Dress for Success Women (2)

7/28/2019 Dress for Success Women (2)

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Dress For Te Job You Want


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Copyright 2011 Brie cases Direct LLC

Website: www.Brie casesDirect.com/success

Email: book@brie casesdirect.com

Layout by: Creative Chaos

All rights reserved.

United States o America


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able o ContentsChapter 1: Introduction 5

Chapter 2: Business Suit 9

Chapter 3: Blouse 21

Chapter 4: Hosiery 29

Chapter 5: Accessories 33

Chapter 6: Shoes, Hair and Makeup 37

Chapter 7: Business Casual 43


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Chapter 1

People make up their minds about an individuals talents andabilities in the frst 30 seconds o an interaction. Tat interactionmay have not even begun to be verbal be ore that 30 seconds iscompleted, hence, the frst and lasting impression that you make will be defned by your appearance, demeanor and body language

all elements o interviews and interactions that are largely ig-nored.

It is tempting to believe, or example, that this is not true, re-quently we heard while interviewing job candidates that attire wasnot critical to the job interview process. Here are some exampleso eedback:

I dont need to dress up or this job interview, it is a so twarecompany so no one cares

My role is not customer acing so I doubt dressing well wouldhave much impact on my interview

Introduction


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Dress For Te Job You Want 6

I doubt a ashy accessory says anything about my skills and abili-ties

Un ortunately, this simply is not true, in act, quite the opposite:even or very technical roles dressing well or an interview can giveyou one leg up on the competition. Re ect on the last time youmade a high end purchase or at least looked at an expensive item would you buy a luxury item, even i it were branded, rom a drablooking store. Something just wouldnt ft, how could something o quality be associated with plain surroundings.

For better or worse, people are wired up to take in visual imagesand match them against expectations, in this case, you want yourimage to create the expectation o job success, not just or the jobyou are applying or but also or uture roles with your prospectiveemployer. Tat is a critical subtlety o ten lost on job seekers they o ten pick their outfts based on company dress policy or their

unction. Te best companies expect to hire uture leaders, even i it is in the call center, and you need to look the part to di erenti-

ate yoursel .Even companies that pride themselves on selling very technicalproducts or cerebral consulting companies have clients and willexpect their hires to make outstanding impressions, a ter all, they have no product outside o their people. It is these people that willdrive the next round o growth o their companies.

Another mistake made by job candidates is under-investing intheir attire. I cant spend $1,000 on a suit, is a common andvalid point. But, that is not an excuse. I unds are tight, shopping at a discount store or a suit is very easible and making a $400investment in a suit that will help you earn more than a hundred


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Chapter 1: Introduction

times that amount every year is a no brainer. I cost is still an issue,you can borrow items rom riends or amily.

Frustratingly, even MBAs with potential starting salaries in the six-fgures sometimes under-invest; or these candidates dressing wellis even more critical and the di erence between a great job and a mediocre job is easily $20K per year and even more importantly places you on a completely di erent career trajectory. A great frst job will defne your career working at the right companies willset up your career or the rest o your li e, even i you leave a tera year to work in industry, the brand stays with you. So take ad-

vantage o the opportunity you have when interviewing and makeyour best impression.


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Chapter 2

he interview you have in a ew days time is very important - itcould mean a complete turn-around to your li e. You so badly want to create the very best impression to secure the job. Teproblem is, you really dont know what to wear to the interview to create this great impression that you crave so badly. It is highly

unlikely that you are the only person being interviewed or thatparticular job, so you want to make every e ort to have one upon all other applicants, by dressing appropriately. So what do you wear to set you up or success?

Te answer depends on what type o job you are going or, and what type o dress code the company is looking or in your inter-view. For instance, i the job you are interviewing or is in bank-

ing or consulting, say, then leaning toward the more traditional,conservative, style o dressing. On the other hand, work attire isusually a lot more contemporary in advertising, the arts, entertain-ment, and ashion, where what you wear is almost part o yourport olio and is expected to express more personality.

Business Suit


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Te sa est thing to do i you have any doubts is to dress up andnot down, by wearing a two-piece matched suit. However, doremember that it is your skills and experience that should be the

ocus o your interview, and not what youre wearing. I part o your interview process requires you to attend an evening event ordinner, then business dress is your best bet, unless the invitationspecifes otherwise.

Unless the job you are interviewing or is ashion related, thenavoid obvious trendy ashion clothes. It IS very possible to achievethe elegant, pro essional look without having brand name labels

where everyone can see them. I you stick to the guidelines in thisbook, you WILL achieve the look you are going or, no matter what your age. It will there ore not be necessary or you to try tolook younger or older than you are - the outft works!

