Interviewees fail to research
appropriate dress

28 March 2001 - Almost three-quarters of U.S. workers agree that clothes and personal appearance influence employers' attitudes about their professionalism but 80% still do not research what is - and what isn't - appropriate attire for job interviews. This finding comes from a national Casual Dress in the Workplace Survey from CareerBuilder Inc.

"In today's cautious economy, workers must maximize their chances of success," said Diane Strahan, a career expert with CareerBuilder. "Your resume needs to be sharp and polished and so do you. Researching and selecting the appropriate type of attire for a job interview is a requirement in today's perplexing casual work environment. What's tricky is that casual means different things to different people."

78% of workers say they dress casually for work. But the definition of casual varies. More than half use the term "business casual" - for example, khaki slacks, polo or golf shirt and an optional jacket - and a quarter describe their clothing as "extreme casual" (jeans, T-shirts, shorts). Business casual is the norm, with almost a third of the employees polled saying that casual attire was only permitted on designated dress down days.

"Making assumptions about proper business dress can be disastrous, especially for job seekers who are trying to fit into a new corporate culture," Strahan said. "The first impression is critical. Even the most glowing qualifications can't erase a bad first impression."

Most respondents in the survey consider poor grooming, halter-tops, tube tops, sweatshirts, sweatpants and piercings to be unprofessional by survey respondents. The highest rated professional attire are business suits, khaki pants, polo shirts and golf shirts.

"If you have to ask whether something is appropriate or not, it's probably not," Strahan said. "Remember that what you wear to work reflects your professional style."