It is not a secret that professional appearance inspires respect and is conducive to business communication. According to Chaney & Martin (2007), “First impressions are often lasting impressions; research shows that 55 percent of this first impression is based on appearance” (p.28). Looking at overall appearance people often decide whether or not they like you and will do business with you. At subconscious level this comes within 5 seconds of the first encounter. Appropriate business dress, hygiene and grooming describe your attitude to work, professionalism, preparedness, intelligence and self-confidence. Companies have policies that regulate professional appearance in their workplace. The following can be identified as some underlying rules every professional should follow in the workplace: wearing a business suit in classis colors (black, blue, grey) with light colored shirts or chemises; being neat and clean (teeth, fingernails, face, hair, clothes, and shoes); keeping your pockets empty (no coins, no keys or any other bulges); using a portfolio case, a briefcase or a pursue to carry important documents; hiding any tattoos or body piercings and minimizing excessive use of jewelries.
Looking presentable requires slightly more than putting on a good business suit. Personal hygiene and grooming also constitute an important part of the rules for professional appearance in the workplace. Personal hygiene is a principle of maintaining body cleanliness, while grooming is care for hair and fingernails. The minimum standards of good hygiene and grooming can be viewed as follows: keeping your hair clean and neatly groomed; giving yourself a manicure (polishing, trimming, and painting); taking a shower or having a bath every day; washing your face and hands several times a day; brushing your teeth in the morning and in the evening; wearing little perfume.
Good grooming and personal hygiene generally help people to feel self-confidence and perform to the best of their abilities. A lack of good grooming and personal hygiene can have social and health consequences.
Nowadays tattoos and piercing are becoming more popular, fashionable and mainstream. Many companies have no formal policies towards tattoos or piercings. An employer cannot forbid you to have tattoos and piercings on your body but may ask to keep tattoos covered and limit the visibility of some piercings. However, according to ADF’s policy tattoos and/or brands are prohibited from having on the candidates’ faces who wish to enter the Navy, Army, or Air Force. There are still pros and cons for having tattoos and piercings in business environment. Therefore, one has to bear this in mind and think twice before making tattoos and piercings.
When on job interviews, you also have to make an impression by your professional appearance. The way you dress, your hygiene, grooming, facial expression, handshake, all affect an interviewer’s attitude towards you. Wearing a casual top, jeans or short skirts will most probably be marked against you. If your clothes are clean, neat and professional, it shows that you put an effort in preparing for the job interview and it will be a tick for you. All the mentioned rules and standards are generally acceptable guidelines you should follow for job interview preparation.
References
Chaney, L. H., & Martin, J. S. (2007). The essential guide to business etiquette. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
Snicket, L., & Helquist, B. (2000). The Miserable Mill. New York, N.Y: HarperCollins Publishers.
