2. 2
Objective:
To understand the importance of a first
impression.
To be able to describe the appropriate
dress for a job interview and why.
To be able to describe appropriate dress
after you have been hired. (Business dress
vs. Casual dress)
The Mentor Matcher
3. 3
What’s So Important about
DRESS?
Firstimpressions are CRITICAL!
You are marketing a product –
YOURSELF!
Dress is the first thing an employer sees
when greeting you!
Will dressing properly get you the job?
NO, but it will:
Give you a competitive edge
Provide a positive first impression!
The Mentor Matcher
4. 4
Important Realization
Your appearance matters in:
Getting hired
Getting promoted People love a
Making more money winner.
Being successful Winners look
Being respected like winners!
Becoming a leader
Being asked to get involved
The Mentor Matcher
5. 5
The Reality
Should you be judged by what you
wear?
PERHAPS NOT
THE REALITY:
You ARE judged
With the job interview, it’s HOW YOU
ARE DRESSED that sets the tone of the
interview.
The Mentor Matcher
7. 7
How Should I Dress?
Conservative is ALWAYS the safest route
BUT – do some investigation of the
employer
What you wear should make you look
as though you FIT IN with the
organization
If you overdress or under dress, the
employer may feel that you don’t care
enough about the job!
The Mentor Matcher
8. 8
How Should I Dress?
Ways to find out the proper dress:
Call the Human Resources offices and
ask
Visit the company’s office and observe
the attire current employees are
wearing
Make sure you are not there on a
“casual day”!
The Mentor Matcher
9. 9
Hints for Dress Success
Make sure you have:
Clean and polished conservative dress
shoes
Well-groomed hairstyle
Cleaned and trimmed fingernails
Minimal cologne or perfume
No visible body piercings beyond
conservative ear piercings for women
The Mentor Matcher
10. 10
Hints for Dress Success
Make sure you have:
Well-brushed teeth and fresh breath
No gum, candy, or other objects in your
mouth
Minimal jewelry
No body odor
No bad breath
The Mentor Matcher
11. 11
Dress for Success- Women
Wear conservative colors
Matching blazer and skirt or pants – dark
colors with light colored blouse – nothing
low-cut
or
Dress/khaki slacks (pressed) and long-sleeve
button-down shirt
Skirt
length should be a little below the
knee and NEVER shorter than above the
knee
The Mentor Matcher
12. 12
Dress for Success- Women
Avoid wearing tight clothing
No tank tops
Shoes should be low-heeled
Make-up should be minimal
Lipstick and nail polish in conservative tones
Bring a briefcase rather than a purse
The Mentor Matcher
13. 13
Dress for Success - Men
Wear conservative colors
Conservative suit or sports coat and
pressed dress/khaki slacks
White long-sleeved button-down shirt
Conservative silk tie (optional)
Belt that matches shoes
The Mentor Matcher
14. 14
Dress for Success - Men
If you have a beard or mustache:
Make sure it is neatly trimmed
If
you have any visible body parts pierced
or tattooed:
Remove all piercings and cover all tattoos if
possible
Pay extra attention to the shoes. Wear
the best shoes possible. Make shoes your
dress shoes are well polished
The Mentor Matcher
15. 15
Dressing ON THE JOB
Once you’ve landed the job…
Consult your supervisor as to what is
acceptable dress for his/her department
Ask about any “casual days” and what
type of dress is allowed on those days
When in doubt, DRESS CONSERVATIVELY!
The Mentor Matcher
16. 16
Examples of Appropriate Attire for
Women
Business Business
Casual Professional
Attire Attire
The Mentor Matcher
22. 22
What Are The Chances That
They Will Be Hired?
Nil to none! The Mentor Matcher
23. 23
Examples of Unprofessional and
Inappropriate Attire
• Midriff baring clothing
• Miniskirts
• Excessively high heeled shoes
• Caps (headwear) indoors
• Very tight clothing
Clothing that reveals cleavage, your
back, your chest, your stomach or
your underwear is not appropriate
for the workplace, even in a business
casual setting
24. 24
Slacks, Pants and Suit Pants
Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other
makers of cotton or synthetic material pants,
wool pants, flannel pants, and nice looking
dress synthetic pants are acceptable.
Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans,
flannel (or other material) pajama pants,
sweatpants, exercise pants, short shorts,
shorts, Bermuda shorts, bib overalls, leggings,
and any spandex or other form-fitting pants
such as bike clothing. The Mentor Matcher
26. 26
Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted
Suits
Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that
are split at or below the knee are
acceptable. Dress and skirt length should
be no shorter than four inches above the
knee, or a length at which you can sit
comfortably in public
The Mentor Matcher
27. 27
Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted
Suits
Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the
thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-
skirts, shorts, beach dresses, and
spaghetti-strap and strapless dresses are
inappropriate for the office
The Mentor Matcher
28. 28
Which One Is Inappropriate?
A) B) C)
The Mentor Matcher
29. 29
Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and
Jackets
Casual shirts, golf shirts, dress shirts,
sweaters tops, company logo shirts , and
turtlenecks are acceptable. Most suit
jackets, sport jackets, or company logo
Jackets are also acceptable attire for the
office
The Mentor Matcher
30. 30
Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and
Jackets
Inappropriate attire includes tank tops;
sweatshirts; midriff tops; shirts with
potentially offensive words, terms, logos,
pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops;
tops with bare shoulders; and t-shirts
unless worn under another blouse, shirt,
jacket, or jumper
The Mentor Matcher
31. 31
Which One Is Appropriate?
A) B) C)
D) E) F)
32. 32
Shoes and Footwear
Loafers, boots, flats, dress heels, and
leather deck shoes are acceptable.
Wearing no stockings is acceptable if the
look is appropriate to the outfit
Conservative athletic shoes and sneakers
may be appropriate for some job
functions (i.e., umpiring recreational
activities) or for health reasons, but are
generally inappropriate
The Mentor Matcher
33. 33
Shoes and Footwear
Flashy athletic shoes, thongs/flip-flops,
and slippers are not acceptable in the
office
Closed toe and closed heel shoes are
required in the vocational and recreation
areas of facilities
The Mentor Matcher
34. 34
Which One Is Inappropriate?
A)
B)
C)
The Mentor Matcher
38. 38
Hats and head Covering
Asa general rule of thumb, hats and caps
are not appropriate in the office. Head
Covers that are required for religious
purposes or to honor cultural tradition are
allowed
The Mentor Matcher
