What you Wear from Ear to Ear [and from Head to Toe] Matters!
Blog Post #6: What you wear from Ear to Ear [AND from Head to Toe] Matter!
My inspiration for this blog entry came from a number of student inquiries I’ve been receiving lately on how to dress for an initial round interview. Men, please forgive me for only allocating a small portion of this blog entry to you. It is no secret that the margin of error in the “appropriateness of appearance” category is far greater for women. I hope you find these brief tips useful and entertaining!
If Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” is playing in your head…go back to your closet and change!
The key to remember with your clothes is that fit and comfort are of utmost importance. I am not saying that sweats and your favorite band camp t-shirt are appropriate. What I am saying is that wearing a snug blazer, skirt, or collared shirt can get VERY uncomfortable after a full day of interviews. You want to make sure that you can breathe (and sit) in the suit and blouse you select to wear. Depending on how conservative the organization is you can often wear a “shell” or boat/scoop neck blouse instead of a collared or oxford-style shirt. This is highly recommended if you happen to be a busty gal. I also want to address the FAQ, “should I wear a skirt or pants suit?”. I can’t give you a firm answer, but I will say that again, being comfortable and looking professional is most important. The skirt should not “hug” anything and come no higher than 3 inches above the knee when seated if you choose to go the skirt route. Hosiery is also a wild card, meaning that some organizations prefer it and others are indifferent. Do your homework on this one ahead of time. The last related point I’ll mention here is ALWAYS wear close-toed shoes!
To Accessorize or Not to Accessorize? That is the Question
When I first moved to Texas, another transplant recommended a book called, The Yankee Chick’s Survival Guide to Texas”. I highly recommend it, but not until after you’ve lived in this state for a while and come to appreciate its charm. One of the chapters in the book is entitled, I am Woman, Hear me Jangle. Do no let this be you! You should wear tasteful and subtle jewelry, e.g. not look like the poster girl for David Yurman or Tiffany with a blinding quantity of bling. Simple jewelry like pearls (real or faux) or silver/gold balls or hoops generally work well. The same goes for a necklace and try to stay away from costume jewelry too. A good rule of thumb is that if you have worn or intend to wear it to a bar/club/upscale lounge, etc. it is not appropriate for an interview or work.
Keeping things in place
I was humbled recently when a student introduced me to a magic product called Hollywood Tape. If you haven’t heard of it, you must Google it promptly and buy some from Amazon or a chic boutique. In a nutshell, it keeps things where they are supposed to be and is especially good for keeping button down shirts closed in the right places. For those who are blessed with a generous bosom, it is a must have! As an aside, Hollywood Tape does not come from California, but rather some nice wholesome Midwesterners in Minneapolis. Check the label! I’m not making this up.
A Brief Word on the Men:
Do not use anything from the Axe family of products or anything remotely close in scent. Make sure your shoes are not work boots or work boot-style and be sure to shine them the night before. You may also recall from a previous entry that it is important to wear two socks from the same pair and that they be dark (not of the athletic variety). Men’s attire can be expensive, so try to budget for these items if you know you have a series of interviews scheduled or a job that requires business professional attire. That said, you can get some great deals on-line or in stores like the Men’s Warehouse, K&G, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx. One more tip…I remember a student (from a campus with a particularly well groomed student body) telling me once that he had never shaved two days in a row before and was very worried about having interviews on consecutive days. I tried to imagine any male I knew at Ohio State going through this kind of mental struggle and was unable to do so. If you are that worried about your face, spring for some fancy shaving cream like Kiehl’s and get over the price and the extra scrapes to your face so that you’ll look appropriate for your interview or for work.
Career Blunder for this Week:
Since we’re already talking about what to wear I decided this memory was appropriate. I once attended a career fair (at the same well-groomed campus as mentioned in the male section). For those of you who have not had the pleasure of working or attending one of these gigs, allow me to provide you with a visual. A Career Fair is a veritable germ fest packed with nervous, sweaty-palmed, uncomfortably dressed college students bombarding you from left and right. An all major career fair, as opposed to a business only career fair, is particularly entertaining as you may encounter Enginerds dressed in flannel (before it came back in fashion), stealthily grabbing what they can from the giveaway table before they have to make eye contact or speak to you. Or better yet, grad students from obscure departments like Womens’ Studies or Humanities dressed in baggy jeans and oversized sweaters. The best examples are students who come in their gym clothes (because they already have a job), but feel compelled to hand you the resume of their friend who is still searching (as if this is helping to build a case for someone who already couldn’t get their act together enough to show up on their own!).
Those are all blunders in their own right, but I remember one instance in particular where a student dressed in Uggs and a Greek letter-adorned sweatshirt with her hair in a messy ponytail. Whether or not she had bathed that day was debatable (and those working the fair with me did engage in a hearty debate about it). This student then presented her resume to me and shared that she was interested in an internship during the next recruiting cycle. She did not present us with any story behind her attire that day, so I proceeded to take notes on her appearance and file it away for when I was making intern resume selections down the road. To her credit, she had a nice smile and friendly disposition. While this may have been enough for Little Orphan Annie (hence the title of this entry if you aren’t a Broadway buff like I am), it did not fly with me.
Several months later, a colleague assumed recruiting responsibility for the campus where this career fair took place. She reviewed my notes and did not select this student for an interview. Sadly, we later found out that she was an outstanding performer in the classroom and that she had a great personality, but her reputation (as someone who presented a professional risk based on attire) preceded her.
Moral of this Week's Career Blunder:
First impressions are critical. In a professional setting it is important to dress for the job you want (e.g. intern) vs. the job you have (e.g. student). If you are not sure how to dress for a career fair or interview then ask someone you trust – career services professionals, faculty (preferably lecturers who have work experience), a parent, or a friend who has already had an internship or started a full time job. Your school will likely have some resources on its website to advise you on appropriate attire. Make sure you do your homework on what to or [not to wear], so you can be remembered for your experience and professionalism and not what you were wearing!