Hey, emerging leaders — here’s a story from a GenY writer on staff at IB to help you dress to impress at your next job interview!
Generation Y (Why) (Individuals born in 1981 and after.)
Who are we? How, as a “cohort,” is our generation different?
Let’s start with a brief characterization by Jane Jopling, West Virginia University Extension, in her publication Understanding Generations:
“Called ‘Generation Why,’ this group has a firm desire to know the reason behind what is happening and what they do. This is a generation of mass world and interpersonal communication. Members are rarely impressed by new technology. They are optimistic about the future and realistic about the present. They have a good work ethic and could be close to the Traditional Generation when it comes to work.
“However, the motive for working hard is different. For example, they like to know why they are doing something and do not like to take blind orders. They like to see how they made a difference in others’ lives or in their own personal life. This group questions ‘starting at the bottom’ and feels the best person for the job should be the one who does it best. Seniority has to be justified and people have to earn respect; it is not automatic.
“‘Straight-line thinking’ is a challenge for them because they believe it’s okay to skip certain steps to achieve what they want. Having patience is really a challenge; they want to see immediate results and action. This is the group that will be impatient with the speed of downloading a document that would have taken weeks to research 10 years ago.”
So, cohort, let’s talk about the Y of business dress.
You got your masters in Business from UW, worked with a company for a few years (where you perfected all those skills that now make you a great-versus-good hire) — you’re an accomplished communicator, you know how to work with a team, manage your time effectively, and set up a killer excel spreadsheet.
Think you’re ready for your new job interview? Maybe, maybe not, and let’s explore why.
While companies certainly are looking for qualified individuals, that first make-or-break impression is shaped by more than professional qualifications. Business fashion is a step you can’t just skip, regardless of your last employment experience. Going forward, be aware that dress particularly matters to those Baby Boomers who still make the bulk of hiring decisions.
In fact, according to Kathleen Watson of Madison personal development firm Moving Up Unlimited, 93% of executives admit to considering dress while interviewing job applicants.
While there are countless consulting services, books and websites on how to dress appropriately in the workplace, there is one simple rule that will guide everyone in business from CEOs to waiters: think about your audience. For example, if you were hiring a professional to work with, would you pick a man who came to the interview in a business suit or a man who came wearing a Hawaiian shirt? The answer is obvious; no one wants to hire someone without the common sense to dress appropriately to a job interview.
Sometimes we must judge people from the small snap shots we get of them. Business especially is full of these brief first impressions — interviews, meetings, lunches — and the outcomes of these instances can be life-changing … for better or worse. While personal qualities and capability will always be important in business, part of this personality and capability is judged by how a person dresses. Which of the two men mentioned seem capable? Lazy? Intelligent?
Because people form their opinions of our personality based on our clothing, it is important to understand what kind of a personality the situation calls for. Circumstance is everything. For a job interview at a bank, one would wear neat, professional clothing. At an interview for a job giving tours in Hawaii, a Hawaiian shirt may be part of a great interview outfit.
This is not to say that clothing overwhelms personality, or that it should. In some instances it may be important for personality to show through. For example, a graphic design company may be more likely to hire a designer who comes to her job interview in a pattern blouse than an equally qualified women who wears a plain shirt because a design company values creative employees, and a pattern blouse might reflect that quality.
Watson emphasizes the importance of dressing for the occasion, but also offered IB some concise rules for dressing in the workplace. While Watson recommends managers create a specific list of dress code rules for their own workplace, we narrowed ours down to three general rules that apply to every business situation.
- Be neat.Combed hair, good hygiene, and unwrinkled clothing are subtle but important aspects of creating a clean, professional image.
- Dress appropriately.
No matter how casual the dress code, “You cannot be sexy and be taken seriously,” says Watson. Skirts should be about knee length, and all clothing must be the correct size — not too tight or too baggy. For women looking to project authority in the workplace, Watson recommends a structured jacket similar to that of their male counterparts.
- Never be too casual.
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Dress for the position you want” and it will be easy for employers and fellow employees to picture you in that position. To always be dressed for the part, conservative colors should be considered before prints and bright colors. A favorite golf-patterned tie or fuchsia blouse might be fun on casual Fridays, but maybe not the best choice while asking a higher-up for a raise. Ideally, navy, gray, black and white should be worn to create a professional image.
Additional Resources
- For some short and sweet advice on men’s business attire, visit:
http://a-man-fashion.blogspot.com/2007/06/top-10-tips-on-proper-business-attire.html
- For business outfits for women, visit http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/trends/articles/what-to-wear-to-work-business-attire
- For tips on everything from open-toed shoes to wearing pink with your business outfit, visit http://careerfashionblog.com/category/business-attire
- Or visit Madison’s www.movingupunlimited.com for advice on any and everything to do with making the right impression.
Written by Trina Van Mell
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