Te most common question I get rom young women going toan interview is whether to wear pants or a skirt. When I startedmy career the answer was clearly skirt, but I think the balance has

shi ted over time and now both are good choices.I you are in doubt as to whether to opt or pants or a skirt in yourinterview, spend some time taking notes on what other womenin the industry are wearing by looking through trade publications,industry websites, or by asking the advice o some alums in thesector.

Even more important than the question o pants or skirt is making sure you wear the right pants or the right skirt.

Pants

ailored pants suits are very appropriate or women to wear to


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an interview, especially in cases where you are required to visit a site or you need to get in and out o a vehicle. Te emphasis ison tailored and not owing or tight ftting. Your aim is to look conservative, so make sure that the pants are neither too tight norlow-cut. At the same time you dont want the pants to be so baggy that they ap around like sails.

Flat ront pants are not only very attering, but are also ideal or work or interviews. Make sure that they have horizontal pockets with shallow pocket bags, as side pockets will make hips appearlarger.

Tey should also be long enough to prevent your ankles romshowing, and not so long that they krinkle. o get pants theper ect length, take them to a tailor and wear the shoes that youplan on wearing to the interview so the tailor can make accuratemeasurements. Te length will di er considerably depending on whether you are wearing heels or ats.

I your pants have pockets, keep them empty during your inter-view or the same reasons. I the pants are not made rom a wrin-kle- ree material, make sure to press them properly, with creases,on the day o your interview.

Skirts

Skirts are a good choice too. But, there are a ew important thingsto consider. You do not want to show a lot o thigh at your inter-

view so make sure that your skirt hits at or below the knee. Withthis length, when you are standing up, you WILL look both chicand pro essional as well. o make sure that you are not showing a lot o thigh, put the skirt on and sit in ront o a mirror - what


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you see is what your interviewer will see as well. You should betotally com ortable when you sit down while wearing the skirt andnot have to worry about pulling it down constantly in an e ort tohide your thighs.

Wearing a longer skirt will also look pro essional, but you need tomake sure that it is narrow enough to not billow, yet not too nar-row that climbing stairs is uncom ortable to you.

I you do opt or a knee-length skirt, remember that a high slit isvery inappropriate or an interview, while a small slit in the center

back o the skirt is acceptable. A slit to the knee on a longer skirtto make walking and climbing stairs more com ortable is also ac-ceptable. Do make sure to wear nylons i you are wearing a skirt.

Jacket

Te sa est choice or a jacket is to use a jacket made o the sameabric as you pants or skirt. More adventurous choices where you

mix jackets can look great, but itis also easy to get wrong, so play itsa e and go matching. Similarly,you cannot go wrong with a classictwo or three button jacket.

Your jacket should not be too short- a longer jacket looks more pro es-sional. Make sure that the jacketis loose enough to allow enoughroom or wearing a blouse under-neath. A tight-ftting jacket willcrinkle i you need to button it or


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Biotech BlunderCarry was a HR major or the University o Minnesota Busi-ness School with a background in laboratory management.She went to business school or a career change; coming romthe laboratory, she understood the biotech industry well, un-

ortunately, she did not understand the nuances o big corpo-rate culture.

Expressing interest in an HR role at a major biotech company,she received an invitation to meet with on campus recruiters. While she was nervous, she was confdent that she could pro-vide immense value on business and employee relations issues.

Un ortunately, both the lab environment as well as the typicalbusiness school environments were laid back and casual cul-tures, including their dress codes. On the day o her interview

which occurred during the frst day o on campus recruiting,she got dressed in her nice work clothes and proceeded to theinterview suite at her school.

your interview - wearing a properly ftting jacket will prevent this.

Like with your pants, i your jacket has pockets, make sure thatthey are empty at the time o your interview. Te best approach is when you buy the jacket, i the pockets are sewn shut, never openup the pockets so you wont even be tempted and the jacket willbetter hold its shape. Keys and other items will make the pock-ets bulge and look very untidy. Very importantly, your jacket will


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Carry was shocked to be surrounded by people in elegantand pro essional looking business suits she was dressed insome nice khaki slacks and a sweater, hardly casual attire butcertainly not business attire appropriate or a big corporate job. Recruiters are recruiting the next round o talent that willeventually run their company and Carry was dressed appro-priately or running her lab, nothing more.

Te recruiter was cordial although a little taken aback by herperceived casual interaction. By the end o the interview it was

clear Carry had a passion or the business and could bring a unique perspective to the HR unction at the company. Whatthe interviewer lacked was a sense o confdence that Carry was the right person rom a profle perspective.

