Dress for Success: VOICE Workshop PDF

Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Dress for Success: How to Dress Appropriately for Presentations,...

Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Dress for Success: How to Dress Appropriately for Presentations, Interviews and Work A VOICE Workshop  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part Content Time 1 Introduction & Objectives 5 min 2 Why is it important to dress 15 min appropriately? Overview 3 How to dress appropriately? 30 min 3.1 What is appropriate? 3.2 What may be appropriate? 3.3 What is inappropriate? 4 Personal Grooming 5 min 5 Conclusion + Discuss & Share 10 min 6 Review Quiz 15 min  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 1: Introduction & Objectives This Online Asynchronous Learning (OAL) workshop is designed to help students understand the importance of dressing appropriately for presentations, interviews and work. Let’s start by getting you to think about this question for a minute. Why is this workshop part of VOICE, a module about communication?  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 1: Introduction & Objectives Dressing is a way of communication. It is your voice telling others about you. Dressing appropriately gives a good first impression and sends the correct message. Watch this video for more!  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 1: Introduction & Objectives By the end of this workshop, students should be able to - Explain why it is important to dress appropriately for presentations, interviews and work. - Differentiate between Business Formal, Business Casual and Smart Casual. - Give examples of appropriate and inappropriate clothing choices for Business Casual and Smart Casual. - Explain why personal grooming is important.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 2: Why is it important to dress appropriately? Let’s start by looking at some photos and thinking about the questions. The answer to each question is quite obvious. Can you explain WHY in a few sentences?  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Who is dressed to do a formal presentatio n?  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Who is dressed to attend an interview ?  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Who is dressed for leadershi p at work?  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Who would you trust if you had millions to invest?  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive You would most likely have chosen the person on the right. Check if the reasons you gave are similar to the ones provided below.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Who is dressed to do a formal presentation? A presentation is not only about the content. You are presenting the content and yourself. When you are the presenter, you are the leader in the room. You should therefore speak and look the part. The objective of a formal presentation is often to present an idea/product/proposal/results etc, to inform and/or to convince the audience. Hence, you must have credibility. Dressing appropriately communicates credibility, which is priceless to a speaker. You want the audience to trust you so that they can trust the content of your presentation.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Who is dressed to attend an interview? An interview is a chance for you to present yourself to your interviewers. They will have seen your resume, your academic certificates and transcripts. There is a reason why they want to meet you. Interviewers need to assess your suitability beyond your certificates. Good communication skills and a good attitude are essential for the workplace. Your clothes should communicate that you take the interview seriously and have a professional attitude. Dressing appropriately also shows respect to your interviewers. They are busy people who make time for you. Hence, you should not be dressed for convenience e.g. you came from the gym or you are heading to the gym later.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Who is dressed for leadership at work? “Enclothed Cognition” is the psychological phenomenon where the clothes you wear directly influence your cognitive processes. What you wear significantly impacts your mindset and behaviour at work. Research has also found that participants who dressed in formal business attire felt more powerful, competent, and confident compared to those who dressed in casual clothing. As a young graduate, it is important that you dress professionally to give yourself, your colleagues and your superiors confidence. It also puts you in a better position for advancement opportunities.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Who would you trust if you had millions to invest? Have you ever wondered why certain professions require staff to be very well- dressed? Looking professional not only enhances your own credibility, it plays a significant role in influencing others’ decisions. While we cannot judge a book by its cover (for all you know, the well-dressed man is a swindler), the point here is First Impression Counts and you will never get a second chance to make a good first impression.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Why is it important to dress appropriately? 1. It Boosts Your Self-Confidence Dressing appropriately is not just about looking professional; it is also about feeling professional, which gives you confidence when you present yourself to others. 