Proper Business Attire

Regardless of your profession, wearing proper business attire is essential for career success.

What is Proper Business Attire?

If you want to be treated as a professional, it's important that you look like one. Right or wrong, the way that people respond to you in the workplace is largely based on your appearance.

By wearing professional clothing that is appropriate for the environment in which you work, you convey an image of polish and professionalism that inspires others to have confidence in your abilities. Conversely, if your clothing is messy, inappropriate, and unprofessional, people are likely to doubt your abilities no matter how confident you may be.

Proper Job Interview Attire

When interviewing for a job, the way you dress has a major impact on the impression you make. As a general rule of thumb, you should dress as if you are applying for a job one step above the one you actually want. Choose attire that looks as if you already have the job and are on the fast track for a promotion.

Dressing for Work

The first and most basic rule of dressing appropriately for your job is to observe your organization's dress code. Dress codes may vary significantly from one work environment to another. What is considered appropriate in one workplace may or may not be acceptable in another. Learn the specifics of your company's dress code, and follow the standards at all times.

Follow Guidelines

It's a sign of professionalism and respect to your employer to be diligent in following the company's guidelines for how employees should dress for work. Individuals who choose to violate the dress codes are not likely to be seen as assets to the company. Employees who skirt the edges of appropriate attire are often viewed by management as those who like to challenge authority.

Exceed Expectations

Smart people who really want to get ahead in their careers understand that formal dress codes represent minimum standards. Those who want to make the best impressions on their supervisors, peers, and clients make a specific effort to exceed expectations for office attire.

Professional Office Environment

In a professional office environment, most often employees are expected to wear traditional business attire. In some companies, the majority of male and female employees wear business suits every day. In others, the dress code is somewhat more relaxed, but still very professional. In such environments, women frequently wear knee length or longer skirts or slacks with nice blouses or sweaters, and men often wear dress slacks and button down shirts, with or without ties.

Professional Office Dress Don'ts

• Excessive jewelry
• Facial piercings
• Golf shirts
• Flip Flops
• Jeans
• Low cut tops
• Mini skirts
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Visible tattoos

Uniform Requirements

Many professional workplaces have uniform requirements. In such environments, the definition of proper business attire varies greatly and is based on a variety of different factors. Healthcare environments and industrial environments are two examples of work environments with unique definitions for professional attire.

Healthcare Attire

Those who work in healthcare settings have to follow very specific dress codes for their safety and that of their patients. Typically, most employees in healthcare settings wear scrubs, lab coats, or nursing uniforms. Open toe shoes are strictly forbidden in healthcare settings, as are perfume and jewelry that dangles.

Industrial Settings

Those who work in industrial settings must follow specific requirements for attire, whether based on company policy or mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Regardless of the type of work you do, in certain areas of a plant environment, safety goggles and steel toe shoes are considered necessary business attire.

Choosing Your Work Wardrobe

When selecting clothes for work, it's important to consider your company's requirements and your own personal career goals. Wearing proper business attire, no matter how it is defined in your organization, is a key component of long term career success.

• How to Conduct an Interview
• How to Close a Business
• Good Objective for a Resume

• Sample Resume Objective
• Memo Examples
• Resume Objective Examples
• Resume Objective Statements
• Business Thank You Letter

• Distance Learning MBA Programs
• USPS Shipping
• Career Objectives for Modern Fashion
• Category:Business Career Development
• Women's Business Suits