Interview Strategies
Dressed to be Hired - part 3 of 5
by Evangelia Souris, Ontrack
Coaching andOPTIMUM
International Center for Image Management
FIRST CONTACT : MASTERING THE DRESS CODES
Dress codes are not always written in stone and its subtle descriptions
are defined and redefined by socio - economic factors. Do not despair.
Four basic dress codes exist. The potential or new client that you will
meet will more than likely dress in accordance to one of these dress
codes. Your job is to dress accordingly
Corporate dress code: The suit is symbolic.
Women wear suits. In their offices, they can take off
the jacket, but wear them outside that setting. A silk or cotton shirt
or blouse, shell or knit sweater can be worn under the jacket. Stockings
are always worn (even in the summer); shoes are closed toe, medium to
low heel.
Men wear strictly suits, shirts and ties.
Befittingly Business ©: This is a half –
way setting between corporate and casual. The objective is to choose
clothes that resemble the decorum of a suit and to dress for the context
of the day or event.
Women wear tailored skirts and pants with blouses,
shirts, sweater sets and turtlenecks. Jackets are optional.
Men wear jackets, dress shirts, tailored pants. Ties
are not mandatory.
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| Befittingly Business Casual
©: This dress code is more relaxed of the preceding two
dress codes. It resembles the “Dressed down Friday” of “Befittingly
Business” ©. In spite of presumptions to the contrary, this
code does not foster fashion Pandemonium. One should still dress professionally
and clothes should be aptly presentable. The concept of this dress code
is to allow some comfort while maintaining professional standards.
Casual dress maxim: “Never be in a position
where you have to make an excuse for being casually dressed”
Women and men combine traditional business attire with
more casual items.
Your dress code: In time, you will learn to interpret
the dress code of your targeted work environment in a matter that will
reflect your personality, goals and position. Assembling an individual
business wardrobe is a long process. With more success comes more freedom
of introducing individual style staples to a business wardrobe. When
in doubt of the appropriateness of a certain item, do not wear it.
RESEARCHING INDUSTRY GUIDELINES
Presenting your best visible display, (the one that will foster better
identification with a potential employer requires research):
- Visit their web site.
- Become acquainted with the culture of the targeted work site.
- Contact their human resources department. Ask pertinent questions.
DISPLAYING YOURSELF TO THE TARGETED AUDIENCE
- How to orchestrate your visual presentation
- Ask who will see you.
- Be aware of your audience.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Be aware of the inferred subtleties that are not described in a
dress code.
During political campaigns, candidates dress in a manner where the
potential constituents can best identify with them.
INDUSTRY GUIDELINES
Examples of Guidelines for some professions:
- Academic Industry: Befittingly Business Casual
©. Tailored, authoritative pieces that are approachable. The
objective is to - Stimulate trust. Location of the school and its
concentration affect interpretation.
- Retail Industry: All codes apply, orientation specific.
- Consulting Industry: All three codes apply with more emphasis afforded
to the first two. The objective is to inspire authority and to sometimes
have the added effect of establishing worth and value to the money
the company is expending for outside help.
- Service Industry: In the absence of a service uniform the guidelines
fall between Befittingly Business © and Befittingly Business
casual ©.
- Financial Industry: Befittingly Business© is the norm, standards
have relaxed somewhat, but standards change with geographic location.
- Advertising Industry: The more conservative the firm or their clients
the more conservative the dress. Mid level and senior managers dress
between the first two dress codes with variations on trendiness and
creativity.
- Medical Industry: The prescribed guideline for this industry is
to dress in a manner that projects authority and trust. Tactful and
professional comes up in many of their dress policies.
- Legal Industry: The prescribed guideline for this industry is to
dress according to the policy of each law firm. East Coast law firms
are usually more formal than West Coast firms. Guidelines fall between
the first two dress codes.
- Media: Guidelines for this industry fall in the second dress code
but a creative edge is exhibited. Senior executives fall in the first
category. Editors of magazines fall between the second and third code
with an emphasis on haute couture. Book editors follow the same guidelines
of magazine editors without adhering to high fashion. The book marketers
do adhere to the trendier side of fashion
- Public Relations: Guidelines that are more creative apply allowing
executives to wear suits with an edge. This industry is a pro at allowing
the nature of their client to influence their attire. This can be
tricky because you are trying to align yourself to their style. The
axiom in this situation is to dress in accordance to the second dress
code and to allow the geographical location of their office (metropolitan
versus suburban area) to determine whether you use the element of
“edge” and “flair” (metropolitan = permits
flair, suburban = flair with caution).
- Real Estate: Again, this industry is a pro at allowing the nature
of their client to influence their attire. The public relations particular
guidelines apply to this industry as well.
- Accounting Industry: Senior Executives conform to the first dress
code, while mid-managers and staff adhere to the second and third
dress codes. Keep in mind that larger firms require their staff to
conform to the second dress code.
- Architecture Industry: Similar to the advertising industry guidelines
- Internet Industry: Anything goes is still the axiom but casual
clothes have been replaced with cutting – edge fashion and techno
(influenced by techno music) styles.
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Evangelia D. Souris is an award winning Internationally
recognized Certified Professional Image Consultant. She is the President
of OPTIMUM International Center for Image Management (http://www.optimumimageic.com).
She is an author, feature writer, keynote speaker, trainer, seminar
leader, personal and executive image coach, media spokesperson, media
/public appearance/ political and celebrity image strategist and jury
selection image consultant. She has private, corporate and academic
clients in the US and Europe. She holds extra specialties in business
and social etiquette, children’s etiquette, international protocol,
communication and branding, executive and professional image, career
and image, illness and image, wardrobe/ personal shopping and makeovers
for men and women.
Article published with permission from Evangelia D. Souris. copyright
© 2004, all rights reserved. |
