Dressing for work, a job interview, presentation or any business event, used to be pretty simple. Men wore suits, women wore dresses—simple as that. But then the days of Mad Men came and went, and we had Silicon Valley-type guys like Steve Jobs running billion-dollar empires from the comfort of a turtleneck and jeans. Business casual now means thirty different things.
The type of first impression you give with the way you dress is still just as important, but the rules of what’s appropriate and what’s not have changed. Here are a few guidelines to help you dress for success no matter what industry you’re in;[/fusion_text][/one_half][fusion_text]Know What Your Client Is Wearing
The easiest way to determine what’s appropriate to wear when you meet with a client is to figure out what they’re wearing. A quick call to their front desk or reception is all it takes to learn about the company’s dress code, eliminating any guesswork on your end.
Err on the Side of Overdressing
If the company you’re pitching to wears jeans and a t-shirt to work every day, there’s no need for you to come in in suit skirt or three-piece suit. Still, it’s always better to err on the side of caution—you never want to be the most casually dressed person in the room. A good rule of thumb: call and find out the company’s dress code, then dress just one step more formal than that.[/fusion_text][one_half last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Hygiene!
It shouldn’t need to be said, but your hygiene probably contributes even more to making a good first impression than your dress. Brush your teeth, comb your hair, clip and clean your finger nails and always remember to wear deodorant.
Public Opinion
Before you begin your appointment or pitch ask at least two people how you look, even if they are strangers. You might have a seam open on the back of a jacket or your hair might look like a bird’s nest. Make sure to double check your appearance, always.
Here at Acquirent, we know the value of a first impression as our recruiting team is always interviewing candidates and we’re always presenting to potential clients. We’re specialists in outsourced sales, so if you’re looking to maximize your sales career, we’re hiring. Visit our careers page for open positions.[/fusion_text][/one_half][one_half last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”dropshadow” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] 
[/imageframe][/one_half][fusion_text]Editor’s Note: A special thanks goes out to Luisa and Clayton who provided stellar examples of how to Dress for Success!
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