The Killer Wardrobe: Clothes that Can Kill Your Career Development

Many people working in the professional environment find themselves facing some sort of silent stigma surrounding their ability to move up the career latter. These people know that they are smart, energetic, and detail oriented, but they just cannot seem to figure out why they have not been promoted. Furthermore, many students pursue internships in the summer time as they attempt to get experience for their dream career. Unfortunately, many college students often find themselves not being asked back to the company they interned with and not being able to get a good reference. The problem that many career seekers face has nothing to do with how much intelligence or ability they have. It has everything to do with their appearance. After having several jobs in the past 2 years and completing three internships, one of which offered me a job and another of which will not be my reference without requiring me to go through a bunch of red tape, I have experience what really turns bosses on and off. Here is what not to wear to work.

Low cut shirts
These are big negatives in the professional working environment, and I know that I have upset some people by listing this clothing item. However, it is absolutely true that men have a very difficult time trying not to glance at your chest when your shirt is low cut. Some women even have a difficult time. When women wear a low cut shirt to work, they send out all kinds of messages that have nothing to do with how well they can perform their job.

Jeans
Many places of employment have casual Fridays. However, it's important to remember that a person should not get too casual on a typical Friday. A person should wear khakis, and that's as casual as he or she should get. Sweatpants and faded jeans are inappropriate for most work places. If you wear some crisp dark blue dressy looking jeans, perhaps you can get away with it.

Open toed shoes
You do not want to look like you came from the beach when you go to work. Closed toed shoes are the best type of shoes to wear in the work place. Flip flops are definatley out, and if any exceptions are to be made here, a professional women should wear stockings so that her feet are not completely naked.

Skin Tight Pants
The professional woman has a hard enough time trying to keep men from looking at her breasts. She certainly would not want them staring at her butt too. A career oriented women must try everything she can in order to keep her bosses' eyes focused on how well she does the work she is given. The best way to do that is to steer clear of revealing tops and butt hugging pants or skirts.

Cheap Fabrics
Cheap fabrics often don't fit well, last long, or hold up to your sweat. Can we say spandex ladies and gentlemen? Do you want your boss to see those huge sweat stains on your polyester shirt? When you are just starting out, it's good to be frugal, but you may not want to have an entire wardrobe full of cheap clothing. Every once in a while you should consider impressing your boss with some silk or an expensive two piece suit.

After reading all of the above, you still may believe that wearing your low cut shirt to your bank teller job is ok. Well, the first problem there is that bad habits are hard to break. Once you begin thinking that it's okay to wear your low cut shirt in this atmosphere, you will try hard to find an excuse to wear the same shirt on casual Friday at your executive assistant job. Furthermore, the biggest work place faux pas is underestimation. Many people underestimate the subtle cues their appearance communicates. People underestimate what they are really saying to clients and employers when they wear certain outfits. Goths think that they are saying, "This is who I am" when they show up to work with different piercings and tattoos. Unfortunately, their boss does not want to know that part of them.

The boss wants to know if you can do the job. Can you do it? Even if you can't, let your clothing say, "Just give me a chance. You know I look good." Sometimes, a reputation is all you have. Your career is on it's way after that.