“Oh, You Fancy Huh?” Why Are We No Longer Dressing Up?

4) Work/ Job Interviews/ Career Fairs

Depending on where you work and if you have a choice about what you wear, work can be a place to play with your individuality.  Just because you work a 9-5, doesn’t mean you always have to look like you do. First, you have to snag the position.  As a rule, whether you’re interviewing for a cashier or accountant position, you want to be taken seriously.  You only get one chance to make a first impression. Putting the extra effort into the hiring process sends the message that you will do the same for the position.  Investigate the organization for which you are interviewing and its dress code.  Suits are safe and convey professionalism, a trait that all positions require.

Once you snag the position the rules may be a bit more relaxed.  I had a friend who interviewed for an intern position at Vibe magazine.  The interviewers snickered about his very formal suit at first, but hired him and advised him it was okay to regularly dress casually.  Unsure about the dress code?  Just ask.  Hiring managers typically encourage questions during the interview process and this is a great one to ask.

For both men and women, less is more.  This also applies to fragrance; your Calvin Klein shouldn’t arrive in the cubicle before you do.  Keep accessories to a minimum and hair and makeup neat at all times.  In the corporate world, cornrows are usually a no-go, but this all depends on the tone of the company.  In these economic times, it’s understandable to not be picky about where your paycheck comes from, but if you do have a choice, choose a company whose culture doesn’t conflict with your own.  This will allow you room for creativity.