Transcript BUSINESS DRESS ETIQUETTE BRIEFING

Business Dress
&
Business Etiquette
C2M
The Do’s & The Don'ts…
Supplemented By
Information From A Presentation By Ginger L. Bowen
And Information From a UCF Presentation
OVERVIEW
Why Appearance Matters
What Is Business Dress?
Do’s And Don’ts
What Is Business Casual?
What Is Semiformal Attire?
“Dress For Success” Examples & Sources
A Related Sidebar…
General Business Etiquette
How To Attend A Cocktail Party
Business Dining
Other resource info…
YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR
In a business setting, people first notice
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Your clothing
Your face
Your hands
Your shoes
Your writing instrument
Your briefcase
Your watch… etc etc…
The care taken in your appearance
indicates the care taken in your position
A Side-Bar On
How You Are Perceived…
• If you look like a/an _____, people will
treat you like a/an ______.
• If you act like a/an _____, people will
treat you like a/an ______.
• If you talk like a/an _____, people will
treat you like a/an ______.
WHAT IS BUSINESS DRESS?
Attire appropriate for meetings or an
office environment
Purpose is to convey a professional
appearance, as well as create an
environment conducive to work
Personal expression is encouraged, but
should not be taken to extremes
Dress For Success
For Men
Suits
Colors to Wear:
dark blue, gray,
brown or muted
pin-stripes
Tailored and
freshly dry cleaned
Shirts
Good quality, white button-down or
white classic color – bi/color….?
Make sure the shirt is pressed
Ties
Silk or good quality
Complement suit
Tip of tie should end
near the center of belt
buckle
Don’t let the
tie speak for
you!
YES!
NO!
Shoes
Highly polished slip-ons
Laced dress shoes in black, cordovan
or brown
Dark socks that are high enough to
hide your skin when you sit down
Facial Hair
No facial hair if possible, if you
must, trim it neatly
YES
NO!
MAYBE
Jewelry
No chains or necklaces showing
No rings other than wedding or
college ring
No earrings or other piercing; if you
have them, take them out
Conservative watch
Other Tips
Clean fingernails
Minimal cologne
Empty your pockets to avoid
clinking or bulges
Turn off cell phones and beepers
No gum or cigarettes
You only have one
chance to make a good
first impression!
Dress For Success
For Women
Why Is Dress So Crucial For
Success?
• First impressions are extremely
important!
• Irreversible assumptions are
made almost immediately
based on a persons’
appearance.
• You want to put your best foot
forward and present yourself in
a positive light.
5 Tips Everyone Should Know About
Dressing Professionally
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Keep your appearance neat and clean.
Clothing should be freshly pressed - no wrinkles!
Well groomed nails are important.
Wear minimal make-up and
jewelry.
Neutral body odor is essential
(wear an antiperspirant/deodorant,
use perfume or other fragrance
sparingly)!
Examples of Professional Attire
Put Your Best Shoe Forward
• Many managers and interviewers make assumptions
based on an individual’s shoes.
• This is one way of assessing whether
you pay attention to details.
• Shoes should be:
• Neat and polished.
• Closed toe.
• No higher than a 2 inch heal (unless you
are extremely short).
Keep it Conservative
• It is always best to err on the side of caution.
• The most traditional and conservative interview attire for
women is a two piece, matched skirt suit.
• Always, always wear a blouse
under your blazer!
• A long sleeved, collared shirt or shell
is appropriate.
• Make sure your ensemble still looks
complete without your blazer (in case
you have the option to take it off).
Choosing a Color
• Navy blue is a good color for a “starter” suit.
• This is a versatile color that can be dressed up or
down, depending on the situation
and job.
• Navy is considered a professional
and powerful color, but is not as
bold as black.
Choosing a Suit that will
Grow with You
• Buy the nicest suit you can afford.
• Put quality over quantity – a well
chosen suit will last you several
years into your career.
• A cheap suit is easy to spot:
• Made with less desirable materials
like rayon-poly blends.
• Larger, less flattering cuts.
Your First Suit: Tips & Tricks
• Have your suit professionally tailored! This ensures:
• The suite looks appropriate on you.
• You will feel comfortable and self-confident in your suit.
• Dress like you already have the job
you want.
• Remember: a carefully
chosen suit will last you
well into your career.
It is an investment worth
the extra money!
It’s all in the Details
• Hair
• Simple style
– You don’t want to distract the
interviewer with obnoxious hair.
– They should notice you for your
skills and experiences, not your hair.
• Out of your face
• Nylons
• A must with any interview
outfit – skirt or pantsuit!
• Skin tone or black colored are
most appropriate.
It’s all in the Details: Final Touches
• Accessories
• Don’t overdo it!
• It’s best to choose 1 or 2 simple accessories like a watch
and stud earnings.
• Portfolio vs. Purse
• Opt for a sharp, professional looking portfolio instead of
your purse.
• Choose a good quality portfolio with compartments for keys
or lipstick.
• Carry copies of your resume and a pad for note taking.
Dressing to Impress:
• Follow Company Policy.
• Your first reference point is the
employee manual.
• When in doubt – ask your supervisor or
a member of Human Resources!
• Warning: business casual means
different things in different
companies!
• Casual dress ranges from
coordinated skirt/pant sets to
khakis and polo’s.
• Business casual does not
mean jeans or tennis shoes.
