Dress For The Job You Want

The saying dress for the job you want has been thrown around since I was applying for jobs. Is there any truth to this and how do I dress for a specific job? Something that has followed me throughout my life is that you need to treat every day at work as a job interview, even if you are happy at your place of work. If there is an opportunity for you to grow, then you need to apply that every day.

Whether you are happy with the idea or not, you are constantly being evaluated and re-evaluated by your colleagues and bosses. How you dress and present yourself is one of the first things that everyone considers and this is true when it comes to the workplace, dating and day-to-day life. For example, if you are wearing trendy streetwear for men, then people might assume that you are cool and successful on social media platforms.

How you dress at work, no matter if you work in a retail or professional office space sends signals to your superiors about how much respect you have for the role, the brand and your work. What groups do you identify with and where do they think you belong? So if you dress in smart, tailored clothes with your hair done, it will appear that you can take care of yourself and care about how you are perceived in the workplace, which unfortunately is always favoured. 

Here are some tips for dressing for the job you want in this new business year:

The Promotion

There is a common belief that you should dress above your pay grade; this will help people assume that you are already in a more advanced role. So opt for clothes that align with your desired role. For example, if you are working in an office where people are smartly dressed, ensuring that you are in a perfectly tailored suit and clean shoes will help you fit this role.

Don’t Over Do It

Overdressing, while you might think this looks better, can have the opposite effect. You could be giving the impression that you don’t understand the role and kind of sticking out like a sore thumb. For example, if you are wearing a suit instead of a men’s graphic tee and utility trousers in a streetwear retail shop, then you won’t be taken seriously by your superiors.

Remote Still Matters

While you work remotely, you might not think you have to put in the extra effort, but that is the complete opposite. Even if you just prioritise your top half, your superiors will see that you are still committed to showing up looking the part and can only look in your favour. This really shouldn’t be an excuse because you have more time to get ready.

Clothes Are Only Part of The Job

It’s important to note that clothes are only part of the work; you might be the best dressed in the office but that won’t take you all the way. Your work and dedication need to be on par, if not excelling, compared to other colleagues for you to be considered for a promotion.

While dressing is important in some places, not all offices, retail or entertainment industries care, so as long as you are pouring yourself into the role and going above and beyond for jobs you love, then you should be rewarded in the future.