2. It Creates a Positive First Impression First impressions matter, and they often happen within the first few seconds of meeting someone. When you are dressed appropriately, you can instantly convey a good first impression. 3. It Shows Respect Putting in effort to dress appropriately shows that you respect yourself, your audience, your interviewer, your (future) job, and the people you work with. It shows that you care enough.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive 4. It Builds Trust and Credibility When you look professional, people are more likely to trust you, trust the content you present, trust that you are serious about your job/work. It sends a clear signal that you take your tasks and responsibilities seriously. 5. It Pays to Adhere to Workplace Policies Many workplaces have dress codes (except perhaps creative/tech/startup environment) Adhering to these guidelines demonstrates your respect for company culture and standards. To learn more about the importance of dressing for success, read this article. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dressing-su ccess-dead-its-more-important-now-than-ev er-james-rogers  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 3: How to dress appropriately? Now that you understand WHY, let’s look at HOW to dress appropriately to project a professional image.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 3.1: What is appropriate? What is appropriate depends on the company and culture. In corporate environments such as banking, finance, law and large multinational companies, being formally dressed in a suit or at least a long-sleeve shirt with tie is essential. In creative/fashion/technology/startup environments, being casually dressed is mostly acceptable. Many companies fall somewhere between formal and casual, hence the term Business Casual. For men, this means a button-up shirt paired with dress pants. For women, it could be a blouse with tailored pants or a professional dress. In the following slides, we will learn more about Business Casual clothes that are appropriate for presentations, interviews and work for young adults preparing to enter the workforce.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Colours Try to recall the pictures in the earlier slides. What colours are the people dressed in? What kind of prints are on their clothes?  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Colours We want to stand out, but not in bright colours.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Colours Neutrals are boring, but you can’t go wrong! Photo source: Marks and Spencer  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Prints and bling Avoid prints and bling, they are loud and distracting.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Stripes Stripes are acceptable. Pinstripes look smart and professional.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Shoes and Accessories Wear appropriate shoes to complete your outfit. Men should pair Business Casual with a pair of dress shoes. Women could wear heels or flats. While a little height helps you stand taller and look more polished, you also want to be able to walk comfortably. Ensure your shoes are clean and well-maintained. Accessories and jewellery can help to complement your outfit. If you wear them, keep them simple and tasteful. Avoid overly flashy or trendy pieces. Avoid excessive piercings or noisy accessories that could be distracting. You don’t want these items to be getting the attention.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Business Casual is formal enough for Diploma students doing presentations. It is also a safe option for fresh Diploma graduates attending job interviews or starting work. What is Read these articles to learn more about Business Casual. Business https://sg.jobstreet.com/career-advice/article/b usiness-casual-attire-guide Casual? https://sg.jobstreet.com/career-advice/article/w hat-is-business-casual-attire-a-guide-for-women https://sg.indeed.com/career-advice/starting-ne w-job/business-casual https://content.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/busines s-casual-attire-wait-whats-that/  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 3.2: What May Be Appropriate? Can I wear t-shirts? Can I wear jeans? Can I wear sneakers? I have seen famous people presenting or working in t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. So surely these are appropriate?  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 3.2: What May Be Appropriate? Well, these people don’t have to dress for success. They already are. Anyway, they don’t look the sloppy kind of casual, do they? You have read the articles about Business Casual in Part 3.1. For some industries and workplaces, such as creative / technology / startup environment, Smart Casual may be appropriate. For school presentations (non-business courses), Smart Casual will also suffice. Smart Casual is less formal than Business Casual, but you still look smart.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Getting the right tees Collared t-shirts look smarter than round neck t-shirts. Dark colours like black and navy blue look more formal than light colours. Avoid prints, logos and cartoons. Stripes are acceptable.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Getting the right jeans Dark coloured jeans that fit well look smarter than faded jeans that are tight, baggy or ripped.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Chinos too Other than collared tees and dark coloured jeans, chinos in neutral colours are also a good option for Smart Casual. Adding a belt, cardigan or jacket will add a touch of formality.