A Mix – Biz & Biz Casual…
A Side-Bar…
SEMIFORMAL ATTIRE
Females: Knee-length cocktail dress,
tea length dress, or long dress
Males: “Black Tie”
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Tuxedo or a dark suit is appropriate
Formal wear (white tie, full ball gown) is
generally not required
Another
Sidebar…
Tattoos…
Piercing’s…
And etc etc…?
Determining Appropriate Dress
Consider the environment
Consider your goals
Consider the clues
Consider others’ dress
Consider the impression you want to
make or leave
Business Etiquette
Putting Your Best Foot Forward…
…Instead Of Putting It In Your Mouth…
Etiquette Topics
General Tips
Making introductions
Using the telephone
E-mailing
Gender issues
Dining
Introductions
When being introduced:
Shake hands firmly
Stand
When introducing others:
Introduce the most important person first
Give a little information about people
Use full names
Introductions
Common Problem Areas
If you forget someone’s name, be honest
If your name is mispronounced, politely say
the correct pronunciation
If someone forgets to introduce you, politely
introduce yourself
Wait to use a person’s first name until
instructed to do so
When unsure, follow the lead of others
Telephone Etiquette
When placing calls:
Introduce yourself and state why you are
calling
Be prepared to leave a concise message
When receiving calls:
Introduce yourself
Never leave anyone on hold more than one
minute
Return messages within 24 hours
Telephone Etiquette
Use the speakerphone sparingly and do not
use it for checking voicemail
Have tasteful answering messages at work
and at home
Turn cell phones off at meetings or meals (if
it accidentally rings, turn it off – do not
answer it!)
When carrying the phone, use low ring
volume or vibrate mode
Use a low voice when speaking on your
phone in public
Observe common courtesies (“please” and
“thank you”)
E-mail Etiquette
Include a clear and specific subject line
Read messages before sending
Check spelling and grammar
Do not curse, spam, or use ALL CAPS
Do not forward chain letters at work
Remember that all e-mail can be traced to
the source
Do not send anything you consider
private
Use BCC to preserve others’ privacy
when appropriate
Always reply within 24 hours
Gender Issues
Men and women should be treated the
same
Whoever gets to the door first should open
it
Both men and women should stand when
meeting someone
Both genders should provide a firm
handshake
Whoever invites a colleague to a business
lunch pays for it
Cocktail Party
Management…
Before the party
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R.S.V.P.
Logistics – Standing-Up…
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Layer your items
Napkin
 Plate
 Glass
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Business card arrangement
 Keep right hand free to shake hands
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Cocktail Party
Management
Handshakes
Universally accepted
 When to use
 Proper grip
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Handling food
Items passed on trays – picking up…
 Food from buffet – careful – not sloppy…
 Discarded toothpicks or cocktail sticks
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Small Talk…
Research – the group/the activity/topic
Set goals – Business Goals…
Use open body language/smile/make
eye contact
Introduce yourself
Allow others to introduce you to people
they know
Common Cocktail Party
Faux Pas…
Things to Avoid
Making food the focus
 Drinking to excess – 1 Only…
 Uncomfortable topics
 Lengthy conversations
 Gossip
 Complaining about the event
 Flirting
 Being rude/disrespectful to staff
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After the Party
Say goodbye/excuse yourself to other
guests
Thank the host/hostess as you leave
Send a “thank you” note
Biz Dining Etiquette
Don’t chew gum
Keep elbows off the table
Keep conversation polite
Place napkin on lap as soon as seated
Taste food before seasoning
Pass salt and pepper together
Don’t dunk food
Break off one piece of bread, butter it, eat
it, and repeat
Only order appetizers or desserts if
others do so
Dining Etiquette
Wait for everyone to be served before
eating
Cut a small portion of food at a time (one
or two bites)
When squeezing a lemon, use other hand
to shield others from squirting juice
If you need to temporarily leave the table,
place napkin on seat
When interviewing, follow the lead of the
employer
Be courteous and demonstrate
appreciation when appropriate
Dining Etiquette
Conversation Topics
Avoid discussing: politics, religion, gossip,
sex, anything too personal or negative…
Safe topics:
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Weather
News/current events (don’t let it get into
politics or religion!)
Books or movies
Music
Travel
Pets
Anything non-controversial
12
Can you match the right
items with their function?
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4
3
8
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10
11
5
1
•Bread and butter plate
•Butter spreader
•Dessert Fork
•Dessert or Coffee Spoon
•Dinner Fork
•Dinner Knife
2
6
•Napkin
•Place Plate/Charger
•Salad Fork
•Salad Knife
•Soup Spoon
•Water Goblet
•Wine Glass
12
Place Setting
Answer Key
13
7
4
8
3
9
10
11
5
1
3. Bread and butter plate
4. Butter spreader
8. Dessert Fork
7. Dessert or Coffee Spoon
2. Dinner Fork
9. Dinner Knife
2
6
5. Napkin
6. Place Plate/Charger
1. Salad Fork
10. Salad Knife
11. Soup Spoon
12. Water Goblet
13. Wine Glass
A Side-Bar
Silverware Signals…
• Leaving the table, but returning…
• At the table, finished but would like place
setting removed…
• Dropped silverware…
• Dirty silverware…
You Get One Chance…
People, like diamonds, have a basic market value,
but it is only after they have been polished that
the world will pay their real value.
-William Thourlby
It’s Up To You…