Whether you are on the job search and starting a round of interviews or you have been working at your company for a couple of years, how you present yourself can make all of the difference in your success. Don’t compromise your intelligence and work ethic by dressing unprofessionally. Your image can have more influence on your work performance than you may think. At Be Inspired PR, I expect our employees to dress professionally and take pride in their appearance.

Look Good, Feel Good

How you feel about yourself can have a huge effect on your mood and translate over to your work. Whenever I go to a networking event or a presentation, I always make sure that I am wearing an outfit that I look and feel great in because I want to stay focused on performance, rather than worrying about how I look. When I feel great in an outfit, my confidence is immediately boosted and I am more likely to perform better. Your conscious mind has the immense power to help you shape your reality. By having confidence in yourself, dressing the part, and perceiving that you are capable of a task, you enhance your ability to actually achieve your goals. Looking good on the outside leaves you feeling good on the inside and can lead to a productive, successful day.

Send the Right Message

When you are dressed professionally, people will respect you. Office attire conveys so much more than we think. Putting thought and time into how you are showing up to work shows your fellow employees, boss and clients that you are serious, capable and care about what you do. Look and dress the part to gain the respect that you deserve and always make a good first impression. You never know who you may meet on a day-to-day basis, so dressing well will guarantee that you are always ready.

Make Sure You’re Overdressed Rather Than Underdressed

Most times, your look will play a role in the first impression you make with your employer, so when going to an interview or attending your first day at a new job, it’s always better to opt for a polished look. If you want to send the right message to your interviewer and/or boss, take the time to understand the corporate culture and what the most appropriate attire would be. I can tell immediately if a candidate is serious about the position based on their outfit. If they did their research, they would know what our style is like here at Be Inspired PR. Once you land the job, feel out the office atmosphere and notice what the people around you are wearing. If your office is more on the casual side, feel free to dress down a little bit. Just have a good sense of the vibe before you start.

Take Care of Yourself

You have the outfit: now, make sure you have the hygiene to match. Clothing and hygiene go hand in hand, and while we like to say its what’s on the inside that counts, physical appearance is the first thing that people notice and remember. Brushed hair, minty breath, and an over-all-pulled-together look can make all the difference when interacting with either a current boss or future employer. Good hygiene lets people know that you like to take care of yourself, which says something about your character. While no one may consciously think that you have good hygiene, they will most definitely notice if you do not.

Don’t Overdo It

While following these tips, it is important to remember where you are and what your goal is. Think about your purpose when getting ready in the morning. While your appearance can help you convey how professional, dedicated, productive and hardworking you are, going overboard can hinder it. Dressing in anything too flashy, inappropriate, or very different from the norm at your office can create negative impressions and send the opposite message from what you are trying to convey.

Every day at work, aim to look how you would want to be remembered. Taking time to look professional is worth the few extra minutes in the morning, and your career could benefit from that extra effort. When polished, all you need is the confidence to match. A lot of the time, this comes with the thought you put into how you look.