Be Prepared
“Be prepared” may be a Boy Scout motto, but it also works for me, especially because I am now working full time. I want to dress professionally for my job and this can be quite daunting if I wait until morning to select my attire. It’s best, I’ve learned, to prepare the night before.
Prior to starting “my big-girl job,” I was used to college attire, if that’s what you call jeans, sweats and my all-time favorite pj’s. Within weeks of starting college, I discovered that I could attend early morning classes in whatever I wore to bed the night before. Everybody did this. How easy it was for me to wake at 8:05 a.m., roll out of bed, maybe brush my teeth (maybe not), throw on a coat, and rush to my 8:30 class. I didn’t look any different than the other coeds in class. Besides, why did we need to go all-out with our looks? Flirting with a member of the opposite sex wasn’t even a consideration at 8:30 a.m.!
When I was offered my professional position a few months ago, I had two weeks to check my wardrobe and add pieces that would give me the “serious” look that I wanted to portray to my boss and coworkers. I did great creating a good first impression with the clothes I wore. For the first few weeks, I spent time before going to bed selecting an outfit, making sure the pieces matched and everything was in good repair. I polished my shoes, if need be, changed purses, and tried out different jewelry. I was totally put together.
With time and with job and coworker familiarity came a lapse in my good efforts at being prepared the night before with the next day’s outfit. I began to throw things together in a mad rush to get out the door. Some days I looked great anyway; some days not so much. In my mind, I still looked better than the majority of my coworkers.
Then came a particularly bad throw-an-outfit-together day. Nothing important was on my schedule for work on this particular day and I dressed accordingly. My outfit wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t that good. Soon after I arrived at work I was called into a meeting with my boss and a couple of big clients. I was embarrassed at the way I looked. Why hadn’t I dressed better? Why didn’t I look more professional?
I made it through the meeting and, luckily, my verbal additions on the subject being discussed gave me credibility. I, however, realized that how you dress at work does make a difference. Although nothing was said to me by my boss, I knew that I could have created a better professional image had I taken more care in what I wore.
I’m back to being prepared for whatever happens at work by selecting clothes the night before. I’m back to professional attire, even on dress-down Fridays. Clothes may not make a person, but they sure go far in creating an impression of that person! With a little effort the night before, I’m now always prepared to make a good first and professional impression.
Comments
I'll have to get my kids to read this. Good one!
Posted by: Carol | December 8, 2006 05:41 PM