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          Dress for Business Success  Prepared For: Mr. Ackroyd  Prepared By: <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Zach Richler <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Tracey Schick <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Josh Ennis <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Rianna Brennan <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Ben Karpyshyn <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Non-Verbal Message of Clothing and Grooming <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"> When dressing for business success it is essential to remember your physical appearance is just as important as your intellectual knowledge. Your clothing and grooming is a crucial way to display a professional attitude, a level of commitment, and even ensure trust from a potential client. By wearing garments that may be outdated, faded or ill-fitting combined with untidy hair or unpolished shoes a serious business professional will send a negative non- verbal message (Angel,2009).This silent message may lead co-workers or clients to assume this individual is unorganized, uncommitted, and unreliable. With strategically chosen business attire one can portray success, confidence, and power that will benefit them in all aspects of business (Jamal, & Lindenberger,n.d.). With attention to detail in grooming and wardrobe it is simple for those in a business setting to earn a leg up on competitors. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> Appropriate Attire for an Interview <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"> It is important to wear appropriate attire for a job interview, as it is your only chance to make a good first impression. Make sure your outfit is clean and pressed, and refrain from wearing bright colors and busy prints. Appropriate colors include navy, grey, brown, and black. Covering tattoos, removing visibly body piercings, and toning down your and makeup will also help portray a professional appearance (eHow, n.d.). As Alison Doyle stated, "...you need to dress professionally and seperate your social image... from your professional presence." By dressing conservatively and professionally you are supporting your image as an individual who takes the job opportunity seriously, and understands the business industry (Virginia Tech, 2011). <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> Day to Day Business Attire There are two different approaches most companies take for a day-to-day dress code. Some businesses require a more formal approach, with suits and ties being mandatory. However, most businesses have now switched away from this method to a more casual style of dress. A more casual dress code makes the company look friendlier and helps the employees to be more relaxed while they work (Pemberton-Sikes, n.d.). The trick is to still maintain a professional look. For men the look should consist of slacks or dress pants with a collared shirt with nice dress shoes. Women should be dressed in neatly pressed pants or skirts with a sweater, cardigan, or a polo shirt. Items not to be worn include jeans, t-shirts, or sneakers. It is important to remember that while it is a casual dress code, it is still in a business environment and professionalism must be maintained (Doyle, n.d.).

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Presentation to a Board of Directors When dressing to impress a board of directors or shareholders you should follow some general rules about dress code. You should always look friendly, approachable, up to date, well groomed and creative in your clothing choices. Looking the part is as, or even more important then what you say in a presentation. During a presentation everyone will be focused on you, so it is important to feel comfortable in what you are wearing. Too tight of clothes will draw the audience’s attention away from what you are saying, and onto your body. Looser fitted clothing draws little attention to your body and can make you look thinner then you actually are. Coordinating your outfit with the stage set can also be effective in creating a cleaner looking presentation. Having your clothes match your skin tone, hair, and eye color will make you look more professional and will help you deliver a more appealing presentation (Presentation Magazine, n.d.).

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Conclusion <span style="height: 209.55pt; margin-left: 110pt; margin-top: 223.7pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 210.2pt; z-index: 1;"> In the business world one of the important things people seem to forget is the role your appearance takes in how you present yourself to clients and employees. Keeping your clothing up to date, having your clothes and shoes clean, and having your hair done, can give an client a positive or negative feeling about you. A job interview is your best chance to make a lasting impression on your hopeful employer, the way you present yourself to the employer can make the difference between getting a job and not getting the job. Companies take many different approaches to dress code in the workplace. The two most common are formal and casual, both of these dress codes work very well but the most important thing is to remember to stay professional. An important aspect of the business world is a board of directors meeting. It is absolutely key to be dressed in your best clothing to represent yourself to the board for if they are confident in you they will be confident in your company. No matter what kind of company you work for or what position you are in, your dress attire is perhaps the most important part of representation in the business world.

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 * <span style="display: block; padding-bottom: 4.35pt; padding-left: 7.95pt; padding-right: 7.95pt; padding-top: 4.35pt;"> Source: Coogridge, J. (2008)

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Reference Page Angel,B. (2009). //What Do Your Clothes Say to Your Clients About You?// Retrieved from [] Coogridge,J.(2008) //Archive for the 'Office Wear' Catagory.// Retrieved from [] Doyle, A. (n.d.). //What Not to Wear on an Interview.// Retrieved on March 17, 2011, from [] Doyle, A. (n.d.). //Business and Business Casual Attire.// Retrieved on March 16, 2011, from [] eHow. (n.d.). //How to Wear Proper Attire for a Job Interview.// Retrieved on March 16, 2011, from [] Jamal, N. & Lindenberger, J. (n.d.). //How to Make a Great First Impression.// Retrieved from [] Pemberton-Sikes, D. (n.d.). //What is Business Casual?// Retrieved on March 16, 2011, from [] Presentation Magazine. (n.d.). // What to Wear at Your Next Business Presentation. //Retrieved on March 16, 2011, from [] Virginia Tech. (2011). //Interview Appearance and Attire.// Retrieved on March 16, 2011, from []