A Message to My Fashionistas

By Kayla Lott, Toppel Ambassador

When I heard the words “business professional,” I used to hyperventilate.  One of the ways that I—as well as many others—express myself is through my style, and dressing business professional takes away from that completely…or so I used to think. 

Stereotypically, when people think business professional, they think all black, all basic and all boring, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  There are ways that we can express ourselves through our clothing that don’t have to be distracting or take away from our aptitude as young professionals.

So how exactly do we do that? 

For men, feel free to experiment with ties!  That doesn’t mean to wear your new Miami Dolphins tie; however, don’t shy away from patterns and colors (other than red and blue).  Also, experiment with different styles of ties.  The typically worn tie (aka the four-in-hand) is great, but there is also the bow tie that many don’t venture off to do, and there are other alternative ways to tie a tie (like the trinity or eldredge knot) that would give you a unique style as well.

Furthermore, take advantage of this great accessory called the vest.  It’s a nice change from the jacket, and the vest is something that generally looks good on all men.  A sweater, like the vest, is another great deviation from the norm.   Color is another thing that not enough men take advantage of.  The colors of the American flag aren’t the only colors that you can wear to the office, and pink—as well as purple—isn’t just a “girl color.”  Haven’t you heard that real men wear pink?

For women, there’s a lot that we can do.  High-waisted pants and skirts are in right now.  Feel free to wear them as long as the length is appropriate (at least knee-length).  Plus, it’ll give you more of an hourglass look.  Moreover, play around with accessories.  It’s okay to wear more than the pair of go-to studs you have sitting next to your business suit.  Pearls are a great accessory to enhance your outfit while also making you look elegant, as long as you wear them in moderation.  Don’t be afraid of earrings that dangle, just make sure they say business but fashionable not I’m going to the club after work.  Less is more is definitely a foundation to live by on wearing accessories in the work place, but think of less as modest not as sparing.

On the topic of the club, be careful of the heels you wear.  Many advise to keep heels to a half an inch, but this is 2013, and we’re fashion-forward young ladies.  Most of us probably don’t own a pair of heels that are less than three inches.  As long as they’re not too strappy, too high (five to six inches, four may be pushing it) and preferably close-toed, feel free to strut your stuff.  Lastly, lack of color isn’t just an issue for the men.  It’s okay for us to wear color too.  Wear that magenta colored skirt or the gold flats or both.  Fashion-forward isn’t just for the fashion merchandising majors.  It can be for us too.

So the next time you hear “business professional,” keep calm and style on because style is something that gives you the freedom to be who you are even when you are part of a unit.  When everyone else looks the same, it helps us to define ourselves as someone who is different, unique and divergent.  It’s something that can go from being a conversation starter to getting us a job, so don’t be afraid to wear that argyle tie or that chunky gold necklace.  It may be the very catalyst to get you your next connection.

What to Wear

By Maura Gergerich, Toppel Peer Advisor

One crucial part to landing that dream job is being able to look the part. If you ever plan on attending any sort of recruitment function someone will always say dress is business casual or business professional. But, what exactly does this mean and what is the difference between the two?

Business Professional

This is the most formal business attire. For men, this means to wear a dark colored suit (solid or pinstripe is fine) with a solid color, clean, pressed, shirt. A conservative tie should be worn (save the funky retro patterns for elsewhere) and make sure that you wear shined, dark dress shoes that coordinate appropriately with your suit (brown shoes with a black suit is a major fashion faux pas). Socks should reach over the calf so sorry, but this is not the time to show off your ankles with your low cut athletic socks, and just like shoes, should match the rest of your outfit. Avoid flashy accessories like cufflinks or earrings (hopefully you know not to wear a necklace with a tie) and one ring per hand if any. Women should also whip out that power suit (pant or skirt) or you can also wear a tailored dress in a subtle color. For any outfit, avoid extreme slits and low necklines and keep hemlines to the knee. Polished, closed toe shoes with a back and low heel (if any) should be worn as well as appropriately colored stockings. Keep nails clean with no chipped polish and keep makeup and jewelry light. Both men and women should know to wear conservative colors (grey, navy, black), keep perfume and cologne light, and remember to keep those breath mints handy (no gum; you don’t want to forget to throw it out and be chewing like a cow at your interview). 

