Keep the attention on what you have to say, not what you are wearing.Įven after your first day, no matter where you are in your career journey, dress for the job you want, not the job you have.When you are on the first day of your job, you may feel a little overwhelmed, and thus you say things that you shouldn’t say and do things you shouldn’t do. You want to walk into work standing tall and full of confidence. Make sure your bag doesn’t weigh you down or lead to poor posture. Ditch the Jansport college backpack covered in band pins and opt for a professional briefcase or tote in brown, grey or black. If you realize something is going to be a distraction or make a great deal of noise, save it for your happy hour after work or night out with friends.Īccessories go beyond jewelry and include bags, for both men and women. Wear one jewelry item at a time, and it if is a statement piece, keep the rest of the outfit more subdued with simple colors. It is distracting and pulls away from the focus of the meeting and what content or ideas are being shared. We have all been in that meeting where a women’s dangling bracelets kept making noise each time she typed. It doesn’t stop at looks, considers sounds. But before you decide to pull out the flashy bling remember where you are going. And don’t forget to bring a sweater or jacket, since most office buildings thermostats are set to 68-70 degrees farenheit it can be quite cool inside even if it is a hot summer day.įor most women, jewelry and accessories are a major part of an outfit. Your first day also isn’t the time to break in that new pair of pumps. Make sure you wear shoes that you can comfortably walk in and wear all day long. On your first day, make sure what you have on is comfortable, you don’t know whether you are going to be walking all over campus or sitting outside under the sun at lunch. Find clothing that properly fits you or take clothes to a reasonable tailor for proper fitting. If that feels outside of your budget, remember that fit comes first. Īlthough it might feel more costly to purchase the nicer top, consider the cost-per-use and life of a higher quality item.
If you show up to meetings with tattered or stained tops you will appear messy and not as adept in your role. No, your colleagues are not fashion experts, but most people can recognize poorly made clothes and will make conscious or unconscious judgments as a result. The way you dress at work matters and whether your office is business casual or full-on business attire, opt for quality over quantity. Build a wardrobe of quality over quantity, and don’t forget comfort matters. Pull out the sharp blazer and professional heels or the tailored suitcoat to get you started.Ģ.
This will show them you are serious about your role and give you the opportunity to get a lay of the land and understand what most people wear to work. On your first day into the office don’t jump straight into wearing jeans, dress as if you are coming in for a second interview.
If you want to feel more powerful and confident, dress up. Not only will people perceive you differently, but studies have shown when you wear more formal attire your abstract thinking capabilities increase.
I hate to say it but if you want to get ahead, what you wear does matter.