Students stroll to class in jeans, T-shirts and flip-flops on many college campuses because that’s acceptable dress as they spend hours poring over textbooks, preparing themselves for the competitive job market.
And when they earn their hard-won degrees, they need one more course: business attire basics. Knowing what to wear is a must because unshined shoes or an ill-fitting suit can sabotage the prospects of the most brilliant job candidate.
Women and men each have a set of rules to follow; but this time, we concentrate on the guys.We talked with experts and three MBA students who shared their real-life work experiences.
“Some students think they can wear on the job what they wore to class,” says Sherry Maysonave, an image consultant and author. “They’re coming out of school ill-prepared for what to expect in the business environment.”
Schools such as the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver require students to attend receptions,
dinners and other functions so they become familiar with how to dress and act.
“From the moment they start business
school, we immerse them in the culture of business,” says Bill Silver, associate dean for executive and professional
programs.
The school attracts many international students, he says. “Each student comes with a a unique set of rules, and they teach each other whether you kiss, bow or shake hands when you meet someone.”
Initial impressions are important and employers can form their opinions of an applicant within the first 10 to 15 seconds of meeting, says Kenya Haupt, recruiting director for Pricewaterhouse-Coopers in Denver and Salt Lake City.
“A student’s dress, grooming and behavior are critical to making the first impression a strong one.”
While most of the graduates Haupt interviews are well-prepared, things like visible tattoos and piercings are
a turn-off. “We have occasionally seen students who haven’t bothered to cover those things up, which sometimes leaves the wrong impression,” she says.
The question that has to be answered, Haupt says, is, “Will this student be presentable in all of our client situations, and I am comfortable with how he or she presents and handles themselves to represent PricewaterhouseCoopers?’ Image, quality and excellence are high values of ours so we are careful to select people who will represent us well in all facets of those values. Clearly, dress and professionalism are right at
the top.”
Haupt recommends students wear suits when interviewing with her company on campus, but says they can dress in a more relaxed fashion when visiting the office for a follow-up meeting. Still, more than half the young men wear a coat and tie, she says.
“I see people dressing up more, even in manufacturing,” says Maysonave. “A lot of companies say they have a casual business policy, but their sales teams are wearing suits. I don’t see casual Friday happening like it did in the 1990s. There’s still a lot of confusion, but companies have been more willing to put in writing what their policies are.”
A series of events, most prominently 9/11, the subsequent economic downturn and war, caused business to get more competitive, Maysonave says. “Dressing in serious business attire inspires trust and credibility.”
Men are hitting the haberdashery in droves to earn that trust. For the year ended in March, the men’s tailored clothing industry reported $4.1 billion in sales, up from $3.7 billion a year earlier, according to The NPD Group, a marketing information company.
Looking sharp for an interview shows respect for the company and the interviewer, says Bruce Pask, style director at Cargo magazine. “Then again, if people who are working there are wearing T-shirts and jeans and you show up in suit, you might look out of place,” he says.
“You need to know the company and pay attention to the environment.The basics aren’t difficult to grasp.”
Staff writer Suzanne S. Brown can be reached at 303-820-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com.
