Black Collegian Career Center

Clothes make the man." So the old adage goes. In today's politically correct environment, of course, it would be more appropriate to say, "Clothes make the person." Semantics aside, the truth of the matter is: how a person dresses makes a statement about one's self-identification, image conveyed to others, and level of occupational aspiration.

In short, African-American collegians, who strive to obtain the best jobs following graduation and achieve career progression later on, are advised to dress for success, as much as their wardrobe budgets and clothing options allow.

It's an attitude thing

College life has many special benefits, including the informality of dress pervasive on most campuses. Almost any outfit is acceptable, so long as it's clean, fashionable, and reasonably covers most parts of the body. The mixture of eclectic wardrobe styles—along with exotic hairdos—offers plenty of room for African Americans to express individuality, and to make appropriate social statements.

In terms of acceptable dress, the prevalent philosophy on most campuses can be summed up in the R&B lyrics of another generation: "It's your thing. Do what you want to do…"
Such is not the case in mainstream corporate America. The dictum for serious job hunting can be coined in a simple statement: "Play the game and look the part." This practical advice holds true in small companies and even more so in large corporations that strive to maintain a certain corporate image.

Dress for the job you want

It's important to "look the part" as you interview for your first job out of college, and for successive positions as you advance in your career. To land the job you really want, consider the following pointers:

Make the best first impression. From the moment that you step inside the place of employment, all eyes will be on you. Everyone you speak with, including the receptionist, will draw some opinion of you based on how you dress and carry yourself. The interviewer, especially, will make a quick determination as to how well you will fit in with the group based on your attire, grooming and personal deportment. You have one chance to make a good impression—so don't blow it! Corporate employers are impressed with tasteful and conservative clothing and grooming. What does this mean in practical terms? For men, the rule of thumb is to wear a well-pressed, two-piece dark suit (navy or charcoal, preferably) made with a nice fabric such as blended wool. Coordinate this with a long-sleeved, buttoned-down, white cotton shirt (polyester blends are out) and a colorful silk tie that is not too flashy. Well-shined black shoes and matching leather belt enhance the overall look. Women have more flexibility in what to wear to impress an interviewer. Although a traditional two-piece business suit is always a safe bet, wearing a conservative business dress with tasteful accessories can also serve the purpose well. Dark solids are more appropriate than pastels or prints (unless you're interviewing for a job in the leisure travel business). Accenting the basic attire with a colorful belt or scarf adds the right touch.

The tips mentioned above constitute the standard advice offered by college placement officials and fashion consultants such as John Molloy in his several Dress for Success books. It should be understood though, that the rules for dressing for success are flexible, depending upon the circumstances. For example: A student interviewing for a hotel position in the Bahamas might create a more favorable impression by wearing a light-weight beige suit than sporting a navy pinstripe suit that conveys the "Wall Street" look.

Grooming is important. Donning proper interview attire doesn't mean much if your overall level of grooming doesn't create a favorable impression. For instance, wearing dreadlocks might make an important social statement on campus, but it won't score you points in the context of a corporate interview.

A short, neat haircut always looks good on a man. Sporting a precision-cut perm or other contemporary hairdo will enhance a woman's appearance. (Avoid the "exotic" looks that your beautician might want to experiment with.) Another practical point is to shampoo the night before an on-site interview. For either men or women, this contributes to a feeling of self-confidence in interviewing.

Make-up is another important part of grooming. Women should err on the side of too little rather than too much. The selection of make-up should complement skin tone, features and attire. Men with skin problems such as blemishes and uneven facial complexion might consider some of the products that cosmetic companies manufacture for the male market that address these concerns.

Don't forget the fingernails—the interviewer will definitely notice them. Even if they are not professionally manicured, they should be neat, clean and of an appropriate length. For women, a light-colored nail polish (nothing garish) adds a nice touch.

Accessorize appropriately. Both genders should pay attention to accessories such as jewelry. Wearing multiple rings, bracelets and earrings don't convey a conservative image. For men, an attractive watch and class ring (or wedding ring) is enough jewelry. Save your "wrist gear" (chunky male bracelet) for another time.

Women have more options in accessorizing: a tasteful broach, clasp bracelet, small earrings or single-strand necklace can greatly enhance an outfit. As a rule of thumb, two items of complementary jewelry should suffice as appropriate accessories for any interview attire.

What about men wearing earrings? To be on the safe side—regardless of location or industry—take off the earring until you are well established on the job and determine that it's acceptable to express your self-identification in that way.

To achieve the right look, also pay attention to what you carry into the interview. For women, your handbag should match your shoes and coordinate well with your entire ensemble. (Guys, if you normally carry a small masculine clutch, save it until after you get the job!)

Anyone carrying a portfolio or attaché to an interview should select the highest quality of leather grain affordable (rather than vinyl). On the other hand, it's best to avoid animal-grain textures such as snake or alligator. Though these are typically more expensive, they are often perceived as being somewhat gaudy.

What about tattoos and body piercings? Popular culture has made these fashionable in casual or social settings. In the context of an interview with mainstream corporate America, it's best to cover your tattoos and piercings with long-sleeved shirts, blouses, collars, and such. Bear in mind, any aspect of your personal image that sparks controversy can cost you the job. So be on the safe side and blend in with the more conservative elements of the company.

Before the interview. Even if you are appropriately dressed for success, inattention to certain details can spoil the interview. Before entering the office where you will interview, stop off in a restroom and check yourself in a full-length mirror. You might notice things like a crooked tie, a run in the hose, or a smudge on the shoes. (Ladies, it's smart to carry an extra pair of hose in your purse.) Tidying up a bit can boost your confidence and preclude needless embarrassment. Another helpful hint: During the restroom visit, make sure you use a bit of breath freshener. You don't want to offend the interviewer with lingering halitosis.

Build a career wardrobe

Your first job out of college won't be your last. As you progress in your profession, it's helpful to build a career wardrobe that will serve you well wherever you work.

Consider the corporate culture. Different industries and professions have varying standards of what constitutes appropriate workplace attire. The trendy, eclectic, highly individualized look associated with an advertising agency or dot-com company would be highly inappropriate for a law firm or accounting firm. Regardless of your individual taste in clothing, carefully consider the corporate culture of the organization where you hope to work. If you do get the job, pay attention to how managers and junior executives or partners dress. It's not necessary to imitate them, but at least take note of the styles of dress associated with those in "the winner's circle."

Develop an image of success. Dressing for success means more than buying a couple of new suits for interviewing purposes. In order to build a career wardrobe, carefully select clothing and accessories that mix and match well and that convey a sense of confidence, self-assurance and individuality. This includes special attire appropriate for "casual Friday" and for social functions sponsored by the company. In clothing selection, quality always trumps quantity. To help develop your image of success, you might casually suggest for birthday or Christmas gifts certain quality clothing items like a sweater from Brooks Brothers, or a Mont Blanc pen, or a Jack Georges attaché case.

What about the ethnocentric look?

Many African-American collegians face a quandary when deciding how ethnocentric their personal wardrobe and image should be. But, a good school of thought is that ambitious, young minorities should emulate the advice of widely read author John Molloy. Mincing no words, his specific advice to minorities is to blend in with their corporate surroundings and forego ethnocentric individuality in favor of adopting the standardized corporate look that has passed the test of time, regardless of industry or profession. In a word, this is the "navy pinstripe and beige overcoat" image that has defined generations of career-minded professionals. In short, you should certainly be yourself, but by all means fit in where you want to launch your career as a budding professional. The rest will take care of itself.