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Business Casual with the Emphasis on Business
Featured Author:
Joan Burge
Joan Burge writes books, lectures, and personally consults administrative professionals and the companies they support and is considered one of North America’s foremost administrative experts. She has worked in the administrative business arena for more than 30 years, with administrators in hundreds of companies such as AT&T, Cisco, Intel, Microsoft, Boeing, Motorola, ConAgra Foods, Kraft, McDonald’s, Allstate, Mayo Clinics, Universities, U.S. Government intuitions, and more. She wrote the praised book Become an Inner Circle Assistant and is the creator and host of the Annual Forum for Administrative Professionals.
Joan recently released her latest book for admins, Underneath It All.
More articles from this author:
General Guidelines:
1. Dress appropriately for your line of work, career goals, geographic location and body type. Know your industry. Someone in a creative field like advertising or the media has more room for experimentation than someone in a traditionally conservative field like banking or insurance.
2. Understand that neatness is extra important on casual days.
3. Use colors that enhance your natural hair, skin, and eye coloring.
4. Dress with intent!
5. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. It’s a matter of pulling your look together and wearing clothing that works well with your body frame/shape.
6. Stay clear of trendy clothes for work.
7. Perfume is acceptable. Just don’t overdose!
8. Women need to consider length and body coverage of their clothing.
9. Accessories should enhance your appearance, not be a distraction to your appearance.
10. Learn to control your emotional state when getting dressed.
11. Play up your positive physical attributes.
12. A sport coat or jacket can add just enough polish to keep an outfit from looking unprofessional.
13. Take a critical look in the mirror before walking out the door. If the clothing seems more appropriate for a sporting activity, cleaning the garage, or going out to dinner on the weekend with friends, it’s too casual.