A myriad o questions came to mind: when Carry interviews with senior managers, would they questions the recruiters judgement? Particularly given that Carry could not dress or

the role, how could she be expected to understand the otherelements o appropriate etiquette? What else was Carry miss-ing rom her suite o skills and abilities?

At the end o the interview, Carry was respect ully escortedto the door and Carry knew something was amiss. A ter theinterview Carry ran into a riend rom a tier one bank basedin New York, she gave Carry some tips on dressing appropri-ately it had never occurred to her riend that anyone wouldthink o going to an interview in anything less than a polishedbusiness suit. A ter all, frst impressions are the ones that last


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and are o ten the only ones that matter.

Carry was turned down or a summer internship at the com-pany but learned her lesson well. She never went to an inter-view again without being dressed appropriately. She purchasedthe best business suit she could a ord and borrowed herbanking riends brie case or her next round o interviews.Tese interviews went quite well, she elt well prepared andconfdent in her new attire. Tis impacted her per ormance inthe interview and her ability to establish rapport quickly. She

ended up landing a job at another leading biotech and retain-ing the li elong lesson regarding dressing or success.

not look good unless you are wearing a suitable bra. Under-wire,contoured bras in nude are per ect, especially i you are wearing a white blouse. Avoid wearing a dark bra with a light blouse, as thebra will show through the abric o the top youre wearing.


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Colors

As ar as the colors or your business suit goes, you cannot go wrong by choosing either navy, brown, black, or dark grey - allthese colors are per ect or an interview. Defnitely avoid brightcolors, as this will be a distraction or your interviewer. Also, i the interview is o a ormal nature then the buttons o your jacketshould be closed. However, i your interviewer is more relaxed,then it is appropriate or your jacket to be unbuttoned.

Fabric

Although you are not expected to be able to a ord the same typeo clothes that the executives o the company would wear, you would be wise to invest in a suit o good quality abric - the bestthat your budget will allow.

Wool and wool blends are excellent choices due to the act thatthey can be worn in any season. In particular, the new wool

blends that include a small amount o stretchy abric like elastaneor lycra work well, and tend to travel well.

Pure synthetic, such as nylon and rayon acceptable, but be dis-cerning. Some o these sythetics can have too much sheen andlook artifcal. You want something that looks natural even i itisnt.

Distractions

Now that you are presenting at your elegant best, you want toremove anything that will distract rom your person. I chewing gum is your way o dealing with stress ul situations, then resist the


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urge to do this to your interview - it is very distracting and unat-tractive. Also, dont enter your interviewers o ce carrying co ee

or a soda. In the frst place, it is not pro essional, and secondly,there is a good chance that you will be o ered tea or co ee during your interview.

Do not take anything electronic into your interview with thepossible exception o a pacemaker. In particular do not take yourmobile phone into your interviewers o ce. I you must take itin, switch it completely o . Vibrate mode is contrary to popularopinion not silent.

Bad breath is very distracting and extremely o -putting so makesure to brush your teeth just be ore your interview, or youll haveyour interviewer concentrating on your mouth instead o the im-portant business o interviewing you! o make extra sure that youhave a resh breath during your interview, have a mint while youare waiting to enter your interviewers o ce.

Tese distractions all get in the way o your interviewer getting toknow the real you. So remove all distractions and let your true sel shine.


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Janets Story

Janet was a 37 year old executive assistant to a Director levelmanager in a big company in St. Louis. While Janet enjoyedher work, particularly organizing her bosss activities and keep-ing him on point, she knew that a change was in order. Shestudied hard in night school and on weekends and eventu-ally obtained her accounting designation. Te company she worked in had various openings within fnance and account-

ing, some o which were junior in nature.Tank ully, the company had a policy o promoting rom within and she had the support o the human resources de-partment they had paid or part o her schooling and hadgiven her one hal day per week to prepare or exams. Herboss was also appropriately supportive although he dreadedthe day he would lose his superstar administrative assistant.

Janet completed her studies and explored opportunities in-ternally. Being a lively and enthusiastic individual, she always

elt it was most appropriate to express her personality in herclothing and appearance. Being in high school in the late 80sand early 90s, some o her style still re ected this era. Indeed,some o her clothing was rom this era, the combination o the two made or a potentially disastrous combination. O course, no one was going to tell her that she was not appropri-ately dressed or her role, no one in the company wanted tobe turned in to HR or inappropriate commentary towards a

emale employee.


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When it came time to interview, the accounting executives were appropriately impressed with her resolve at completing her studies part-time while holding down a job. However, shehad no truly relevant accounting experience. Tis, coupled with the act that she showed up to the interview dressed a little bit like Janet Jackson on her day o did not impress therather conservative sta (although it provided private amuse-ment or the break room crowd in the accounting wing).

