When we go to a play we see people dressed in character for the part. Imagine watching a Shakespearian play where folks were dressed in everyday clothes, would you still get the same enjoyment out of the play.
How about a movie or even a sitcom where folks were not dressed for the time, or period. How about a zombie movie but there were no special effects and there was no way to tell the living from the dead.
What about a sporting event, instead of uniforms everyone just wore their “street clothes?”
When we are looking for a particular vocation during the interview process we should dress the part. If I am looking to hire a business professional what should I expect of candidates as they walk through my door?
What about if I am looking for construction workers?
Simply put, when one is interviewing for a job one should look like a seasoned “whatever the occupation is” person.
When we perform these task, one should adopt the established dress of the other workers and I always went just a little bit better. Why? Not so much to look better for others but, it will make you feel a little better.
If you are job seeking; what do you think that should look like?
Without wasting time telling you what you most likely do, let me cut to the chase.
Job seekers should get up at the time they would normally get up for work and, they should shower, shave or what have you and dress as if they were going into the office.
TV and all of the other distraction and entrapments of “home life” should be marginalized as much as possible as you are now at work. Your job while looking for work is “looking for work!”
From there they should start the process of seeking employment which means research, making calls, working on your resume and cover letter and setting appointments. Each and every day should consist of the same machinations until you have secured employment. Starting your day like you were working is key to getting hired. That includes dressing the part.
Once hired it is imperative that whatever your occupation is that, you dress the part.
I know some preachers who wear denim pants to preach in. I know some others who are overweight, sloppily dressed and it would appear that an iron has never touched their shirt.
Then there is this!
I don’t care how much of a theological genius you are, if you look like a slob, that carries into your life and could lead others to think that you take your job as seriously as your dress, not very…
There are some great commentators of the faith, which appear to be slobs. They are very much obese and again appear a little hedonistic. To me and I am sure others, I question their sincerity, accuracy with the facts that they espouse as they are less than credible in appearance.
Gene Scott who was theologically “spot on” appeared on TV as, well, less than authoritative and more like a huckster. Unshaven in wrinkled clothes, often wearing an old hat smoking a cigar he would request donations of nothing less than $5K. He was so out there that people watched him and yes, people donated to him even though he showed them how he had prized Arabian horses etc. I wonder what would have happened if he had dressed the part and been more conventional. My guess is that he would not have been near as successful as this is a case where breaking the rules worked, much like the bearded lady at the circus.
Dress the Part!
I don’t want to beat this to death but it is a proven fact that students perform better in schools which have uniforms.
There may be some high-tech companies where people are a *“little off” anyway, that can dress in the pajamas and still get things done but, as a rule for the 9 to 5 crowd, if you want to get the most of your employees no less than corporate casual should be the rule with the exception possibly on Friday.
*Programmers are a different breed. The clock has little to no meaning to them and they would work until they had to pee or eat. Many of them who have worked for me in the past came in late and may see the sunrise but, it would not be because they got up early.
Rules were made to be broken and with programmers and some high-tech people who march to their own drummer; dress, regimentation and “life” is nothing more than a suggestion. Creative types tend to fall into this category such as artist or musicians. You can try and reign them in but managing these types are a little like herding cats. Google and other high-tech companies have figured this out and are pioneers in the field of flexibility.
For the people who are more mechanical in nature dressing the part is salient advice and worth adhering to.
As I re-read this before posting I should note that “mechanical in nature” is about 90% of the population and not a bad thing, it is simply a thing.
-Best
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