Lecture No. 3 Dress and Presentation Skills for Carrier Success

Overview The way that you look and the way that you act determines what people think about you. If you SMILE, people think that you are pleasant if you wear wrinkled clothing, people think that you do not care. How you feel about yourself [on the inside should show on the outside]. Some of us know this; some of us do not. If we want the outside world to respond to us in a positive way, we must look and act positively.

Skills and actions There are certain skills and actions that you can use to be successful in getting what you want – especially in getting a job. "Looking (perform) Your Best for Work" provides detailed information on how to look and act your best. "Looking Your Best for Work" has information on proper clothing choices, grooming, interview tips, positive body language and presentation skills.

"Looking Your Best for Work" "Looking Your Best for Work" is divided into seven sections. Timely interview tips and skills on how to present yourself positively are provided throughout. "Looking Your Best for Work" provides detailed guidelines on appropriate clothing, grooming and presentation for individuals seeking employment.

Things to be considered Personal and social values as they are related to appearance. How values play a role in clothing choices? The relationship between appearance and first impressions. How clothing and good grooming can improve confidence? How to plan the proper clothing for an interview? Good grooming habits to improve appearance and self-respect. Dressing for positive job performance. Positive actions for positive results on the job.

Factors to be considered Dress to Impress Feeling Good about Yourself My Personal Interview Worksheet Values and Dress First Impressions

Feeling Good about Yourself

Feeling Good about Yourself Your clothes are talking about you! Not in words, of course, but in dozens unspoken ways. What you wear expresses how you feel about yourself. What your clothes say about you is within your control. To wear clothing in the best way, you first need to know all about you. Looking your best always demands careful attention to personal grooming and the clothing that you wear. The first and foremost rule is that you must be the center of attention during a job interview, not your clothes ….! . To do this, be conscious of your total appearance. Determine if your appearance is suitable for you and appropriate for getting the job that you want …..?

Personal Interview You can begin by taking a look at yourself. By answering the following questions, you will be clear about who you are ? and your best qualities. Then, you will be able to choose the right type of clothing to fit your qualities and values. My name is: ___________ The things that are most important to me are:_____ I know that I am good at: ____

Personal Interview (cont.) People say that I am good at: would like to have a job doing:

Values and Dress Values are way of life that are important to you. These values affect the choices that you make. These values also affect the type of clothing that you wear. Your appearance communicates your values to others. “ We all live in different communities and are born into different cultures, which are often reflected in the clothing that we wear !”

Values and Dress When you go outside of your community or culture group, others may identify you as being different. A business or organization is a "culture" in itself. When you work for a specific organization, you become a part of that culture. When you are a member of that "culture," you are expected to reflect the values of that organization.

Company’s Culture A potential employer seeks individuals who have qualified skills are responsible and enthusiastic. He also seeks someone who will represent the values of their organization. During an interview session, one thing that the potential employer is concerned about is whether or not you will "fit in" with the culture of their company? One of the hint for this is based on your appearance. If your appearance is very different from the other employees, you may not "fit" the image that the company is seeking. Therefore, when seeking employment you may need to alter your appearance to match the values of the company where you are seeking employment..

First Impression ! You only have one chance to make a good first impression! A person will size you up in a matter of 15 seconds as you walk into the room! What you wear says a whole story about who you are ! or at least who you are presenting yourself to be. That’s why what you wear to a job interview is important. Whether you like it or not, the first impression that you make is visual. This means paying attention to every little detail about you and your dress is important.

Appearance and assessment Appearance can make the difference in getting or not getting a job. Correct appearance can be your competitive advantage over someone else. With first impressions, there is no erase button so make certain that the first impression is a positive one. Potential employers size you up based on how you look and how you carry yourself. So, pick the package that says what you want the employer to think: "This person cares about how they look. This person is serious about finding a job."

Assessment In interviews It is in normal practice that when a person is evaluating you he normally considers the following things. 55% body language and appearance 38% verbal (spoken) tone 7% verbal at ease

The best color choices for an interview outfit: Grey or navy – An excellent color especially for conservative organizations. Blue – A favored color especially if being interviewed by a male. Black – Can be perceived as being "too strong" for an interview. If black is worn, soften the color by using white or pastel accents.

Clothing for Interviews A well-chosen interview outfit is important and is crucial to getting the job you want. It is better to dress a notch higher than the standard for the job for which you are applying. The type of clothing to wear for an interview depends on the type of job you are seeking. If you are not certain about the appropriate dress standard, call ahead to find out the dress code. As a rule, it is always best to dress above the standard that you would normally wear on the job, even if the every day clothing for the job is casual.

