Dress to Make the Right Impression
Workplace (and work-related) self-expression through dress and hairstyle can be a challenge to navigate. It’s important to develop a critical awareness of how your dress and hairstyle choices may be perceived, even if you disagree strongly with those perceptions.
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Thinking About Dress Codes and Expectations
Some vocabulary:
Dress codes: often formally written and maintained by Human Resource departments
Dress expectations: often implicit expectations that are not formalized anywhere
Dress codes and dress expectations can be organized into a few sets of pairs.
formal vs. informal
conservative vs. unconventional
variation in self-expression vs. a uniform/specific aesthetic look
The design department of a large corporation might be more formal than an independent design consultancy, but both might have room for a certain level of unconventionalness.
Tech companies often have very informal dress expectations, but may differ on how much unconventional dress and hairstyles are accepted.
A small design firm with a very strong visual aesthetic may expect employees to adopt that aesthetic in their personal dress as well.
An arts-centered non-profit may value individuality in daily dress, but expect more formal or conservative dress for meetings with certain corporate sponsors or donors.
Navigating Dress Codes
Interviewing
For the interview itself, research the the industry/company in advance. When in doubt, dress more formally.
If a policy about tattoos, hairstyles, hair colors, level of formality, or anything else dress and hair-related is something very important to you, ask about the company’s policies during an interview.
An interview is also a great time to observe how the people at the company are dressed. If you interview in person, observe all the people you see, not just those who are interviewing you. People may dress more formally for an interview than they would for a regular day, but you can still gain important information.
On the Job
Dress codes are usually spelled out in the employee handbook. Ask during the hiring process for the official policy, and once hired, read the handbook carefully.
If your employer does have a written dress code, remember that you may still find ways a balance your self-expression and the dress code.
Most companies in the United States have unspoken expectations about personal hygiene and general neatness in dress.
At a Networking Event
The point of networking events is to get to know people, so this can be a time to select clothes that showcase your personal style and brand.
You’ll often be standing a lot, so think about both style and comfort when you select your shoes. Even though you think they look amazing and fit your personality, high heels may not be the best choice.