Entering the Professional Workforce

The difference between a man of sense and a fop is that the fop values himself upon his dress; and the man of sense laughs at it, at the same time knows he must not neglect it.Lord

Chesterfield

Down to the details…

Business casual does not include jeans!

Fit is Function• Good, well-made

clothes can still look bad if they don’t fit

• Most shirts will not magically fit your body like a glove

• Tailoring what you have or what you find for cheap can be an inexpensive, expensive-looking solution

Tips for Tailoring

• Purchase the jacket/blazer so it fits your shoulders – this is the most costly alteration

• Sleeves, waists, and length are cheaper alterations

• Hemming prevents wear and tear, extending the life of your pants

• Slimming and tapering legs to fit prevents a wrinkled, baggy look

Tips for Thrifting• Don’t settle for only one half of the suit unless you plan

on wearing the piece individually– Mixing and matching suit separates rarely works

• Don’t overlook items that need a bit of TLC– Tears and busted zippers are fairly easy fixes– Avoid moth holes, ink stains, and cigarette burns

• Identify good stores in your area, know their “deal days”• Etsy and eBay are basically online thrift stores

– When shopping online, know your measurements!• Think creatively before retiring an old favorite

– Dying old shirts can cover sweat stains– Is it ruined, or can it be repaired?

The Modest HeelKnow your actual shoe size, width included

A dark neutral, brown or black, is a staple

Rounded, pointed, or square toes are a matter of preference

Turned-up toes prevent fraying of leather

Excessive embellishment or platform can make heels inappropriate for work

Wearing heels regularly/all day can carry health risks over time, especially with narrow toes; intersperse with flats

Flats, Loafers, and OxfordsThese do not dress down an outfit!

Great with pants/pantsuits

Good for business formal and business casual

Exceptional option for tall women

Light and dark neutrals will be more versatile than bold jewel tones or embellished styles

Wingtip ShoesAlso called Brogues

Originating in Scotland/Ireland

Uppers composed of multiple pieces of sturdy leather

Decorative perforations for breathability and drainage

LoafersOriginating in Norway

Leather slip-on shoes

Tassels and decorations optional

Polishing shoesPolish costs about $6 for a tin

A tin of polish will last ~ 100 polishings

Polishing shoes will extend their life

Polishing prevents the drying/cracking of leather

Polish ~1 a month, more frequently during rough weather (rain/snow)

Moisten leather with a damp cloth between polishings

Don’t just get the front – sides and back, too.

Give creases special attention.

It’s easy!

Fit is Function

• Get your feet measured, or measure them yourself

• Know the width of your shoe especially

• Wearing shoes that are too narrow can carry health risks

Professional Phone Communication• Does your site have a standard phone greeting?

– Speak clearly, state your site’s name, and your own

• Give the caller your full attention; don’t try to multitask

• Know the phone’s features – how to transfer calls, place someone on hold, etc.

• Keep the caller informed – ask before putting them on hold, offer to take a message, etc.

• Send the caller to the right person; know who can help with different questions

• When leaving a voicemail, include your name, company, reason for calling, timestamp; say your number twice

• In your voicemail greeting, include the same, but also a contact for immediate assistance and an estimate of when you’ll be able to reply

Professional Email Communication• Use a descriptive subject line• Consider your greeting/salutation• Write in complete sentences; be concise• Avoid colloquial phrasing (e.g. What’s up?), text syntax (e.g.

sending 2 u), and especially emoticons >.<• Consider how your message will sound when read by the

recipient• Avoid all caps and exclamation points.• In longer messages, bold and underline for emphasis• Proofread, proofread, proofread.• Note: email communication can reasonably get less formal

over time, but be wary of taking this step; missteps can compromise your professionalism

In-person Greetings• Stand up straight

• Walk to meet the person

• Give a good handshake

• Meet the person in the eye, but do not hold the gaze for too long

• Your greeting should be welcoming, but not overly familiar

Posture

Body Language

• Make eye contact• Be responsive– Nod, smile, etc.

• Hold eye contact• Face your body towards

a speaker• Take notes if at a

meeting• Demonstrate sincere

interest

Don’t fake it ‘til you make it; fake it ‘til you become it.

- Amy Cuddy

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What’s next?

• Email tandem buddies

• When/what topic for the next webinar?– Endow Iowa and Community Endowment Fund?– What is a community foundation?– Group Brainstorm Project

• Leading your own webinar

• Project updates?