- First and foremost, no matter what you wear, your clothes should be neat and clean.
- Keep your shoes in good condition.
- Your hair should be neatly styled.
- For women: makeup should be subtle.
- Nails should be clean and neat and of reasonable length.
- Dress for the job you want. If you aspire to be a manager, dress like managers in your company do.
Rules for Casual Dress at Work
Although in theory most people love the idea of not having to wear a suit to work, they are often confused by the casual dress policies some employers have instituted over the last few years. Here are some simple rules:- Casual doesn't mean sloppy. Your clothing should still be neat and clean.
- You can't go wrong with khakis and a sport shirt or a nice sweater.
- If you are going to a meeting or making a presentation, professional attire may be in order.
More: Dressing Professionally When You Have To
Dressing for a Job Interview
In addition to following the general rules for dressing for work, heed this advice when you go on a job interview:
- Adhere to the employer's dress code: find out whether it's formal (suit and tie) or casual by asking around or by observing employees arriving for work.
- Dress slightly better than you would if you were an employee. For example, if the dress code is very casual, you should take it up a notch.
- Cover up tattoos and remove body jewelry until you know whether they are acceptable at that particular workplace.
More: Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Dress for a Job Interview