William Hanson reveals the things making YOU look unprofessional
Professionalism seems to be going out of vogue, but if one wishes to retain a sense of dignity and decorum when at a desk then there are certain things one shouldn’t wear or have on show.
My new guide below should be used as a check-list to ensure you retain some business class.
Of course, if your employer enforces any of these workplace sartorial no-nos and you don’t like it, you are more than welcome to find another job.
Tattoos
They were once only seen on mid-guided souls who thought themselves to be edgy, trendy and cool but now all-and-sundry have them and customers and clients are now confronted with them in all professions.
It is, of course, your right to get someone to inject toxic ink into your body in the name of art but it is also an employers’ right to tell you to cover it up, or not to hire you on the grounds you may intimidate the clientele.
They may not change how YOU act but they can change how other people act, and you are being employed to do a certain task as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Your personality or lifestyle choices have nothing to do with it.
Tattooed eyebrows
Similarly, the latest trend for perma-inked eyebrows is to be avoided in the names of professionalism unless you want clients staring at you trying to work out if you are some minor star from an Anime cartoon.
Tie clip
Although the tie-clip is entry-level stuff for oily candidates on The Apprentice, they should not be seen outside the TV bubble in the real world of work.
Admittedly, sellotaping the thinner end of your tie to the thicker, outer end (looking at you here, President Trump) isn’t a great look either, but tie clips are equally as bad.
Ties can be held in place by fastening the suit jacket when standing, as it correct.
No clips or tape required.
Too much scent
There is an argument for people to apply no scent whatsoever in a professional environment, but rules have relaxed a little and now the gentlest of applications is permissible.
Nose rings and piercings
If you wear a nose ring or stud socially then you need to remove it when at on the job.
Whilst they do not hinder you from working they do nothing towards improving your work ethic and they are yet to be widely accepted.
Charity bangles
It’s always jolly good to support a good cause, but unless your workplace is having a day in aid of that charity it is not good practice to wear colourful rubber bangles when interfacing with clients.
Visible roots
How super – you’ve dyed your roots black for the meeting.
If you are going to add artificial colour to your hair – whichever sex you are – then make sure the dye is constantly reapplied and visible roots never show. The only thing it highlights is a tardy lack of standards.
High heels
A woman’s heels should never be more than three inches when at work.
Anything else and it can be seen as tarty. Sorry, shoot me feminists for saying that, but it does.
Brown shoes with suit
Men have restrictions for their shoes, too – just to be balanced.
Brown shoes with a suit is still seen as downmarket, as was reported by the Social Mobility Commission in September last year.
Remember – don’t wear brown in town.
Waistcoat
Although I must commend the effort, too many businessmen get it wrong by trying too hard with their workplace attire.
With an exception for those who work in the City of London or a top law firm (and even then, tread carefully) it’s best stick to a jacket and trousers and keep it formal but not over the top.
There is a thin line between sartorial correctness and spiv.
Stubble
Unless you work as a David Gandy look-a-like (or indeed if you ARE David Gandy) then designer stubble is not really on, I’m afraid.
Again, it shows that you don’t care or show attention to detail.
Go and find a razor, please.
Backpacks
There is never any excuse for a backpack at work.
You’re not scaling Kilimanjaro, you’re meeting to talk about the new diversity directive.
Backpacks just scream ‘graduate intake’. Get a satchel, or, better still, a briefcase if you wish to add ｅxecutive presence.
Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4312260/William-Hanson-reveals-makes-look-unprofessional.html
Image Source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/fc/a3/fe/fca3fe917856e5d2c8d52c92d584c61f.jpg
VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Vogue – (n.) the prevailing fashion or style at a particular time.
2. Decorum – (n.) behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety.
3. Sartorial – (adj.) relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress.
4. Sellotape – (n.) is a British brand of transparent, polypropylene-based, pressure-sensitive tape, and is the leading brand in the United Kingdom. Sellotape is generally used for joining, sealing, attaching and mending.
5. Spiv- (n.) a man, typically characterized by flashy dress, who makes a living by disreputable dealings.
6. Satchel = (n.) a bag carried on the shoulder by a long strap and typically closed by a flap.
7. Permissible= (adj.) permitted allowed.
8. Tarty - (of a woman) dressed in a sexually provocative manner that is considered to be in bad taste.
- (of clothes) contributing to a sexually provocative appearance
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. When can you say that someone looks professional enough?
2. Describe your dress code in the office. What is acceptable and unacceptable attire in your office?
3. Does your company allow any of the above mentioned?
4. If you are an employer would you hire someone who has tattoos and piercings? Why or why not?
