Two young professionals arrive at a company headquarters for an interview. One is dressed in business slacks, a crisp button down shirt, dress shoes and a tie. The other potential candidate is wearing cargo pants, a polo shirt and sneakers. Out of the two adults, who would most likely get the job?
While appearance does not count for everything, it does have a significant impact on the type of impression adults give off in the workplace.
"If you're trying to advance in your career, first things first, would be to improve your grooming habits and style of dress," Andrew Ward, director at Diversified Staffing Services, told the Calgary Herald. "You don't have to wear expensive clothing, and it doesn't have to be fashionable; it just has to be neat and well presented."
The type of career path a person is pursuing can impact which type of image is appropriate, too. For instance, the image at an accounting firm may be quite different from an internet company.
Students in the Accounting and Payroll Administrator program at Vancouver Career College can practice dressing professionally during a practicum in an accounting department or similar environment. For five weeks, they work alongside accounting professionals and others, use their skills and gain valuable on the job experience. For more information, fill out the form on the right.