By GCU Career Services
Summertime is here, and the weather is warm. However, your appearance should remain "cool, collected and professional" in the workplace. Your attire is an expression of who you are. Learn to make the right statement by the way you dress in the workplace.
The main reason it is important for employees to dress in proper attire is to send the message that you are serious about your position. Every day you must create a new first impression for your colleagues and, potentially, for others outside your organization.
Consider that more than 50 percent of all communication is conveyed through visual presentation. Appropriate attire expresses respect for the environment and the people in it.
Imagine if one of your coworkers came in looking like a slob, wearing a dirty T-shirt with holes in it. Then imagine another coworker wearing a business suit or appropriate business casual attire. In your opinion, which person cares more about their job?
Jacqueline Smith, GCU's director of career services, suggests these tips to communicate professionalism in the workplace:
- Solid-color suits (black, navy or dark gray)
- Coordinated purse, belt and tie
- Dark socks and conservative leather shoes (men)
- Cover tattoos and remove additional piercings
- Light makeup, cologne or perfume
- Neatly manicured nails
- Limited jewelry
- Conservative hairstyle
When considering your wardrobe, talk to your employer. Make sure you have an understanding of what you should be wearing. Observe other employees, and if you are unsure, ask human resources. Dressing professionally is important, but you also want to dress relative to other employees around you. What you may have worn at one company may not be acceptable at another. When you are choosing your attire, dress for the job you want – not the job you have.
Stop by the Career Services office in Camelback Hall or call 602.639.6606 to connect. Visit www.gcu.edu/careerservices to utilize online tools to identify your career path, build your resume, research career options or apply to current job postings.
