Dress well enough for the job you want

You can try to deny it, but you really are what you wear. You may believe that we live in a society that isn’t judgmental, but the fact of the matter is you are judged by your appearance.

Within the first three minutes of meeting someone new, you will naturally assess his or her value based on initial impressions. Don’t set yourself up for low expectations. If you want to be perceived as a professional, dress like one.

While you may believe that dressing up for college seems strange, there are some distinct benefits of dressing at the level expected in your future profession.

First, dressing well will have a positive effect on your attitude. You will find that you feel better and are more positive when you are dressed well. It is hard not to feel better when receiving more attention and compliments than you would receive while dressed down.

Second, your professors will treat you differently. They will assume that you are more dedicated and more engaged if you are willing to dress up for their classes. You will appear as a highly motivated individual who is destined for great things.

Finally, believe it or not, your career in your field has already started in college. You are currently making the networks with your peers and future employers while you are still young.

Here are a few notes to looking like a professional.

First, regardless of what you wear make sure it is clean. Remember, you are trying to present the appearance that you care about how you look and what you do. Showing up in dirty clothes will present a like image.

Second, make sure your hair looks nice and is conservative in nature. Get a fresh haircut from time to time. Men, you need to shave or at least keep any facial hair neatly trimmed. Women, ensure your hair looks nice and avoid brightly colored hair accessories.

Third, outside a gym, a T-shirt won’t do. Men, wear a collared shirt tucked into your pants. Your pants should preferably be slacks and a belt. Women, wear a nice blouse.

I recently made the transition from wearing a uniform everyday to wearing clothing suited to a college professor.

With less than $300 I was able to fill my closet with the basics and some pretty unique, but still conservative, jackets. Remember that the classic looks never go out of style. What this means is that there are a lot of opportunities to put together a very professional wardrobe with little investment. Use thrift stores or eBay to your advantage.

Men and women who choose to dress in classic professional styles will probably save themselves significant amount of money. By avoiding the current fashion trends and sticking with fashions that don’t go out of style, you won’t need to constantly update your attire.

It may surprise you how much more confidence others will have in you if you take the time to invest into your own image. Many leaders have gotten opportunities because they appeared the most competent.

College is a place where you learn how to be a professional in your chosen field. You might as well start looking like a professional while you are here. It may seem like a hassle to put forth so much effort for a day of classes, but I guarantee you will see a return on the investment and boost your own confidence.