Un ortunately, she never received the concrete eedback re-

garding interview attire and appropriate business etiquettethat could have saved her rom a ailed interaction in a com-pany that she loved.


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Chapter 3

W earing a business suit as we suggested in the previous chapteris the best and sa est option. And to pair with the per ect suit,you need a blouse. Te right blouse will compliment the suit,creating a so t contrast to the more structured suit.

Fabric As with the suit, the abric that the blouse is made rom is o utmost importance. For you to stick to that conservative, pro es-sional look, there are a ew things to consider. Make sure that theblouse you purchase is made rom natural abrics only, such aslinens, cottons, or silks. Shiny abrics are a defnite no-no, as these will spoil the look o the suit that you have so painstakingly cho-sen.

Colors

Colors that you should go or are white, ivory, pastels, or any

Blouse


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other light, plain color that matches and compliments your suit. I you are undecided as to what color blouse to wear then purchase a white one. A white blouse looks clean, crisp, and defnitely pro es-sional, and will give you the appearance o having a slight tan as well. Bright colors are not conservative, so avoid them at all costs.Light, subtle patterns are also considered appropriate. Your blouseor shirt should only have the top button undone, and the collarplaced neatly over the lapels o your jacket.

Fit

O course, no matter how per ect your blouse is, i it doesnt ftproperly, then it wont look good at all. It should be well tailored

makes you look great and eel like a million dollars!

o make sure that your blouse will ft you com ortably or your

and ft correctly. I theblouse is too tight, notonly will it look wrong,but it will gape aroundthe bust line as well,and eel very uncom-

ortable. I you are notcom ortable in yourclothing, it will show,and you will immedi-ately eel less confdent.So take a little bit o extra time to decide on what blouse you are

going to wear - its well worth the e ort i it


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Chapter 3: Blouse 2

interview, try it on, li t your arms to shoulder height, bend yourelbows, and move your elbows towards each other. I there is any tightness around your shoulders, rather opt or a blouse that is onesize larger. Tis way, your blouse will not pull across your shoul-ders and will still eel com ortable under your jacket.

Style

Again, style is terribly important if you want to keep that profes-sional look. It cannot be stressed enough that you need to look conservative when you go to your interview. So, what exactly is a

conservative-looking blouse?

Low necklines that show too much cleavage, blouses with noshoulders or sleeves, and those with decorations such as ruf es,embroidery, lace, and so forth, should be avoided at all costs, as

Julie & the Low Glass Ceiling

Julie was an energetic sales rep rom ennessee with aspirations or a managerial position withher company. She sold rames or eye glasses with great success her clients were mainly maleand appreciated her bubbly personality. She wasknown or her low cut blouses and showing a little

leg hardly inappropriate but defnitely pushing the limits or business attire.

While her attire most likely contributed to her be-


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ing able to obtain ace time with her male clients,her bosses were women with a long history o

sales experience. Many o the higher up executivesin her company were in their 50s and were very conservative. Tis never phased Julie, she always

elt that she added something special by dressing in a provocative ashion. While she was not thevery top per ormer, she had consistently madeher numbers over the years and elt overdue or a promotion.

However, she was consistently passed over and o -ten wondered why. Te executives ound her a bit

orward in her dressing and personality and whilethey appreciated her contributions in terms o sales numbers, they were not very interested in heras a manager. Tere was always a question regard-ing ft with a managerial role although the issuesthat were raised during the interview process neverspecifcally mentioned her style o dress.

Julie could have done a lot to change the impres-sion she was making with management shecould have shi ted her attire to make it more busi-ness like. Expressing her individuality is possibleand defnitely should not be lost in the process,however, expressing this individuality withoutkeeping her audience in mind held her back.


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Chapter 3: Blouse 2

these will immediately make you look too casual. In other words,the plainer, the better, and dont show too much skin. Doing this

will ensure that your interviewer is not distracted in any way, and will actually be looking you in the eye during your interview!

Your blouse should have long sleeves and have buttons up thefront. You de nitely dont want to show cleavage during your in-terview, so make sure to button your blouse up two buttons abovethe cleavage line.

Te culture and trends today are more relaxed,but some worlds like accounting have stayedconservative. Know your audience, but wesuggest that conservative is always better.

Anthony HerrerDirector o Accounting InternshipsBaylor University-Hankamer

As neatness is vital to your professional look, make sure that yourblouse is short enough to t under the jacket or that it can becomfortably tucked into your skirt or pants. The last thing youneed when you leave your interviewers of ce is that your blouseis hanging out of the bottom of your jacket at the back!

