Are You Executive Level Material? Tip #9

The following is the 9th in a series of 10 tips to help you become more promotable in your job.

9. Dress at the top of your level.

People do judge you by how you look. For example, if you’re in a position or company where everyone wears jeans and t-shirts, you should dress a notch higher. If you’re a man, wear khakis and golf shirts, and if you’re a woman, wear slacks or a skirt with a tasteful top. A good rule of thumb is to dress as if you were meeting with your top client. What attire would be professional yet comfortable to accommodate a key client meeting? Additionally, no matter where you work, casual day does not mean shorts and flip-flops. If an executive sees you dressed like that, they’re going to view you as a “kid.” Even an iPod in your ear can make you look like a kid. When you’re on your way up (usually in the 25-40 age bracket), the last thing you want is to be called a kid.

Tattoo or No Tattoo?

Dear Jean,

I want to get a tattoo on my ankle.  I think they look great and several of my friends have them.  My parents told me that I’ll never get a job if I get a tattoo.  Is that really true?

Reply:

No, that is not true.  Having a tattoo on your ankle does not mean that you will never get a job.  A tattoo on your face, neck or hands, though, may restrict you.  It changes from company to company.  The difference depends on many things, such as customer contact, the age of the company owner, and the type of company.

If someone had told me a few years ago that I would have people working in my office who have tattoos, I would have told them that they were wacko.  The picture I had in my mind of women with tattoos was very different from the reality of two very professional women I once hired who had roses on their ankles.  Over time, everyone changes.  I know I have.