I’ll share with you (at no cost) some advice I shared with students in my classes today:
Dress to impress.
It works if you have a job: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have so that you can look like a promotable candidate.
It works if you don’t have a job: You will not offend a potential employer if you are overdressed, but you can kill your chances if you are underdressed.
It works on a date. Obviously.
It just works.
It is No. 2 that concerns me today. A candidate for a job at my fine university appeared for the interview in a knit blouse, capris and tourist sandals. Here is her outfit, displayed using reasonable facsimiles culled from various clothing sites on the Web:
Imagine this with short sleeves and a few buttons up the front
Underneath black blouse
In linen
Now here’s the kicker (literally):
The shoes. For real.
I was shocked. SHOCKED. I could have forgiven the attire, perhaps, but it was truly all downhill from there anyway.
Sigh.
Observe and report 
So very true. Reminds me of a certain someone who wore obscenely tight and/or revealing clothing to work, and yet still expected people to take her seriously. Painful.
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Amen! I’ve heard this too: “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” It’s difficult for women, because God knows what business casual really means, and we have a lot more options than dress pants and a polo.
We have to work a little bit harder ALWAYS: I’m going to see an accountant today. I certainly don’t have to, but I’m wearing a suit, because he needs to know I’m SERIOUS. Do NOT mess with me, dude!
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Yes, well after two and a half years of NYC real estate, I have decided I want a job that requires nothing more dressy than jeans…so I dressed for it, and FOUND IT!!! :- ) Coaching rowing (well, up here that requires a full on cold weather flotation suit at times but that’s another story!) and a legit work from home government job in web support/maintenance!
p.s. love the blog!
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