Make sure on the day of your interview that your blouse, like therest of your out t, is clean and wrinkle-free. Even if you paid alot of money for your out t, if it looks as if it has just come outof the laundry basket, your chances of landing that job you are


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after will be lowered drastically.

To keep to that polished look that you need at your interview,make sure that your clothes have no missing buttons. Check toofor stray bits of uff that might be sticking to your out t. If theclothes you are wearing to your interview were newly purchased,then it would be a good idea to check for and remove any externaltags, as well as any tacking stitches.


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Chapter 3: Blouse 2

Elenas Story Elena was an Eastern European admit to the University o Pennsylvania Wharton School o Business. She was extremely aggressive during the recruiting season, making requent tripsto New York to interact with the investment banking com-munity. Tis took a considerable amount o work. Manag-ing her school course load and showing up or interviews with prospective employers as well as attending all o the oncampus and o campus events was more than a ull time job.She studied diligently, particularly because she did not have a corporate banking background, she was rom a little knownaccounting frm in her home country.

Elena had the added stress o not having the unds to pay orher business school ees, she had to borrow the entire amount which, while not unusual in the United States, was something that she personally was not accustomed to doing.

Te stress levels were high or many people in her class, butparticularly or her given her background and the act that shehad to obtain work in a new country during a down economy. While she did not have the fnancial resources to purchasethe best suits, she had made sure that she was appropriately dressed or interviews, at least as much as she could a ord.

On the second day o interviews she had in New York, she didnot check her outft prior to entering the o ces o a presti-gious investment bank on Wall Street. Little did she know


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that she had a long string that hung o o the upper arm onher right side. Every time she went to shake someones hand,this string made its presence known!

She noticed that some interviewers were glancing at her inan odd manor and made sure to check her appearance be orestarting the second hal o her day. She quickly fxed the issuein the ladies room and moved orward with her interviewsconfdently. Elena eventually received several o ers rom top

tier investment banks and ended up paying down her loansquickly a ter business school the returns on her investedtime and e ort paid o handsomely.


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Chapter 4

I you are wearing a skirt as part o your business suit, then it isessential that you wear hosiery. Love them or loathe them, they will complete that pro essional appearance you are striving or, so

or those couple o hours, wear them. It must also be mentionedthat even i you notice that the employees o the company dress

casually, you are not one o them - yet. Once you have becomepart o the sta , then you can go casual - but or your interview,stay conservative and pro essional.

When you go into a store with the idea o purchasing hosiery oryour interview, you will be met with a huge variety o hosiery - somany di erent styles and colors that many women fnd the pro-cess quite daunting. How on earth do you choose which pair to

purchase or your interview? Actually, its not that di cult to purchase hosiery or your inter-view. As with the attire mentioned in the previous chapters, keepit conservative. Tis means plain, with no patterns, sheer and not

Hosiery


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opaque, no wild colors, no thigh highs with seams, and very def-nitely not fshnets! You are purchasing hosiery or an interview -not a party.

Your sa est bet is to stick to neutral colors that are as close to yournatural skin color as possible. Tese would normally lean to natu-ral, beige, or tan - dont be tempted to buy white - they just dont work! I you are still undecided as to which to purchase, then ask

or some help rom an assistant. Just make sure that you DO pur-chase the correct hosiery or your interview.

Whether you have white, blotchy legs, or those that are beauti ully tanned, it is important that you wear hosiery to your interview tolook pro essional, eel eminine, and know that you are dressed ina way that will defnitely impress.

As with the rest o your attire, your hosiery should ft properly. I they are too large, they will sag and bunch around your ankles andlook very unattractive. Tere is always a chance that you will snag your hosiery be ore your interview, so make sure to bring an extra pair in case o an emergency.

Te last thing that you want to happen during your interview isthat your interviewer becomes distracted because the tops o yourhosiery are showing. Tis can very easily happen when you sitdown and cross your legs while wearing a skirt. Prevent this romhappening by wearing pantyhose to your interview. Pantyhose willalso prevent you rom constantly tugging at the top o your ho-siery in an attempt to keep it in place. Once you have the job youcan get rid o them!

Maybe hosiery is not something you enjoy wearing, but, i you


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Chapter 4: Hosiery 3

want to create that pro essional look and raise your chances o get-ting that job, then accept that it is necessary to complete the pic-ture i you are wearing a skirt.

Dress like you want the position, not like youalready have it .... today our society is morecasual in general but that doesnt necessarily translate well to career interviews.

Dawn Clark Career CounselorPacifc Lutheran University


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Chapter 5

Now that you have that per ect business suit with a blouse thatlooks amazing, you need accessories to enhance your appearanceeven more. A ew pieces o jewelry and the correct purse, bag, orbrie case, will elevate your pro essional look, and yet not be dis-tracting to your interviewer.

