WOMEN in BUSINESS - February/March 2009 - (Page 29)

St yle Common Sense Please WRIt tEn By Meredith KopuloS Your image matters as much as your resumé at the interview. In the early 1990s my wardrobe consisted of Lycra leggings, leather mini-skirts, men’s-styled fitted blazers, high-heeled boots, belly shirts, purple Doc Martens and a Madonna-inspired purple tutu. At the time, I worked at a hospital and wore scrubs to work—I could dress in club attire. Eventually, I quit that job and went to interview at a real estate firm for the position Corporate Director of Relocation. Looking back, I don’t recall what I wore that day to the interview. But I suspect that I was on the cusp of wearing a “glamour don’t.” Fortunately, the employer looked beyond my fashion faux pas and hired me for the job anyway. However, not long afterward, he called me into his office to discuss my attire. In short he said, “Save it for the weekend.” 9 tips to help you “Dress for Success” 1. Wear clothes that fit your body type. 2. Wear neutral colors—black, navy or brown. 3. Pantsuits are acceptable but a skirted suit is best. Appropriate skirt length should be right above the knee. 4. Don’t wear a low-cut, see-through or form-fitting blouse. 5. Wear dress shoes with three-inch heels. 6. Cover tattoos and remove all body piercings. 7. Make sure hair is well-groomed. 8. Remember less is more. Less make-up, nail polish, jewelry and perfume. 9. Smokers do not smoke before an interview! Make sure your clothes don’t smell of smoke. This will cut short an interview. Some women might have said, “take this job and shove it.” Instead, I took my employer’s advice and consulted a personal shopper. She assisted executive women with their work wardrobes. Wow! What a difference it made. She showed me how to “dress for success” without losing my personal style. I have since retired from the corporate world to pursue a career in writing. Working from a home-office allows me to wear slippers during the day, tank tops and yoga pants. However, when I meet with clients, editors or publishers, I remember my past employer’s advice, “Save it for the weekend.” And I dress more conservatively. Jamie O’Roark is a recruiter for Staffing Kansas City, Inc., in Overland Park, Kansas. She says the dress code may be casual or artsy, but employers still expect interviewees to look conservative. “An interviewee may have a superior resume. However, their image must complement the company—it’s part of the entire package,” says O’Roark. Meredith Kopulos writes the weekly Far From Perfect column published by the Creators Syndicate. F e B / M A r 2 0 0 9 W O M E n i n B uS I n E S S 29

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009

IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009 Contents ABWA Member Benefits Letter from the Executive Director Letter from CEO ABWA Board News A New Era Unfolds Money Matters ABWA Announcements Personal Skills Style Breaking Down Barriers Legal Matters Business Spotlight Workplace: Working Online to Build ABWA Teams Mind & Body Workplace

IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009

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