Dress to impress

Black Collegian, Oct 1999 by Shakoor, A Tariq

It's hard to believe that your senior year is here and the on-campus interviewing stands before you like Mount Everest. You feel pretty comfortable with your career options and are ready for the challenge, except for one thing. What kind of clothes will you need for the upcoming interviews? What's appropriate and what's not? And what is this business casual thing all about? Does it include jeans, or over-sized pants? How about my braids? And the most important question of all, will I be able to afford to dress to impress?

Although there has been a relaxing of the dress code in the business community over the past few years, appropriate business attire and personal image is still very important. I'm sure you've seen the TV commercial, "Image is everything." Well, it may not be everything, but it certainly is the next closest thing.

New entrants to the workforce can contribute to their success by dressing the part. And dressing the part starts with the on-campus interview and continues with your first year on the job. Khakis and a T-shirt may be perfectly acceptable today in some companies, such as behind the scenes IT jobs or within high-tech companies. However, says Linda Travis, Atlanta image consultant... "Image is a function of others' collective experience with you ... while image is something one establishes over time, first impressions are instantaneous and can be long-lasting." So, my recommendation is to wait until you are safely behind the scenes before going casual.

Keep in mind that the purpose of the on-campus interview is to determine which candidates move on to the second round of on-site interviewing. The on-campus interview is essentially an audition for the big show. In order to make it to the big show, you have to make it past the audition. How you look is every bit as important as how well you interview, because companies are looking for the full package. So even if you find out that XYZ Company is basically a business casual operation, it would be wise to keep your interview attire on the conservative side. "Even in less formal environments, interviewers often expect candidates to be dressed in formal business attire to make their best first impression," advises Linda Travis.

The importance of proper attire cannot be over emphasized. A recent survey indicated that approximately 40 percent of all employment rejections are based on personal presentation, which includes dress and grooming. The first visual impression you make is important because recruiters are deciding on sight if you look the part. Will you fit into the company culture? So, what is the appropriate attire? Well, a lot of what is appropriate will depend on the organization you will be interviewing with. "When conducting a job search, you should research the company in advance and determine how formal or informal the dress standards are for that company," says Travis. Once you determine what the dress standard is, it will be helpful in deciding how you build your professional wardrobe. Let's take a look at some fashion tips for men and women. Realizing the budgetary constraints of college students, it's smart to think about wardrobe flexibility. Shop for suit combinations that can be combined to create several outfits.

According to John L. Sands, president of Marjoni Custom Tailors and Shirtmakers, "Men should start with a matching business suit (2-3 button jacket) in dark gray, navy, or dark brown, a white or light blue dress shirt and conservative tie. The fabric should be 100 percent wool (all weather weight). Polyester suits or polyester blends are less expensive, but they do not wear or look as well as wool. The same goes for a dress shirt. The 100 percent cotton shirt is clearly your best buy. Nothing looks sharper than a professionally laundered cotton dress shirt. Your second purchase according to Sands, "should be your basic navy blue blazer, (single breasted) a pair of gray dress slacks and a pair of tan or taupe pants." For shoes, a black or cordovan lace up is your best bet. If you decide to go with the wing-tip shoe, get the thin soled wing-tip as opposed to the thick soled wing-tip that is more prevalent in the cooler regions of the East and North. The thin wing tip is much more versatile and can be worn anytime of year in any region.

Women should start with a matching, skirted suit in a conservative color (black, blue, dark gray); a neutral blouse or top with conservative neckline; and skin-tone hosiery. This basic wardrobe should get you through the on-campus-interviewing season.

In a traditional business environment, brighter colors, alternative styling such as 4-button jackets, double breasted sports coats, and women's pant suit are not recommended for a first interview. Once you get acclimated to your new work environment, organizational dress standards will offer guidelines for expanding your wardrobe with color and style.

Business casual is fast becoming a trend in the workplace, even in the most conservative work environments. According to Travis, "Business Casual refers to relaxing the formality of traditional business dress, that is, relaxing the formality of the matching suit with all its accessories. It doesn't mean wearing weekend wear to work; such a work environment would be casual, not business casual."