Jewelry

Te trick here is to not go overboard with jewelry, but to keep tothe conservative look - remember, less is more! In act going sans- jewelry is fne and i in doubt, go without.

You will defnitely be wearing a watch to your interview - punctu-ality is o utmost importance! A conservative-looking ladies watchis per ect - just make sure that any alarm or chime is switched o so that it does not beep during your interview!

Wedding rings and engagement rings are always acceptable or job

Accessories


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interviews. I you want to wear more jewelry, limit this to one ring per hand, and make sure that the ring, necklace and earrings are a matching set. Remember, subtle is the key to conservative-looking jewelry, so keep it as plain as possible, with earrings small and nothanging below the ear lobe. Plain and simple jewelry with pearls isalso very appropriate to wear to an interview.

When wearing jewelry, real gold or silver only, as cheap jewelry will spoil your whole look. I you do not have real gold or silver,then wearing no jewelry at all is your sa est bet. Tis means noplastic or acrylic beads, and defnitely no dangling earrings.

I you are young and hip and haveplenty o piercings, then those thatare visible should defnitely be re-moved and le t at home. ongueand eyebrow piercings just dont ftinto the conservative mould! Oneset o earrings can be worn, as long as they are plain and simple, such assolitary pearls. Also, avoid arm uls o bangles - they are noisy and will take your interviewers attentionaway rom your interview.

I you have any doubts as to which type o jewelry is acceptable,aim or minimal and elegant. Wearing no jewelry is better than wearring the wrong jewelry.

Bags and Brie casesI you need to carry a brie case to your interview, then it is notnecessary to carry a purse as well. Whatever you usually carry inyour purse can go into your brie case on the day o your interview.


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Chapter 6

Shoes, hair and makeup (SHAMU) more than awaken pashionin students I coach. Many o my students have their own personalstyle and strongly resist any change. But, this is another case o less is more. You want to be noticed, but or your accomplish-ments - not or what you wear.

Shoes

Your shoes, like the rest o your outft, should be conservative inorder to complete the pro essional appearance you are going or.Tey should be o plain leather or abric, without patterns or dec-orations, and should have closed toes. Avoid snakeskin or textures,and make sure that your shoes ft properly. Very importantly as well, make sure that your shoes are not noisy when you walk - thereceptionist will announce your arrival to your interviewer!

Stilettos are very eminine, but are more appropriate or a party.Te shoes you wear to your interview should either be low-heeled

Shoes, Hair andMake Up


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pumps or have heels no higher than about two and a hal inches.Brand new shoes are risky to wear to an interview as they couldcause blisters or pinch your eet, causing you to hobble when you walk. Tis is neither com ortable nor will it create a pro essionalappearance - get around this by wearing your new shoes a ew daysbe ore your interview. Avoid wearing chunky plat orm shoes as well - they have been known to cause wearers to all over!

Boots o course, are defnitely not interview material. I the weath-er is cold and you need to wear boots, then take a pair o closedtoe pumps with you, to change into be ore your interview. Strappy

sandals, even in the height o summer, are also a no-no. Sneakerso course, should not even be considered.

Your shoes should not be brightly colored, but rather a dark color,one shade darker than the color o your suit, and should matchthe color o your purse and belt - i you are wearing one.

I you already have the per ect pair o shoes to go with your suit,and dont need to purchase a pair, then inspect them the nightbe ore your interview. See that the heels arent scu ed, and i nec-essary, clean and polish them - you should be per ectly clean and well groomed rom top to toe, to create the best impression pos-sible.

Hair

Very obviously, you should frst make sure that your hair is per-

ectly clean. I you normally have a ashionable, way out hairstyle,then make sure to tone it down or your interview. It might be a good idea to go or a whole new look and have your hair cut espe-cially or the interview.


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Chapter 6: Shoes, Hair & Makeup 3

Either way, your hair should be well styled, neat, and pro essionallooking, with no large hair clips, bows, or other decorations. Dont wear sunglasses on your head - this is completely inappropriate

or an interview. As eye contact is essential during your interview,make sure that your hair does not cover your ace in any way,especially your eyes.

Ladies with long hair should wear it in a style away rom the ace -a ponytail, single plait, or a bun - you dont want to be constantly

ipping your hair back during your interview - this will be dis-tracting to both you and your interviewer.

As it is important that you attend your interview with a well-groomed hairstyle, i there is a remote chance o rain or snow onyour big day, carry an umbrella to protect your care ully styledhair rom rizzing and being ruined.

