By: Terzah Dyer
Professionalism begins with your appearance. The effort you put into making yourself look presentable shows how much you care. Employers want their staff to represent their company well, which includes looking professional. Professional dress is essential for successful first impressions.
Looking professional doesn’t take much effort and doesn’t have to be costly. Here are some head-to-toe tips on how to look the part.
Shoes
For women, heels or flats are good. Heels should range from two to four inches. The shoes should be closed-toed, and in neutral colors like black, nude or navy blue. Leather and patent are respectable materials for shoes. Shoes shouldn’t be worn-down or dirty looking.
For men, the most common dress shoes are loafers, oxford and wingtips. They range in style but all have a clean, classic look.
Clothing
When dressing for career and internship fairs, business professional is the best option. For men, this will include dress pants with a nice belt, a collared shirt and a tie.
Ladies can wear dress pants and a nice blouse or a skirt or dress as long as it’s not too short. Avoid jeans and crazy colors.
Adding a blazer to both the men and women’s options will make the outfit more professional.
Physical appearance
As for physical appearance, look clean and well groomed. This should include tidy hair, a clean smell and overall good hygiene.
Combining these professional dress tips will prepare you for future interviews, internship fairs and the professional world. You can practice these professional dress tips at the Department of Journalism/PRSSA Internship Fair on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the UC rotunda.