Business Casual

A basic outfit is khakis and a button up shirt, which is appropriate for men and women. More specifically, for men, ties are not necessary but when in doubt, wear one. You can always discreetly remove it if you are uncomfortably overdressed. Long sleeve shirts are slightly dressier than short sleeve but either are acceptable and you can even go for a light pattern (paisley is probably too bold but a subtle pinstripe always looks dapper). Slacks or khakis are your go to choices for pants and wear nice shoes. For women, both slacks and a pencil skirt are appropriate (neither should be skin tight) and should be paired with a blouse. Sweaters are an optional component of your outfit; just remember that your top should not be tight or show cleavage. The smartest option for shoes would be flats but sandals that are not too casual and have a back can also be worn. If you ever question how formal you should dress it is better to go with a more formal option rather than a more casual one. You usually won’t stand out for being dressy but wearing a polo in a room full of people in suits will make you stick out like a sore thumb.

It’s not shallow to say that looks are important to an employer while they’re looking to hire. You wouldn’t want to hire someone for a position if they show up looking sloppy and unkempt, right? You represent your employer when you go out into the workforce so how well you dress is a direct reflection on your boss. Your first impression in an interview is going to be made before you even open your mouth so it’s super important that you show off your professional attitude on the exterior as well as in your answers.

How to Use Parental Connections in the Search for Internships

By: Marissa Bell

It’s getting to be that time of year again where at the end of every phone conversation with the parents, they inevitably ask you, “So… have you thought about your plans for the summer yet?” Back in the, what I have affectionately coined, “The Golden Years” (aka the years around the age of 7-12), the answers were simple. Catching fireflies, going swimming, hanging out with friends, and fun things like that. As you got older the pressure was there to find a job and to start thinking about the future. Now that you’re in college, the focus has turned entirely onto finding an internship to prepare for the daunting professional future. And if you’re really lucky, one of your parents will say, “You know, my old college roommate is the CEO of *insert dream company here*. I’m sure she could help you get an internship there if you’re interested?” Well… obviously. Who wouldn’t be interested? But using a parental connection can create a somewhat awkward situation that can be harder to navigate than just sending resumes and cover letters off to a faceless recruiter. Here are 3 of the biggest tips to remember when applying for an internship using a connection from your parents:


Tip 1: Strike the Proper Tone

If it was your mom or dad’s college roommate, you’ve no doubt got some funny anecdotes about them. However, this is NOT the place to bring up the time you heard they mooned the President of their university or when they pranked their roommates. Yes, these are funny stories, but just by mentioning them before this person knows anything else about you, you’ve taken away from your own professionalism. This is still a first impression, not a time to bring up funny stories from the past. Of course, it’s still appropriate to let them know that you do have a connection with them, it gives them a reason to read your cover letter and resume, but keep it professional.

Tip 2: Don’t Let Your Parents Take Over

While this is a connection from your parents, don’t let them take over the entire process. It’s easy to just ask them to send an email directly to their friend and ask if there are any positions open, but the employers will be left wondering why you didn’t just do it yourself. Your parents are there to help establish a connection, but once that’s happened it’s up to you to stand alone on your own merit to get the job yourself. The worst thing you can do is make your parents do everything and then have everyone else think you only got the job because of them. Parents want to help you but there comes a time when you just need to tell them to take a step back and handle it yourself.

Tip 3: Don’t Slack Off

Just because the CEO of your dream company happens to be your parent’s old best friend doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a position based on that alone. It’s tempting to just send an email saying, “You knew my dad is college, here’s my resume” and expect that the connection between them and your family to do the rest of the work. But that will end up kicking you in the butt. Never slack off and expect someone other than yourself to get you a job. It’s up to you to treat this person just like any other employer. It will help you to be professional and make sure that you show the employer that you’re more than their friend’s son or daughter, but a potential candidate for a position that could bring a lot of positive things to the table.

The biggest thing is to use these connections. Your parents have gone through their entire lives meeting people who could potentially be your future bosses. It’s an amazing opportunity to be connected to someone you might not have necessarily been able to get in touch with otherwise. But just remember that you are more than just your parents child. Make sure the employer knows that too.

How do you Dress for Success?

By: Taylor Duckett, Toppel Ambassador

 Have you ever gotten an invitation to a networking or social event where, you look at the attire and are left completely confused? I have been there more times than I can remember and so I began to do research and have come up with simple descriptions of some of the most common things that you will be asked to wear.