Make Up

Unless you are one o those extremely ortunate ladies who look totally amazing as they wake up in the morning, you will def-nitely need to wear make up on the day o your interview. Naturalis defnitely best, but as there are ew o us who can get away withthis and still look good, a little make up works wonders - or the way you look and your confdence as well.

Again, the key to achieving that pro essional look is to be as con-servative as possible with your make up - keep yoursel looking as

natural as possible. Your oundation should be as close as possibleto your own skin tone, with a so t shade o lipstick, no alse eye-lashes - just some mascara. I you wear eyeliner, make it as subtleas possible. Eye shadow, i you have to wear it, should be skin


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toned as well. Finish it o with a hint o blush on your cheeks,and a light dusting o powder - to prevent your cheeks and nose

rom becoming shiny.

Make sure to use daytime colors only in order to create that pol-ished, resh look. Dramatic colors might look stunning on you,but are not appropriate or an interview. Also, when applying yourmake up, do so in a bright room, as near as possible to the type o lighting in the o ce o your interviewer.

I you can get away with wearing no eye shadow, then do it, as eye

shadow sometimes smudges and causes dark circles around theeyes. Defnitely steer clear o eye shadows that contain glitter, andalse eyelashes - these are only or parties and when you go out

clubbing. In short, make sure that your make up is not too notice-able by keeping it natural and simple.

Hands, Nails, and Per ume

Your hands and nails will be exposed all the time, so it is very im-portant that you pay particular attention to this detail. Your nailsshould not be too long, and they should o course be clean. Sheerpolish is the best, but i you eel like you need a little color, thenbeige or pink will be appropriate - defnitely no designs on yournails, or glitter-e ects at all!

As ar as per ume goes, your usual deodorant will be su cient. Again though, i you want to use per ume, then use it very spar-

ingly, as there is always the chance that your interviewer does notlike the per ume, or worse still could be allergic to it! I you are indoubt, then to be on the sa e side, rather dont wear any per umeat all.


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Chapter 6: Shoes, Hair & Makeup 4

Above all, i you are a smoker, then have your last cigarette abouttwo hours be ore your interview, be ore getting dressed or yourinterview - you really dont want to smell like smoke as you enteryour interviewers o ce! You look beauti ul rom head to toe -complete the picture o confdence and pro essionalism by adding a smile to your per ect make up.

Te way you dress or a meeting is an indica-tion o how you perceive the importance o the interaction.

Al CotroneDirector, Career CenterUniversity o Michigan


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Chapter 7

A aaaagh. Te dreaded business casual - seemingly an oxymoron.Less ftted and structured than a suit, but still projecting pro es-sionalism. But, how? So lets try and crack the code.

While business casual attire is usually more com ortable than

ormal o ce wear, you should still aim or that neat, pro essional,conservative look. It is advisable to stick to conservative colors oryour business casual attire - i you want to add a bit o color toyour o ce clothes, then make use o a scar , or a brooch perhaps,to brighten up your outft.

As there is no strict defnition or business attire, di erent com-panies have di erent ideas as to what business casual attire or women really means. Your best bet is to confrm with the compa-ny what they consider business casual attire to be, and then work with that. Tis way, you will be sure to wear the correct clothes orthe position you hold, and there will not be a risk o you dressing too casually or work.

Business Casual


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Very importantly, on days where you are to ormal attend meet-ings, make sure that you wear ormal business attire.

Blouses A good quality white shirt or blouse is o course the best or o ce

you having to tuck in your blouse. Tey have collar and cu s anda nipped in waist that, provided you have purchased the correctsize, fts great, and has a tailored look as well. I you do decide to

include one o these tops as part o your business casual wardrobe,make sure that you do not get one that is too tight - it will causethe buttons to gape and you will not look neat and pro essional atall.

wear. However, or businesscasual you can veer away

rom this slightly. Coloredor print blouses are quiteappropriate business casual

wear, as long as it is nottoo loose or too tight. Also,i you are wearing a printblouse, then make sure to wear a solid color jacket orcardigan over it. Cotton,silks, and blends are per ect

abrics or business casual

blouses.Tere is a style o cotton-spandex blend blouse thatis available that prevents


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Velvet or shimmery blouses are not appropriate o ce wear or women, and defnitely no blouses or shirts that show too muchcleavage. Your blouse or shirt should be neat with buttons up the

ront, and the collar should not be too large.

Keep your blouse or shirt as plain as possible - you still wantto go or that conservative, pro essional look. Also, the plaineryour blouses, the easier it will be to mix and match your work-ing clothes rom day to day. As or the sleeves o your blouse, it isusually best to wear three-quarter or long sleeves, but or businesscasual, short sleeves and cap sleeves are per ectly appropriate in

many companies.

