Aug. 29, 2012

This is a question I pose to myself every day, as I imagine everyone does. Obviously, we all have to get dressed. However, there’s more to it than simply knowing you can’t go to work in your pajamas. Think of your attire in terms of your career goal. Viewing your wardrobe as a part of your career journey begins with taking “what am I going to wear” beyond the simple housekeeping items of what’s clean, what matches and the weather forecast, to the next level. In our industry it can be easy to lean toward more casual, athletic wear, but we also have to remember we are on the business side of sport.

Most departments have HR standards for attire, while others may also have an athletics director or immediate supervisor that has stated expectations. If there is no communicated standard, develop your own. Where do you start? Look at your athletics director, senior administrators and individuals in the industry you admire. Regardless of requirements or lack thereof, imagine your wardrobe is part of your annual performance evaluation and strive to exceed expectations.

Right now you might be thinking this is very cliché. The old adages “dress for success” and “dress for the job you want not the job you have” may sound like clichés, but really what you wear does matter. You are representing your athletics department and your University on a daily basis.

How do you know if you are dressing appropriately? Ask. Perhaps your attire doesn’t warrant a “What Not to Wear” type of intervention or even a direct comment from your supervisor, but it could still be holding you back. The goal is to maintain your personal style while still projecting the right image. If you are not comfortable asking your immediate supervisor, talk to someone in your HR office or just consult someone you trust in your department. Just be sure you are prepared for the answer. If the response is that your wardrobe could use some tweaking, be ready to take on the task.