Smart Casual

Smart casual is in fact an actual style that you may be asked to wear. For males, it consists of a nice pair of jeans with either polo or a dress shirt, completed by a blazer, vest, or sweater. Ties are optional and this style is usually worn with loafers. Slacks are also acceptable. Women have a few more options. The first decision is skirt or pants. If you decide to wear a skirt, shorter skirts (to the knee or slightly above) are acceptable. If you decide to wear pants, slacks and jeans are acceptable but I would avoid neon color pants or skinny jeans. Most women wear middle or high heeled shoes, flats, or boots with smart casual. As far as tops go, a nice simple but dressy shirt will do with a nice cardigan and accessories to go along with it will do.

Miami Casual

Miami is so special that they invented their own style, Miami Casual. Miami is a laid back place and this style reflects that. With Miami Casual, boat shoes are acceptable to wear to work as well as collared shirts without ties. For women, sundresses can be worn without a cardigan or blazer. I would still shy away from the flip flops and shorts however.

Business Casual

How can something be both business yet casual at the same time? It’s very simple; for women, business casual can consist of a nice pair of khakis, slacks, or a nice skirt (at least to the knee) with low heels, and a nice, conservative blouse. Limited jewelry should be worn and bold nail polish should also be avoided. Business casual for men means a nice pair of khakis or slacks, and clean, polished loafers. A polo or button down dress shirt should also be worn, blazers and ties not needed. 

Business Professional

Business professional is simple; it means no khakis for anyone, male or female. It also means that both genders need to wear blazers and men need to wear a tie. The pants or skirt suits should be in neutral colors with a solid colored dress shirt.

Semi-Formal

Men should wear a full suit; a vest is optional (though I always think that if you have a legitimate reason to wear a vest you should). A tie, either a straight tie or bow tie, should be worn with a simple dress shirt. Try to avoid linen suits, though comfortable, they don’t exactly fall into the semi-formal family. For women, dresses are always a safe bet but pant suits are okay depending on the material they are made out of. The outfits should be somewhat conservative, not showing too much leg or cleavage. Shoes and jewelry should add to the elegance of the outfit, not subtract from it.

Formal

When invited to a formal event, think incredibly dressy. Men wearing tuxedos would be appropriate as would women wearing floor length dresses and simple, yet elegant jewelry such as pearls or broaches.

This list is not exhaustive, but hopefully it will give you the basics to get through any event.

Your Pink Jeans Are Cute, Just Not Professional

By Veronica Soto

It is summertime and I’m sure that after your internship you are thinking about the beach and catching up with friends home from school for the summer.  The last thing you want to hear about is preparing for Career Expo and on-campus interviews in the fall, but I promise this will not be a lecture.  Today, I just want to talk to you about the importance of your professional appearance when you do come back to campus.  I’m talking about the way you present yourself to a potential employer.  Career Expo will have about 1000 students and alumni in attendance, all vying for internships and full-time opportunities so you want to be sure that you present yourself at your best. 

By now, you should have your social media privacy settings on lock.  Employers should only be able to find your appropriate Facebook profile picture and your LinkedIn profile.  Managing your online profile, that is the easy part.  What do you do when you are in front of the employer?  Does how you are dressed make or break your opportunity with an employer?  In a perfect world, if you are the best person for the job, no.  We live in the real world and competition is fierce, especially for the really cool and really competitive opportunities.  If an employer is going to decide between candidates that have similar backgrounds, do you think they will go for the student dressed in a suit or the student that looks like he slept in his clothes?  While any other day, your wrinkled T’s are an acceptable outfit to wear to class, it is not acceptable for Expo or other career events.  You are not helping yourself by doing this.

The truth is, you need to be able to look your best.  I don’t mean that you have to be dressed in a Hugo Boss suit with Ferragamo shoes sporting your Rolex.   

 

Truth is, you don’t need an expensive outfit to look put together and professional.  Even discount retailers like Target and JCPenney, carry inexpensive lines of professional clothing.   You can even borrow a suit from a friend, we won’t tell anyone!

 

So please, do not show up to Career Expo or other career events in mini-skirts, jeans, polo shirts or turquoise pants.  We require professional attire because we want University of Miami students and alumni to continue to stand out to employers and part of standing out is your taking time to make sure you have a professional appearance.  We want you to succeed.  

If you have questions about your Expo attire, feel free to stop by or give us a call.  We have examples the difference between Professional and Business Casual attire on HireACane.