HOW TO DRESS FOR YOUR INTERNSHIP / JOB SHAYNA NICOLAY
You’ve done all the prep work to get to your dream job or internship but now there’s only one problem — what do you wear? How to dress for a new job can be quite complicated, especially if you’ve never worked in a similar industry or stream before. Here’s one tip — being overdressed is always better than being underdressed. While it may be a little embarrassing to show up putting your best ‘fit’ forward, you never want to be caught wearing something that’s way too casual or not quite appropriate for your new work setting. The first thing you’ll want to do is figure out your office dress code. When you signed your contract there may have been a section featuring what not to wear. Crop tops, plunging necklines, and anything you would wear on a night out are usually some of the things filed under this section. You are now considered a representative of the company that hired you, so be mindful of that when you are picking out your outfit in the morning. Think back to your interview and try and remember what the person that interviewed you, or what other people in the office were wearing. You want to try and replicate the same level of formality with your outfits. When in doubt — dress for business casual! The exact specifications of business casual can vary depending on the company that hired you. The oxford dictionary defines business casual as “relating to or denoting a style of clothing that is less formal than traditional business wear, but is still intended to give a professional and businesslike impression.” Having to dress business casual doesn’t mean you have to take away from your personal style. Fashion is very subjective. You’ll just have to tweak your style a little bit if you’re always wearing pieces that will break the dress code. Your cute crop tops will still be waiting in your closet for you on the weekends. DRESS FOR YOUR ROLE If you are doing an internship, remember that you will probably be running around doing errands and behind the scenes work so you’ll want an outfit that you can easily move around in. If your job involves being on your feet for most of the day, give them a bit of a break and save your high heels for another occasion. Think about the colours or textures of your clothing if you’ll be on camera — pastels and jewel tones always show up well but you’ll want to stay away from black and white. If you’re working in a creative field, you'll be more likely to have a little more freedom with the way you dress. Take advantage of this and show off your personal style with pieces you’ve been waiting to wear. Know that you can always slip a backup blazer, jewelry or shoes in your bag in case you realize you need a quick change to match the employees around you. Below are some outfit staples to help you get through your first week of work no matter what your office dress code is.
