Dressing for the job you want is great advice for those feeling overlooked when it comes to promotions at work. Doing so demonstrates that you have a clear vision as to where you are heading professionally, which is an incredibly attractive trait to have as an employee and will allow you to stand out in the workforce.
In this guide, we will explain just how you can dress for the job you want, so that you can truly capitalise on professional success and secure a much-deserved promotion.
What message do you want to convey?
A picture paints a thousand words, and this is no different when it comes to your choice of business attire. Whether we like it or not, society judges people on appearance, so it is crucial that you look the part, especially in a formal business environment.
Tailored suits and sharp shirts for men will allow you to convey a professional, authoritative image, whereas wearing something loose fitting such as a cardigan and jeans will convey the opposite. The latter demonstrates that you adopt a lax approach to work, meaning you will cement yourself as an unlikely candidate for promotion in the eyes of your employers. In other words, it is crucial that you are able to demonstrate professional intent through your clothing choices, and dressing sharply is an effective way to realise this.
Consistency is key
As we have established, your choice of attire is a direct reflection of your professional attitude and represents your work ethic. This means that you should consistently dress appropriately for work to demonstrate your commitment to professional life.
In other words, embody your values through your clothing; consistency will ensure that you are able to uphold a standard that you will not fall below. Dressing well will allow you to establish your own personal ‘brand’ of excellence, allowing you to feel more confident and authentic in the workplace, commanding respect from your fellow employees, which is a highly attractive trait when it comes to climbing the career ladder.
Stand out
A key feature of dressing for the job you want is to visually set yourself apart from the rest of the working team. In other words, don’t blend in.
If members of your team tend to dress themselves down, that does not mean that you should also diminish your appearance. Take pride in what you wear and ensure your look is smart, coordinated, and an enhanced version of what the rest of the team are wearing. This will allow you to still dress as a team player, but at the same time set yourself apart from everyone else, thus demonstrating work ethic and drive.
The best version of you
By dressing for the job you want, and not the job you have, you will be able to drastically enhance yourself professionally. By doing so, you can effectively demonstrate your values to those around you and establish yourself as someone who goes above and beyond in the workplace. In other words, you can create a vision of your professional future through your choice of clothes that will showcase to your employer that you are a valued member of the team and are committed to excellence.
Read More: What is a Target Audience and why do you need one?
