How To Dress For Success At Your New Job

“You’re hired!” says your new boss.

Aren’t those two of the greatest words in business?

All your hard work has paid off. You networked like crazy, nailed the interviews and, now, you have an opportunity for a fresh start.

If you have landed a job in the same city, all luck is yours! But you should not worry even if you have got placed in a different location or city. You apparently would be needed to contact a moving company, get in touch with a landlord or even buy new attires to rock the office look. These might not be a hassle these days as such businesses can be reached online. Say, for instance, you may need to get in touch with a frisco moving services (or wherever you reside) to get your belongings moved. In addition, look for a real estate broker (at the place you are moving) to shortlist the house and be ready to begin the new chapter of your life.

Understandably, you’d be exhausted by all the tasks that must be completed before your first day at your new job. For instance, finding a new home for yourself, hiring a car transporter to ship your car from another state, employing movers to shift all of your belongings, and locating the stores nearby your location and office. Still, leaving everything else aside, you’d have to look good on your first day of work, no matter how tired you are from the move.

Your first day is where you’ll make the biggest impression, and it’s also when your headshot will be taken, so you need to look your best! You might get lucky with professional headshots Boca Raton that capture your best angle, or you might only get a blurry photo taken on someone’s old work phone, but either way, that headshot is going to be on the wall, on the website and in promotional material, so don’t go to work in that food-stained top you wore last night!

Once you have the first day out of the way, you then need to think about how you’re going to present yourself in the long term. The attire may depend on your profession and position at the office. For instance, you have a coaching business (you can take your coaching to the next level by improving your aptitude online), where you tutor skills like personal development or business leadership, etc. You may deal with varied clients such as youth at the beginning of their careers or business entrepreneurs. So, you can opt for casual and sophisticated attire to go to work.

The best way to dress for success at your new job is to have a wardrobe plan in place. I recommend first starting out with a two-week wardrobe plan.

Why two weeks?

This gives you enough time to see first-hand what your new co-workers, boss, boss’s boss and other movers and shakers at the company are wearing. Yes, you saw what employees were wearing during the interview process, but the fact is, it’s really hard to get an authentic picture of what will and won’t work until you’re actually at the office everyday. This is true even if you were previously an intern for the company. Your perspective and the company’s perspective of you have evolved.

Two weeks are also an adequate period to consider the way you want to present yourself in your new position. Remember it is a fresh start, and fresh starts may require a fresh new style…it’s an opportunity to reinvent yourself. Great style is a powerful business tool.

Here are my tips on what to wear during those first two weeks:

Newbie: If this is your first job or you’re jumping into a new field or you’re transferring into a completely different work environment, this option is for you. The trick during the first two weeks is to buy only a few necessary staple garments (ie. black trouser pants) and accessories appropriate to your industry, environment and position and combine those with as many pieces as you can, already stocked in your closet. Spend as little as possible initially, so that you spend wisely in the long run after you’ve completed your two week evaluation period. Outfit repeats are allowed.

Old Hat, New Tricks: If your new job is a lateral move for you, then go for this option. The same principle applies as a newbie, but it’s switched. Buy just a few necessary accent pieces (ie. purple blouse) during those first few weeks and wear with staple garments you already have in your wardrobe.

At the end of two weeks, you will have gathered enough workwear information from the office to make wise purchases and truly build your influential work wardrobe. Now is the time to buy what you want and need for the rest of the current season. This is the second and final phase of your new job wardrobe plan.

But wait, you’re thinking, “Isn’t it wise to look your best from the get go?” Yes, it is, but the two-week wardrobe research period is more important. It will save you time and money, plus after you’re all done, you will return to the office with a mini-makeover and people love makeovers! Your workwear mini-makeover will not only inspire your colleagues, but it will also make them wonder what other cool tricks you have up your sleeve. You’re showing them you mean business!

When it’s time to start your new job, be confident in the fact that you have a successful work wardrobe plan in place. Trust me it works!

How much emphasis do you put on your wardrobe when you start a new job? Do you think it’s important to do so?

Image credit: Weekend By MaxMara Ofridi Roll-Neck Sweater $256, MaxMara Studio Lory Herringbone Skirt $268 and MaxMara Kabir Tote $952, each available at Matches.