Enjoy this week’s guest post by Darcy Geho and make sure you’re dressing for success!
Take Yourself Seriously
If you want to be taken seriously, you have to take yourself seriously. It’s true. While your clothes and appearance isn’t necessarily what makes you do a good job, they are what creates the first impression among those around you. This is where the term, “dressing for success” comes from. Think about the people you encounter in your day, and how they are dressed. Think about which people leave a better impression on you than others, and why. Whether it’s the future boss that is interviewing you, the future customer you are hoping to sell to, or another business associate – the way you present yourself is a very important part of becoming successful.
I met a career adviser recently for a collaboration we did at our local high school, and he made a great point. He said that when you go to an interview, you always want to dress one step up from how you would dress for a normal day of work at that job. For example, if you are going to work in an office, you would likely wear dress pants (or a skirt if you are a woman) and a nice shirt for a normal day of work. So, for the interview – ladies add a scarf and suit jacket, men add a tie and suit jacket. If you would be working at a job where maybe jeans and a nice polo shirt would be appropriate workwear, then you would wear dress pants and a button-down collared shirt to the interview. You get the idea.
Dressing for Success: The Interview
I will always remember one of the job interviews I had early in my career. Prior to this interview, I had been the events director at a business organization in a large city. Business suits had been regular work attire for me. I had moved from the city to a small beach town where shorts and flip flops were common wardrobe items. On the day of my interview, I dressed in my best black business skirt suit set. When I walked into the office, I was greeted with friendly hellos and curious whispers. It turned out that even in management positions in that area, suits aren’t something that people wear. But, you know what? I made an impression and got the job. I also didn’t have to wear that suit to work.
Many people think that they have to go out and buy the fanciest suit, or the most expensive shoes, or the exclusive makeup line. These things are all fine, and if you can afford them, great. But, maybe you are just starting out in your first job, or maybe you were recently laid off and are struggling to make ends meet, or you are returning to the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom for several years. In any of these cases, you likely don’t have a large budget for buying a fancy new wardrobe for your new job.
Have no fear! There are lots of options for dressing for success without breaking the bank.
Would you laugh if I told you that 90% of my wardrobe comes from either second-hand purchases or clearance racks? It’s true!
Thrift Store and Yard Sale Shopping
Thrift stores are a really great resource for finding stylish, name-brand professional clothing for so much cheaper than you can buy brand new. If you have the time to dig through the racks and the patience to try things on, you will be amazed at what you can find. Some items you will find are out of style, some things will have been washed and dried improperly by their previous owners so they won’t fit correctly, and some things may have holes or stains. Keep looking, and I promise you will find some amazing pieces. And you know what? No one will know the difference.
Online Auction Shopping
If you have some certain brands and sizes you know work well for you, online auctions can also be a great way to find affordable pieces to add to your wardrobe. Shipping charges are unfortunately not cheap, but there are still some good deals out there. Pay attention to seller ratings and feedback to make sure you know exactly what you are bidding on. The auction websites usually have great customer protection policies in place in case your buying experience doesn’t go as planned.
With purchases from thrift stores, yard sales, and online auctions, you always want to make sure you wash your items as soon as you get them home. For shoes, make sure you spray them out with a disinfectant spray.
Department Store Deals
Department store clearance racks and other sales are also great ways to find clothes and shoes on a budget, too. Depending on the store and the sale, sometimes you can get a coupon that will give you an extra percentage off the sale prices.
Success Tips to Keep in Mind
Ultimately, you want to have a base wardrobe of some essential items, which will vary depending on what career field you are in. Use the knowledge of your career field to determine the best base items for your closet. Do some shopping and add a few items as you go. Before long, you will have a great base wardrobe for dressing for success.
As you save and earn more money, you can always upgrade your items as you see fit. But, there’s no need to put yourself into debt over some clothes. Dressing for success doesn’t have to break the bank!
Darcy Geho is the owner of Digital Darcy, a digital marketing company that strives to help small businesses with their marketing needs. Darcy is also the owner of PreservingMySanity.com, a lifestyle blog focused on natural living, healthy cooking, and food preservation. With nearly 20 years of experience in marketing and project management, she has worked in the tourism, real estate, vacation rental, healthcare, and non-profit industries. Darcy and her husband live in Minnesota.
You can follow along with Darcy on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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