· Belts. Wear a dark belt preferably black or conservative in style. It should have a clean functional buckle.

Women: Suggested Dress Code

· Suits. Lean toward the conservative side with skirted suits that are dark navy or gray. A power suit is a skirted suit, not a pant suit. Colors like brown, dark plum, dark green, camel or beige are also feasible. We encourage you to dress for the position and know the employer. Fashion, advertising and the arts often allow more creativity than more traditional careers such as finance, law and accounting which favor conformity. The hierarchy of conservative dress goes: dark suit, lighter suit, dress with dark jacket, and mixed color skirt and blazer. Project a professional image; even during “dress down” days you should still look professional. When selecting a suit, check your image in the mirror sitting down as well as standing up. Hose should be business sheer, in a conservative shade that matches your suit and shoes; no textures or patterns and never wear white hose with a dark suit. It's a good idea to have several extra pairs on hand, since hose tend to run frequently.

 

· Shoes. Shoes should be conservative; low to medium heels are best. Keep shoes cleaned and polished.

· Accessories. Make-up should enhance your appearance. Avoid wearing any clothing, accessories or jewelry that might distract or draw attention to yourself rather than reinforcing your look as a professional. Purses/bags should coordinate with your suit. Pare down to the essentials. Don't carry a purse and a bag/briefcase. Use one or carry a portfolio and a purse. If you wear nail polish, make sure it's a subtle color and neatly done. Hair should be freshly cleaned and neatly styled. Long hair should be worn as conservatively as possible. Earrings should look conservative.

Dress For Success For Both Men & Women

If you dress formally, you may feel more comfortable and prepared for an important interview. Rumpled and wrinkled clothing is out. Shoes should be polished, not scuffed, and coordinated with your outfit. Fly-away hair or bizarre haircuts are out; make sure hair is neat and well groomed. Avoid wearing cologne or perfume. Also, for men if you wear an earring, remove it before the meeting. Your hands and nails should be clean and trimmed. After you secure the job, you can dress less conservatively. For example, if you are applying for a teaching position, few will expect you to wear a formal suit each day on the job. If you have doubts about what you are considering wearing, then don't wear it. Err on the side of conservatism.

Dress not for where you are but for where you want to be. An interview isn't a beauty contest, but how you dress and your overall appearance almost always get noticed by the interviewer. Don't give the interviewer a chance to rule you out because you didn't feel like ironing your shirt or polishing your shoes. Dress in a business-like professional manner, and you will be sure to fit in wherever you interview. References: Dress for Excellence by L. Fenton; Dress for Success by J. T. Molloy; Dress for Success for Women by J. T. Molloy.

Business Casual

At last count, over 70 percent of American firms allowed some form of casual attire at least once a week, including GE and IBM. Many students will have a chance to work in situations where the dress code is more relaxed. The term “business casual” are subject to multiple interpretations depending on the environment. “Business or workplace casual” means charcoal pants and a white oxford button down shirt and a quality pair of casual shoes for men. A banded-collar shirt is another good staple that goes well with blazers and vests. Another option is a denim shirt with a sporty tie. Choose your casual attire carefully, and use your common sense when dressing for work; looking neat should be a priority. Avoid t-shirts, baseball caps, sunglasses, and don't wear sneakers unless it is the norm. Sneakers no matter how clean and new are

 

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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