What does it mean to dress professionally? How about business casual? What’s the difference? Why is this so difficult??? If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re certainly not alone. One of the most difficult things about transitioning into the professional world is figuring out how to dress like a professional. I’m still figuring out the best way “professional dress” works for me, and even though there are some basic rules, your professional style can be just as unique as your personal style! If you want to help out your fellow students with their business attire, be sure to donate your professional clothes for the UMBC Suits You: Professional Clothing Drive with multiple donation stations set up across campus until March 8th. And as always, please feel free to comment any opinions or ideas you may have.
I’d like to preface these tips by saying that the standard rules for business attire are pretty set in traditional gender roles, so even though I’m giving you the basics, you should be able to express yourself through your attire in a way that makes you feel comfortable and confident!
Shoes: your shoes should be closed-toed, and the heel should not be very high - the last thing you want is to stumble and fall on your way into the interview. Flashy colors or sparkle aren’t recommended, because you don’t want the employer staring at your feet the whole time!
Bottoms: The biggest thing here is simply don’t wear jeans. A lot of “dress pants” come in a huge variety of styles, so as long as they fit properly and match with the rest of your outfit, you’re probably fine. Your bottoms should be full length, and definitely shouldn’t be shorter than capri length. Generally, if you are wearing dress pants, you should also be wearing a belt. Skirts and dresses should hit around the knee (even better if they have pockets!)
Tops: There’s a lot of flexibility here. Recommendations would be to have a collared shirt with buttons, a nice blouse, and a blazer if you’re really feeling it. Doing some research about the company can also go a long way, because some companies have stricter dress codes than others.
Accessories: This is another area where I really don’t want to discourage your personal style, so all I can say is don’t make it distracting. If you want to wear a spiffy bowtie or a statement necklace, go for it! But first, get in the mind of the employer: could this be distracting? Will they be blinded by the glint of your jewelry instead of listening to what you have to stay? This is important to consider.
DISCLAIMER: You should not feel the need to censor your attire in a way that masks your religious affiliation or national origin, and discrimination based on creed, religion, or nationality is against the law. For more information, read UMBC’s Statement on Non-Discrimination.
The main takeaway here is that business attire doesn’t have to be that restricting. There is a certain level of modesty that is expected, but you should still be able to show off your personality. If you still have questions, you should attend the Adjust Your Mirror: Dress to Impress Workshop on March 26th in Commons 331. These tips are simply guidelines to follow, because the way you dress should not be the thing between you and your dream job.
