KEY POINTS:
In a country like New Zealand, famed for its laidback, informal style, does the phrase "dress to impress" still apply?
First impressions definitely count. When attending an interview, we always advise candidates to err on the side of caution until they have the job and can gain a
strong idea of the firm's culture.
For men, that still means a navy or black suit, a pressed shirt and sober tie. Women have more choice, but again, a suit and court shoe is always a safe option.
Good grooming is equally as important but it's a good idea to go easy on the aftershave/perfume, which can easily overpower in the confines of an interview room.
A general rule of thumb would be to buy the best interview clothes that you can afford _ having invested time and money in your education and work experience, investing in your personal appearance makes sense and ensures that you make the best overall impression possible. You will generally feel more confident if you are already dressed for the job.
Corporates and the banking and finance sector (when employees are client-facing) generally still require a more traditional standard of business dress. If the employees are working in the back office, the need to be "suited and booted" is not as essential but I still believe the more well-dressed one is, the more seriously one will take the job.
But, in some cases, our clients within advertising, IT, FMCG telecommunications, and small to medium-sized companies prefer their employees to dress down.
We are finding it more and more common for these organisations to have a casual dress policy every day of the week.
But what is regarded as acceptable when it comes to casual dress? In my days of working in London more than 10 years ago, casual dress meant females had to have stockinged legs and skirts below the knee.
In New Zealand, shirts, tidy jeans, dresses (not minis), chinos and polo shirts are generally the acceptable casual work attire.
Smart-casual Fridays are a good opportunity to indulge your personal dress sense but try not to forget the "smart" element in your casual wardrobe. Anything revealing or tight, which could cause your colleagues embarrassment, should be left for the weekend.
If you are seeking promotion, it is normally a good idea to emulate the style of your superiors _ if your style of dress is too out there you might be viewed as high risk.
The old adage "dress to impress" still applies, no matter how laidbackthe culture is.