Back in the day, how one dressed was everything. It represented status, class, and value… today, however, we cannot always tell who is homeless or dressed up in the latest fashion. Comfort overrides aesthetics, and expressing ourselves as individuals is more common and accepted.
Personally, I do not care what you wear or how you wear it. I may like it; I may not… but it does not affect my life in any way. That is the beauty of being an individual and having personal choices, style and taste. However, I am not here to talk about day-to-day living; I am here to discuss careers, job interviews, and professional development. As a career coach in Melbourne, looking after individuals who are going for those middle level to senior positions around Australia, I do have an opinion and can provide you with professional advice.
But first, let’s discuss – does what you wear make a difference to your career growth? Does what you do for a profession make a difference in presentation? Does where you live, such as modern cities like Sydney or Melbourne, make a difference to how you should dress? Does where you work, like a major corporate organisation like Woolworths, dictate your presentation? All amazing questions. Let’s dive deep, shall we…
As you filter through the industries, you start to understand that certain industries have their cliché views on how one should look. A lawyer, for example, should dress in conservative, corporate attire. Why? This shows a level of confidence, professionalism, seriousness, and respect. Those in IT seem to be a lot more casual, wearing jeans, coloured hair, and sneakers to work—they are typically behind a screen all day and rarely meet with clients. Yes, this may all seem cliché, but if you go to various random companies, you will start to see a similar presentation of individuals. It is because not every job role requires you to dress up to the nines.
When we meet with clients, hiring managers in a job interview, networking and meeting new people, or simply leading a team, we are selling ourselves through our skills, knowledge, and services. By the way we dress, we can also sell that image of said service, skill, ability, etc. For example, in marketing, you want to come across as creative and modern and in tune with the trends; thus, you may end up dressing a lot trendier at work rather than in a very stiff suit or casual tracksuit. You want to show your clients, or even management, that you are in with what is trending and the modern times.
However, when Covid hit, a lot of us were working from home (as you are well aware), and this has started to shift our personal image and presentation. We had started to realise that at home, casual was the best approach. We first started to see people slowly shifting from a suit to a shirt and tracksuit bottoms to total loungewear altogether during those Zoom calls.
Once the stay-at-home ban lifted, even going out to restaurants where one would normally dress in very smart attire, you would start seeing a lot more people in very casual clothes. They became accustomed to it, it is comfortable and a no fuss option. This shift from home wear to outwear, such as office and restaurant, did not change. But is this a good thing?
Today, when you are on a Zoom call with someone in a leadership role, you suddenly notice that they are wearing a hoodie. While in the beginning you may think, “Wow, you don’t come across as professional at all,” when they open their mouths and start talking, you realise that what they have to say is valuable, that they are switched on, and that they know what they’re talking about.
This begs the question: does it really matter what one’s wearing? Does what they wear take away from the value of what they can bring – their skills, brains, knowledge, abilities? The answer is no, nonetheless, we are visual creatures and we judge people before they even open their mouths. So, in this respect, presentation does matter, especially when it comes to a job interviews. You want to present yourself in a serious and professional way. You want to show respect for yourself and the role. However, beyond the job interview, once you have the role, is it really necessary to wear a power suit to work, or can you get away with very casual attire?
Well, it comes down to a number of things:
When it comes to large organisations such as Woolworths or even McDonald’s corporate and their hiring processes, it is also very important to confirm what their clothing policy is – organisations like this may demand the more professional, old-school attire. However, start-ups may feel differently; therefore, it is always essential to confirm before you even interview what that policy is and ensure you are comfortable to adhere to it day to day.
Now, whilst clothing may seem superficial, it has a profound impact on how others see us, while also affecting how we feel and view ourselves. Clothing, accessories, and makeup have been adorned by many over decades. This is not something new, superficial or trending.
Why does fashion matter? Clothing has the ability to show the world how we see ourselves; it can change how we feel and influence our moods. The way we adorn ourselves through a power suit or a piece of accessory has the power to elevate our vibrations, not just our physical image. It is also something deeply embedded in our culture. Therefore, we need to respect and appreciate the power and impact clothing can have on us.
My Career Angels…become who you want to be