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive What is Read this article to learn more about Smart Casual. Smart https://sg.indeed.com/career-advice/s Casual? tarting-new-job/smart-casual-attire-fo r-work  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 3.3: What is inappropriate? We will now look at what Can you explain why the What messages are the is inappropriate. clothes choices in the people sending? next few slides are inappropriate for presentations, interviews and work?  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 3.3: What is inappropriate? Avoid clothes that are too casual. Business Casual is NOT sloppy casual. If you are not sure what is Business Casual, read the articles in Part 2. Gym gear may be fashionable and acceptable for some for a day in town. However, anything skintight is not appropriate in professional settings. Be aware and sensitive that the words and symbols on your clothes may be disrespectful to others. What is funny to you may not be to them. Finally, designer logos may impress some people but turn off others who see you as a showoff. Unless you are trying to join a high-end fashion house, there is no point trying to impress people with designer logos.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 3.3: What is inappropriate? Here is an interesting article about sending the wrong message with your clothes. https://www.bbc.com/news/worl d-us-canada-45853364  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 4: Personal Grooming Looking smart isn’t just about the clothes you wear. Your appearance and grooming habits contribute significantly to your professional image. Personal Grooming is an often overlooked but vital aspect of professional success. In this section, we will focus on Personal Grooming.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Hair Hair should be washed and combed, trimmed and neat; not overgrown and messy. Avoid greasy hair, long floppy fringe that covers the eye, flipping or playing with your hair. If you colour your hair, the colour should enhance rather than distract. Unless you are in creative or fashion industry.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Face Men should preferably be clean shaven. If you have facial hair, make sure it is neatly trimmed and styled. If you have oily skin, blot. Women may choose to put on some light make-up. Face powder will help to absorb facial oil. Make-up should enhance rather than distract. Avoid heavy makeup unless you are attending an interview for a make-up artist.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Fingernails Your fingernails are clearly visible when you are presenting to an audience or when your hands are placed on the table. For men, keep your nails clean and trimmed. For women, if your nails are varnished, stick to light, natural colours. Avoid loud colours and long nails with nail art.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Body Have a shower in the morning so that you smell and feel fresh. If you have body odour, use a deodorant. If you chose to wear perfume or cologne, make sure the scent is subtle, not overpowering. Strong scents are distracting and may even trigger allergies in some people. You don’t want your audience or your interviewer to be sneezing away.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 4: Personal Grooming By investing time and effort into maintaining a polished appearance, you can boost your self-confidence, make a positive impression, and enhance your professionalism in the workplace. Remember that personal grooming is not about conforming to unrealistic beauty standards but about presenting yourself in the best possible light. Small efforts in personal grooming can make a big difference in how you are perceived by your audience, interviewer, superiors and colleagues.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive We have come to the end of this Online Asynchronous Workshop on Dress for Success: How to Dress Appropriately for Presentations, Interviews and Work. Part 5: We hope you have learnt what kind of clothes are or aren’t suitable for a young adult like you Conclusion to project a professional image. If you wish to start building a wardrobe beyond t-shirts and jeans, these are some basic staples to have.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 5: For men: A long sleeve shirt, a For women: All the choices for Conclusio short sleeve shirt and a collared t-shirt. White men work too! A non-revealing n and blue are always safe colour choices. blouse, a not too tight knee-length skirt and A pair of dress pants, a knee length dress. pair of chinos and a pair of dark-coloured jeans.  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Part 5: Conclusion To complete the professional look, make sure your clothes are clean and ironed (unless they are in wrinkle-free fabrics). There is no point wearing nice clothes with food/sweat stains or clothes that are creased or crumpled. It shows that you don’t care enough and this won’t leave a good impression. Finally, when you are dressed for success, don’t forget your good manners and positive attitude that will help you shine. Smile, greet the people you meet politely, and thank them sincerely for their time. Good luck!  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Respond to the discussion board here with your responses to the prompts below: Discuss & 1. What small changes can you make to your wardrobe and Share grooming to look more professional and feel more confident? 2. How might these changes influence the way others perceive you in a job or interview setting?"  Official (Closed) - Non Sensitive Thank you!