sensitive to scents Fresh breath Use mints, not gum There is nothing worse than being in an interview with someone with poor hygiene. Perfume/cologne/aftershave does not make you more attractive to the interviewer and if they are sensitive, allergic, or just don’t like the same scents you do, it can be a difficult barrier to overcome. Interviewers are looking for qualified folks who fit with the organization. No one wants to hire someone with horrible breath, smell like they haven’t showered in days, or wears fragrance that gives others a headache.

Dress For Success More about professional appearance Jewelry Men Watch Wedding band (if married)

Dress For Success More about professional appearance Jewelry Women Watch Wedding band (if married) One set small stud earrings One necklace

Dress For Success More about professional appearance Body Art In general, tattoos should not be visible Never have visible tattoos in very conservative firms and/or healthcare No piercings except one stud earring in each ear for women only

Dress For Success More about professional appearance Industry Quirks Do your research Know if certain colors or clothing items are taboo Research the industry you’re interested in. Know the quirks. Many folks in healthcare who are around patient care areas no longer wear ties (shown to spread disease from one patient to another in hospital settings). In aero, solid red ties are for pilots only. If going for that industry and you’re not a pilot, don’t wear a solid red tie (consider another color entirely).

Dress For Success Cultural Considerations and Appearance Head gear and other items worn for religious reasons are acceptable Long hair is generally not recommended for men Men with long hair for religious or cultural reasons should pull hair neatly back when interviewing

Dress For Success Resources ASU Fulton Engineering Career Center Dress for Success Workshops http://more.engineering.asu.edu/career/

Fulton Engineering Career Center For More Information Connect with Fulton Engineering Career Center Phone: (480) 965-2966 Email: engineering.careers@asu.edu Website:  http://engineering.asu.edu/career Sun Devil CareerLink: MyASU>Campus Services>Jobs & Careers>Sun Devil CareerLink Facebook:  Engineering Career Center Arizona State University