How Your Personal Appearance Affects Your Career

You may have heard the expression “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” In an age where intellect is judged in 140-character increments, dating potential is judged with a swipe left or right, and popularity is judged by the number of “likes” you receive, your appearance at work might matter more than you’d expect. Most people can pull together a briefing or work in a database with enough training, but being able to have a conversation, carry yourself well, and look professional – i.e. mastering “soft skills” – can play an unexpectedly huge part in your professional success.

I am a firm believer in putting your best foot forward. There is temptation to take advantage of the now standard “business casual” – especially during the summer. This includes jeans and a top that are a bit too relaxed, sandals sans pedicure, or a dress that is perfect for happy hour but erring on the wild side of business casual. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. People will often make snap judgments based on what they see in front of them. When I discussed this with my roommate last night, she summed up what I would venture to say is a common thought on this process: “If you can’t handle getting dressed appropriately in the morning, how on earth can you handle more responsibility in the office?”

When you are among the youngest in the office, dressing professionally can really help give you a leg up. People who see you in the hallway, who don’t have the opportunity to become familiar with your work, can only judge you on what you are wearing and how you carry yourself. I’ve had co-workers comment that I am “always so dressed up.” I would rather be overdressed than underdressed. I’ve been told that my superiors at work know that they can always pull me into a meeting – even if they have not yet seen me that day – because I am dressed professionally and carry myself well. Last week, I was pulled into a meeting with a Senior Executive and was able to focus on my work because I knew that I looked polished and professional. Could you imagine if I were in jeans and a t-shirt? (Real talk: I have witnessed this in the office. This is not an exaggeration.) It was already nerve-racking to be in that meeting – I didn’t need the additional layer of worrying that I was dressed like a slob.

So now that I have (hopefully) driven this point home, what can you do about it? We are all pressed for time, and being new to our careers, most of us don’t have an unlimited budget to buy beautiful, professional clothing and get our hair blown out daily. If you do, more power to you, but if you don’t, these tricks will prove helpful!

First things first: drink lots of water, wash your make up off before you go to bed, use moisturizer, take vitamins, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and try to make going to the gym a regular habit. If you feel better, you will look better.

Hair and nails may seem like extras, but keeping them healthy can really bring your look to the next level. Be sure to use a hair serum. I just got this Ojon sample from Sephora and love it. Glossy hair is an easy way to look more polished without having to do too much. Keep your nails well-manicured, as well. Some people don’t like nail polish, which is fine. At the very least, keep your nails filed and use hand lotion and cuticle oil regularly. Well-manicured hands may seem like a silly thing to be worried about, but both of my parents (who are business professionals) have stressed the importance of this for as long as I can remember.

If you saw my post last week, you know that I am really into being fiscally responsible; but if you know me, you also know how much I love shopping and putting together cute outfits. These traits do not have to be mutually exclusive! It is possible to have a fabulous professional wardrobe on a budget. Personally, I am a big fan of consignment shops. If you can, go to the ones in higher-end areas for a better selection. It is also worth a call to find out what day of the week new items are put on the floor and plan your shopping days accordingly. If consignment shops are not your thing, you need to get on the sale train. Most stores offer student discounts, so if your student ID is still valid, make good use of it. J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor all have great work items and take a student discount. Also, if you are not familiar with flash sale sites, get familiar. It is a great way to purchase expensive items for a reasonable price. Do yourself a favor and sign up for Gilt and Rue La La. And be sure to check out Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, and T.J.Maxx. If you are worried about your sale items looking outdated, focus on classic cuts and colors.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you need to put your best foot forward, and this involves perfecting the whole package. You need to deliver quality work, but you also need to put stake into your appearance – because even if you are not, everyone else is.

By