Compared to the limited formal attire worn about three years ago, by both women and men in Sri Lanka, one would say that there is a vast array of different outfits that are worn to work now-a-days, and I must say that the change has definitely been positive.
Unfortunately though, this article is not about the positive changes in attitudes towards office ware, but just a reminder for the ones who are clueless about what’s hot and what’s not for work.
Starting off with the interview
The incident that inspired this article, just a week ago, we were interviewing candidates for an executive level opening, when one guy turned up with spiky hair, a loosened tie and chewing gum.
Well, you must be thinking, inexperienced, ignorant or just pure lazy? You would be surprised to know that this candidate had obtained a first class degree from a well recognized international university.
Thanks to our candidate, we were able to come up with a short list.
- Overly gelled spiky hair – You are on your way to a party, and though “I’d just drop in and say Hi”?
- Chewing Gum – I do not have much to say to this, well let me try. You would have to be an idiot to chew gum in front of an interview panel.
- Loosened Tie – It might be hot or you might be feeling very uncomfortable, because you have never worn a tie before, DO NOT ever wear a loosened tie for an interview. Unless of course, you are being interviewed for the lead drummer position in a band.
- Perfumes – Remember, your aim is not to make the interviewer feel nauseous, wear enough cologne/ perfume to make you feel comfortable and of course, stop you from smelling bad.
- Piercings – It is always a good idea to remove any visible piercings before the interview as most organizations do not allow them.
- Dress to suit the position you applied for, not the position you already have – As unsettling as it may sound, more often than not, people do judge you by your appearance.At an interview, you would rarely get a second chance, so why mess it up? Dress your best and remember, being over dressed is much better than being underdressed.
Work place attire
Great, you made it through the interviews, now to think about work place attire.
So what are you supposed to wear? You've got some employers wanting you to dress a little better than the code for interviews, but if you overdress you appear ignorant of the culture.
While no strict universal rules exist for dress code, there are some guidelines you can think about when dressing for interviews and work:
Wear cloths that fit in.
Whether you're dressing for an interview or just a Tuesday on the job, you want to show that you fit in. Jeans and a T-shirt won't work for a lot of industries, but a suit and tie might not work for others. Look at the industry and the workplace and take advice from other people. If it is going to be your first day, it might be a good idea to discuss the dress code with HR.
• Don’t get too settled.
Once you've been on a job long enough, you can be tempted to throw on whatever's clean (or clean enough) and shoot to work. Employers don't stop evaluating your work ethic once you pass the first year or two. Your appearance is a constant factor in how others perceive you and your professionalism.
• Use common sense
In most circumstances, you can be certain that the kind of clothes you'd wear to a club or the beach don't translate to the workplace. Torn or extremely faded jeans, shirts that show a lot of skin, flip-flops, T-shirts with skulls on them, ragged tennis shoes and purple hair don't belong in workplaces.
Of course, if you work on the beach or in a club, you probably can wear some of these things.
• Make life easier, just follow the handbook.
If your company has an official dress code in its employee handbook, read it. Probably everyone in the company may have broken these rules, but you should be aware of what the official guidelines are in case you ever have to deal with a complaint.
