WHAT NOT TO WEAR…..TO SUCCEED IN THE BUSINESS WORLDJeri Mullins Beggs

Spring 2013

Like it or not!!!!• The world sums you up by the clothes that you wear,

and treats you accordingly. - Al Koran

• Looking sharp often translates into making money.

– Bill O’Reilly

• Maybe it shouldn’t matter how you are dressed, but it does! Don’t let your clothing keep people from seeing your skills, intelligence and talent. - Unknown

Clothes that look like you’ve slept in them

Clothes that don’t fit

“If you look at yourself in the mirror and think you look hot, you’re not dressed for work.”

Wrong….

More wrong….

Why Should I Care? and It’s Not Fair!• Is it fair? • Probably not….• Will it hurt your career opportunities?• DEFINITELY!• Know the culture of your workplace!• Always better to be safe than sorry!

What’s appropriate….• Slacks, khakis, etc. – Basically no jeans, no shorts!

• Collared shirts, blouses, sweaters – No t-shirts, strapless or strappy shirts.

• No hats of any kind!

• No tennis shoes or flip flops!

• Please don’t wear hoodies over your dress clothes!

Business casual for men

Business casual for women

Benefits of Dress Code• Former students have reported that they feel more

comfortable in the workplace because they had been dressing business casual for two years!

• Brand equity – Contributes to the value of your degree through

image of professionalism. • We received numerous letters from corporations and alumni

praising the marketing department for instituting the dress code!

Benefits, cont.• Many faculty believe that students are more alert and

engaged when they are dressed business casual than when they are dressed in sweats, hoodies, and slippers!