Choosing the Right Professional Attire
Part I
I viewed pictures of people in various workplaces and their attire. The individuals all looked professional, though some were dressed more formally than others. For instance, the business professional was dressed in a suit and tie, while the IT professional wore jeans and his shirt untucked in the field. Setting has a lot to do with attire, but what made them all look professional was the fact that they never looked sloppy or unkempt.
If I showed up as teacher in an old, crummy t-shirt with stains on it and holes in my jeans, I would look unprofessional. The key to looking professional is to not look like you slept in your clothes, haven’t bathed, or have never heard of a comb or brush. Clothing is only one part of the question: you must groom yourself and practice good grooming habits, no matter what the profession is.
The set of slides that best represents my desired career field is the IT professional set and the professional attire in this set was fairly laid back and comfortable. The professionals were not wearing formal attire (no jackets or ties), and they looked fairly casual—but no one looked untidy or unkempt and that is the important point to remember when considering dressing for one’s profession. I could see myself in the IT field as my own grooming habits and attire match up with this set...
A person should not come into work in anything very formal as that person might be confused for someone in upper management or at an executive level. At the same time, a professional in my line of work does not have license to come into work looking untidy or unkempt. He or she must be well-groomed, clean, and inoffensive in dress and demeanor. No offensive t-shirts should be worn. No clothing should be immodest or revealing of too much skin.
What makes someone a professional in my field is the knowledge and skills of the job that the person has. One is a professional if one is ready and willing to apply himself every day to the task allotted him. If one shows up on time to work and works with the goal being to provide good service to the organization, then that person can be considered professional. The exact type of attire one wears is incidental—but it should never be so casual that it looks like the person is wearing pajamas, workout gear, or anything that would be out of place in a respectful and courteous environment.
The right attitude should also be possessed. This attitude comes across in one’s professional attire but also in the way that the person applies himself on the job. The right behavioral attitudes consist of respect for other…