Steer clear o sequins, glittery abric and too many rills, ru es,and embellishments. ank tops, strappy tops, and t-shirts shouldbe avoided at all costs. Stained, aded, or broken blouses are o course completely out o the question. ight ftting, sleeveless, orsheer, suggestive blouses or shirts are totally inappropriate attire

or the workplace.

Dress rousers

Your business casual trousers should not consist o the latest ash-ion trends, but should still lean toward the conservative look. Tey should be neither too tight nor too loose, but have a well tailoredcut and should have solid colors, such as navy, black, grey, brown,or khaki, and should ft you well. For that proper business-likeappearance that you want, make sure that your trousers are alwayspressed with a crease. Avoid wearing pants that are too loose, asthey will immediately make you look sloppy. Te trousers canbe o various types o abrics such as linen, linen blends, cotton,cotton blends, wool, and gabardine. will and corduroy are also


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appropriate abrics or your business casual wardrobe.

Some businesses accept long shorts or city shorts as o ce attire

or women, but you should check with the company policy be-ore wearing them to your workplace. I denim is accepted at your

place o work, then go or the darker denim, as it gives a less casualappearance than the lighter colors. Again, keep the jeans that youbuy as plain as possible, with no embroidery, ancy buttons, orother orms o decorations. Skinny pants o course are an absoluteno-no, as are short shorts and leather pants as well.

One pair o black tailored pants is an absolute must or your busi-ness casual wardrobe, as it goes with absolutely any other colorand always looks good.

Sweaters and Knits

Wearing a twin sweater set with your dress trousers is a great way to be casual at work, but at the same time still have that pro es-sional look as well. Tis o course is provided that the twin set istailored, fts your body properly, looks dressy, and does not show too much cleavage. Remember too, that knitwear that you would wear to a party or nightclub should be kept or that purpose only,and is defnitely not appropriate to wear to the o ce.

Your sweaters and knits can be round neck, roll neck, or v-neck as long as it does not show cleavage. Keep to the classic neutralcolors, and you cannot go wrong.

As with the blouses and shirts, your sweater, cardigan, or twinsweater set should be a solid color, ree rom decorations, toomany rills, and other embellishments. Make sure be ore you wearknitwear that it is stain- ree, clean, and has no loose threads, hang-


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ing rom it.

Jackets and Blazers

I the weather is slightly chilly and you have a need or a jacket,then wear one over your knitwear by all means, as long as it is nota bright color and has no distracting details either. Your jacketshould ft com ortably over your blouse, and be neither too loosenor too tight. oo loose and it will look too big or you as wellas untidy, and too tight will have the buttons gaping, should youneed to close them.

Jackets or business casual attire can be tweed, leather, or suede- depending on your body type, and the best style to work withare those jackets that are tailored to ft in the waist, and are hiplength. Plain solid colors are considered per ect or business casualattire - a black jacket is o course, a must - other dark colors arealso acceptable. Denim jackets are considered too casual or busi-ness casual o ce wear.

You might even fnd it necessary to wear a coat as well. Again,this is per ectly appropriate, but make sure that the coat is longerthan the jacket youre wearing, and is a simple style, with no brandname labels on the outside o the coat.

Shoes

Te most important thing about your shoes is o course, that they

be totally com ortable. Its no good i they look absolutely abu-lous but cause you to limp through your day at the o ce - this isdefnitely not a pro essional look! I they are new shoes, then makesure to wear them in at home a ew days be ore wearing them tothe o ce.


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Appropriate colors or shoes are black o course, navy, brown, tan,or taupe. Te shoes you purchase should match the colors o yourbusiness casual pants and jacket.

I the weather is hot and you want to wear sandals to work, domake sure that they are a com ortable ft and match the conserva-tive look o the rest o your outft. Very importantly too, ensurethat your eet and toenails are clean and well manicured.

Tin straps, stilettos, plat orms, and shoes with chunky heelsshould not be part o your business casual attire or the o ce

- they are simply inappropriate and will not give you the pro es-sional look you are going or.

In colder weather it is per ectly appropriate to wear boots as long as they are plain and one or two inches below the knee. You canalso opt or shorter ankle boots i you pre er. Black or brown areper ect colors or ootwear or business casual attire, but o -whiteis also appropriate, as long as it matches the rest o your outft. O

course, i you are wearing a belt, it should match the color andabric o your shoes.

Plain and simple closed toe leather shoes, with heels no higherthan two-and-a-hal inches, will be per ect and allow you to becom ortable and at the same time walk with confdence. Yourshoes should always be clean and polished, with heels that are not worn down or scu ed.


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Dress for Success Women (2)

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