Tomorrow is the first day of your new job or internship, and you\u2019re tearing your closet apart. You want to dress for success and make an incredible first impression. If you play your cards right, you\u2019re sure this opportunity could launch you into your dream career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do you know what to wear to ensure that you simultaneously fit in and stand out in all the ways that matter? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the US Chamber of Commerce, 55% of first impressions<\/a> in the workplace begin with your appearance. If you want to shine from day one, it\u2019s crucial to understand how to dress for success before you walk through the door and greet your new supervisor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Below, we\u2019ve shared our five best tips for mastering the business dress code and confidently choosing what to wear, whether headed to the office or working from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dressing for business is not a one-size-fits-all experience<\/a>. One simple way to determine the company dress code is to read the handbook. These texts often include a page or two about what employees should and should not wear to the office. It will likely include guidelines for work-from-home employees, too. Your handbook is the most straightforward dress code guidance for new hires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your company\u2019s handbook doesn\u2019t include this information, see if there\u2019s a page about the company culture<\/a>. You might need to read between the lines to figure out your employer\u2019s priorities. Phrases like \u201claid back\u201d can provide a clue that your company doesn\u2019t require employees to wear suits five days a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are working in-person, think about what the other employees were wearing the last time you visited the office, whether it was during your interview or while filling out paperwork. Try to match their level of formality, but aim to dress on the conservative side on your first day. It\u2019s always better to be slightly overdressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If working remotely, take note of what individuals were wearing for the interview. Again, err on the side of overdressed, especially if you\u2019ll be appearing on camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When in doubt, send your supervisor a friendly email. Express your excitement about starting the job and ask about the dress code. They\u2019ll appreciate your initiative and positive attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your industry can help dictate the type of clothing you wear to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, lawyers and clerks aim to inspire confidence in their clients. They may wish to dress in formal professional attire. In contrast, a preschool teacher<\/a>, who will spend their day on the floor surrounded by art supplies, might dress in a business casual style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The clothing you wear to work should be practical, so make sure you\u2019re realistic when you dress for the job. Seek to dress as neatly as possible without sacrificing your ability to perform your duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During work-from-home opportunities, it can be helpful to dress a little nicer than you have to. A simple blazer can help you transition into \u201cwork mode\u201d and keep you from becoming complacent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some roles, your dress code might vary from day to day, but you\u2019ll probably follow one of four common office dress codes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Familiarize yourself with all the dress codes above, and you\u2019ll always know what\u2019s expected during special meetings (or on casual Fridays). <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re starting your first job<\/a>, you might not have the money to afford a large selection of office-friendly clothing. We advise building a mix-and-match wardrobe that makes it easy to plan work-appropriate outfits and dress for success. Go through your closet and begin with the pieces you have, supplementing as needed. Most business wardrobes use either black or navy as the \u201cbase neutral.\u201d Your core pieces (tops and bottoms) should be in coordinating neutrals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a versatile work wardrobe, try to include the following types of business attire: <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also include one or two neutral dresses, if appropriate. The more formal your work wardrobe, the harder you\u2019ll need to work to maintain it. In business professional environments, you may need to send your suits to the dry cleaners for professional cleaning and pressing. In business and smart casual settings, you can usually handle maintenance at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even the nicest clothing can look shabby if you allow it to wrinkle or crease. You can buy an inexpensive electric iron or hand steamer online or at most home supply stores. These easy-to-use tools make it simple to keep your work clothes looking crisp and clean on a budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Be sure to neatly hang your clean work clothes after steaming or ironing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you walk through the door on your first day at work, what do you want your supervisor and coworkers to think? Dressing for success means curating a neat, confident appearance that shows the world you\u2019re ready to get the job done. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tomorrow is the first day of your new job or internship, and you\u2019re tearing your closet apart. You want to dress for success and make an incredible first impression. If you play your cards right, you\u2019re sure this opportunity could launch you into your dream career. Do you know what to wear to ensure that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-become-series"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":124,"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118\/revisions\/124"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.careervillage.org\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Tip #1: Do Your Research <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tip #2: Dress Neat but Stay Practical <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tip #3: Understand Common Dress Codes <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n\n\n\nTip #4: Stock Up on Staples <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Some individuals call these \u201ccapsule wardrobes.\u201d All the pieces coordinate, making it easier to combine unique looks without repeating outfits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Supplement your neutrals with pops of colors by adding a few bolder collared shirts or blouses. Add color and personality through accessories such as ties, scarves, jewelry, pocket squares, belts, and shoes. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTip #5: Invest in an Iron and Steamer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dress For Success and Make an Incredible First Impression <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you haven\u2019t discovered your dream role yet, speak to a career expert<\/a> for further guidance on your path. You\u2019ll be picking out your first-day duds in no time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n