Office Dress Up: How to Look the Part of Someone Who Deserves a Promotion

In the movie ‘Picture Perfect’, Jennifer Aniston’s character was passed for a promotion she badly wanted. When she asked her boss about it, he told her that she had all the skills necessary for the job, but that she dressed up like a kid who was still in college, not as the advertising executive she so wanted to be. Sounds like real life? Well, it is. Employers not only look at their employees’ qualifications but also consider whether or not they look the part of someone who deserves a promotion. If you want to dress for that part, here’s how to do it.

Conform.
Look around you. Consider the industry you’re working in and how people in your department are dressed. If you’ve been working with the same company for some time, you probably know by now the type of dress code that the bosses approve and which ones they frown at.

In certain industries, for example, you’re required to dress down to basics — dark, conventional suits, ties, sensible shoes, little accessories, etc. In others, you can afford to be a little dressy. The fashion industry, for example, allows their people to be more colorful and more creative in their wardrobe choices. Take note of this to help you decide on what to wear next time you go to work.

Emulate.
If there’s someone in your office that you admire and want to be like, take note of how they dress and follow their example. We’re not talking about cloning here, because that can be downright creepy and could have a negative effect. What you should do is try to see how that person dresses and uses certain pieces to enhance their look.

For example, if your supervisor, manager or other successful members of your organization always comes to work dressed in neat, tailored clothes, you might want to try that look yourself. If people in your organization come in business suits, ditch your t-shirts and plunging necklines to look like you belong and deserve a promotion.

Groom.
It’s not necessary to break the bank just to look the part of someone who deserves a promotion; you can simply come dressed and groomed neatly, in attire that is proper for the kind of job you hope to attain. Dress in clean clothes that fit well, clothes that make you feel good and look good. Image plays a significant part in any promotion, so make sure you project one that makes you look like someone who can take charge.

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