In Business, We ALL Judge Books By Their Covers

Let's be honest: no matter how politically correct you want to be, there's no denying that in the business world people are constantly judged on how they dress. It's just a fact: A man wearing a suit is considered a better job candidate than the guy in shorts and a t-shirt. The woman wearing a nice suit and pearls is assumed to be a more profitable prospect than the girl wearing a sundress and sandals. Whether or not these assumptions are true is anybody's guess. Sometimes, the book is even better than the cover claimed it would be; other times the cover is a dramatic deception - the promise of something that never was.

The trick is to know that you are being judged (at least in part) based on your wardrobe. Understand that I do not for one second think that a snap judgment based on someone's clothes or shoes will give an accurate idea of who they are or what they are capable of. But there are professional standards in business that have trained people to trust the nicely dressed salesman (he'll get you a great deal) and steer clear of the sweaty guy in a cheap suit (he'll rob you blind). Is it always true? No. But it's the natural, instinctive response for most people.

So, what can you do? Dress well, of course. That doesn't mean you have to buy a $300 suit tomorrow in order to get that promotion you're after. Just put your best foot forward in presenting yourself. And project the image you want others to see.

I have a good friend who is a high school teacher. She's in her twenties so she's always a little concerned that her students won't take her seriously. Every day, she's the most professionally dressed teacher in the school. She never wears jeans or t-shirts. Four out of five days a week she wears a dress, heels and her hair pinned back. If you asked her students, they probably believe she's in her thirties and they certainly think she's a stick in the mud. This is exactly what she wants her students to believe. And it is exactly the opposite of who she is. But they take her seriously.

Dress For The Job You Want, Not The Job You Have

Dressing well does not necessarily mean wearing a skirt and heels. It just means putting some care into your appearance - wearing nicely pressed, clean clothes; clothes that fit well and project an image of professionalism; avoiding clothes that are too casual, ill-fitting or project an unsavory image. The appropriate standard of dress will vary in every office. But don't let the lowest common denominator rule your dress decisions - if a few people wear jeans every day, don't assume that that's something you should do. Consider the image being projected and decide if that's what you want. Also, look at the leaders in your company and let them be the role models. There's a popular saying that goes, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have."

I think that dressing well shows you care. It tells others that you're serious - you know the professional standard and you're making it work for you. It also encourages people to respect you. I know from personal experience that when I walk into a high-end clothing store wearing my best business suit, I'm given better service than when I walk in wearing jeans and sneakers. When I walk into the office wearing a suit, I feel the same thing - a little more attention, a little more respect, and a little more possibility.

Ultimately, we all want to be judged based on our skills and abilities. It feels wrong to succumb to the fact that how you dress can impact how people think about you. But if you ignore it or try to fight it, you're just going to hurt yourself. Sure, the right outfit probably won't get you a promotion. But the wrong one certainly might prevent it. If you don't believe me, show up to work in ripped jeans and flip flops tomorrow and report back. I'd like to know how it goes...