Types of Dress Formal Business: Informal Business: Casual wear:

Formal Business: A clean, pressed suit is the best way to go. If this is not available, a suit jacket with coordinated slacks to match is the second choice. Tie with white, blue, light brown or other light colored shirt that compliments the suit. Dress shoes, black or brown only. Dark socks. This clothing style is appropriate for jobs such as: Manager Retail sales Financial manager Teacher Medical assistant

Informal Business: A sport coat with coordinating slacks is the first choice. If this is not available, slacks with shirt and tie are the next choice. This clothing style is appropriate for jobs such as: Office clerk Counselors Physical therapist Security guard Artist

Casual wear: This category is for persons who work strong manual or industrial work. This clothing style is appropriate for jobs such as: Construction Maintenance Repairman Recreation counselor Taxi driver Clean and pressed wash pants are recommended. Try to avoid wearing jeans on the job interview. A shirt with a collar is recommended, maybe knit. Complementary shoes, such as bucks can be worn. It is not recommended to wear sports shoes

Clothing Do’s and Don’ts The following are general guidelines for successful interview dressing: Do wear clean, ironed clothes. Do empty pockets – beware of bulging keys and tinkling change. Don’t wear loud, bright colors such as greens, reds or purples. These colors can be used sparingly as accents or accessories. Don’t wear jeans or t-shirts Don’t wear ripped jeans. Do wear buttoned shirts, leaving only one or two buttons open at most, not showing chest. Don’t wear sports clothes with symbol. Avoid clothing with large designer labels. Do wear a tie if possible. Make certain that it is knotted firmly, not loosely around the shirt collar. Do wear traditional daytime fabrics. Avoid wearing leather.

Accessories (Shoes) Check your shoes. Employers watch the type of shoes that you wear. Never wear sandals, neither flat nor heels, even if they are dressy. The color of your shoe should match, not contrast, your outfit. Wear black, brown, navy or gray. Do not wear bright colors like red, yellow or gold. Gym or sports shoes are a definite no-no even if the job has an informal atmosphere

Jewelry (for females) Jewelry, when tastefully worn, is always an asset to your outfit. A beautiful pin or a favorite bracelet can add to your outfit and can help you feel comfortable. Do avoid wearing too much jewelry. This means wearing one bracelet or one necklace instead of many. Wearing too many rings can distract from your total appearance. As a rule wear, only three pieces of jewelry at one time, not counting your watch. Be careful of wearing dangling earrings unless they are small. Also, do not wear multiple earrings. Leave the nose rings and other piercing at home

Grooming What is good grooming? It is knowing what to do and putting it into practice on a daily basis. Good grooming starts before you put on your clothing. Good grooming: means taking care of your hair, skin, face, hands and your total body. can lift your morale and help increase your self-esteem. means that you are taking care of yourself, and that is important!

Grooming Do’s and Don’ts Do your hair clean and styled neatly. Do not use a lot of perfume. Do not smoke, chew gum or spit tobacco. Do shave your facial hair. If you wear a beard, it should be neatly trimmed. Mustaches should also be trimmed. Do not have dirty fingernails no matter what type of job you are applying for. Trim nails and scrub hands if necessary.

Hygiene and Skin Care Hygiene is an ongoing task. Bathe or shower daily. Rinse or wash your face at least two times a day. Brush daily. Use mouthwash or rinse with diluted baking soda if mouthwash is not available. Drink plenty of water to keep your insides clean. This will also help to keep your skin fresh on the outside.

Accessories Do’s and Don’ts Do wear clean, traditional, and polished shoes. Don’t wear more than two rings. Don’t wear any body piercing paraphernalia (earrings, nose rings, or eyebrow rings) Don’t wear baseball caps or sunglasses. Don’t wear athletic shoes, no matter how clean and new. They are considered inappropriate for an interview. Don’t wear earrings. If you normally wear one, take it out. Don’t wear chains or necklaces. Do shine your shoes. Do wear complimentary and stylish ties. This is one piece of garment that can be eye-catching. Don’t wear sandals.

How to Tie a Tie…? Do you know how to tie a tie? Here’s how. Make certain that you practice before the day of the interview or have someone help you.

Inventory of Items Needed for a Complete Interview Outfit Women Men Suit/Dress Suit Shoes shirt purse shoes jewelry Socks makeup tie socks belt others

Common Shopping Mistakes Buying an item just because it is on sale. Buying at the last minute. Buying an item that doesn’t work with your wardrobe. Paying too much for an item you won’t wear very often.

Shopping Successfully Do I really want this item? Will it fit with the rest of the clothing in my wardrobe? Can I use accessories to update what I have? Can I rebuild my wardrobe using separates? Does the garment have the features I want? Are there hidden costs of buying this item? Can I buy it somewhere else cheaper? Is it fashion or fad?

Make A Call Call the personnel department or ask someone who works for the organization to suggest appropriate attire. You could say, "I have an interview with ________ in the ________ department for a position as an _______. Could you please tell me what would be appropriate dress for this interview? It will be easier and quicker to get the items you need if you plan ahead. The less you have to spend, the more important it is to plan. If you have a limited budget, borrow something from a relative or a friend. You can also shop local resale shops. Looking good does not have to cost a fortune.

Checklist for the Interview Day Bathe or shower the night before or the morning of the interview. Brush your teeth. Use mouth wash. Your outfit should be clean and pressed. other accessories should be ready. Shoes should be polished. Check to make certain the heels are not run-over. Does jewelry match? Is it conservative and tasteful? Are nails and hands clean and neat? Wear cologne, but wear it very lightly. Hair done and neat. Bring a comb with you just in case. For women: Apply makeup lightly. Bring powder and or lipstick to freshen up before the interview. For men: Be freshly shaven. Take a wristwatch with you to keep track of the time, even if it is an inexpensive one. Being on time for the interview is of utmost importance