ShareThisDear Mr. Walberg:
I live in the greater Memphis, Tenn., area and have an interview scheduled with a pharmaceutical company that gives sales reps monogrammed golf shirts to wear during warm months. I guess the female reps give them to others or wear them on weekends, but the male reps wear them to work every day. My background in sales has always been more professional. So I'm not comfortable with that look. I have two questions:
What do you suggest I wear to the interview?
What is your opinion of this kind of dress code?
-- E-mail from R.P.
Dear R.P.:
Oh, I have an opinion, all right, but we'll get to that later!
In every case, dress up a notch for interviews, and it never hurts to ask the company what might be expected. They should appreciate your effort to make the right first impression. If, for example, you know that everyone in the office dresses casually, you could choose a navy blazer, nice gray dress slacks, a white or blue dress shirt and an understated tie that complements the outfit. I would not try to match their relaxed look. Remember that there's rarely a situation where a dark suit, white shirt and understated tie wouldn't work.
First impressions do happen -- and last forever. Dress professionally in an outfit that is clean, well pressed and well fitted. Be neatly groomed, use soap and water, and leave the colognes at home. Polish your shoes and leave all piercings off, as well as excess jewelry. A wristwatch is sufficient.
And now my opinion on the dress-casual look: "Dressy casual" or "casual dress" is an oxymoron. I know it gets hot in Memphis in the summer, but if I were a doctor I wouldn't mind my pharmaceutical sales rep giving me a golf shirt with their advertising on it. But I wouldn't approve of him wearing it to my office. I would figure he was late for his tee time!
It's interesting to me. If one dresses casually in the workplace, one acts more casual. If one dresses for business, one tends to act more business-like, more professional. Why would any business choose a more relaxed environment, particularly in a slow economy where you need as much professionalism and productivity as possible?
(E-mail Marvin Walberg, a search coach, at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net, marvinwalberg.blogspot.com.)
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