biz attire questions? can some women HELP ME….?
i start an internship next week at a MAJOR news network in Manhattan (which shall remain nameless, anyways) I have never worked in that type of envirnoment; I have nice new dressy clothes – obviously i’m a student and don’t have the kinda cash of the other, older biz ladies… I want to know only from those ladies who work in the biz world:
- is it appropriate to wear knee length boots with gauchos, panty hose, and pin striped button down blouse?
- is it okay to wear gauchos, period?
- is it okay to wear low heels like slingbacks?? I’m NOT comfortable n’ too clumsy to wear all those 3 inch n’ up pumps?
- is it okay to request off from internship, when I’m not even on campus (like Thanksgiving and Xmas week)?
- can I wear my hair down or does it always have to be pulled up?
- is it okay if i only wear lipstick there and not any other makeup?
- employer said, “break out Sunday best.” what’s that mean?
any other advice for style/dress would be helpful….
I would delay wearing gauchos until you see what everyone else wears. Wear something more traditional first.
I think low heels would be ok, as long as you wear nylons and your toes aren’t visible. There are heels that are low but are not slingbacks.
You might be expected to work Thanksgiving. The internship might not care what your school schedule is, and expect you to work when they work.
I wear my hair up at work only to keep it out of my way. I don’t think having it up is more formal than having it down. In fact, having it up can be seen as very casual if it is in a ponytail or messy. I think the main point is to make sure your hair is neat, either way.
Consider having your eyebrows waxed. It can make your overall look a lot neater.
If you have pierced ears, keep your earrings small. I would avoid wearing much more jewelry except a watch and a ring if you are engaged or married. Make sure your fingernails aren’t too long. If you paint them, stick to clear polish or something in a neutral color. Don’t put fancy gold decorations on your nails.
Don’t chew gum at work. If you need to, eat a breath mint.
Keep your personal phone calls to an absolute minimum. When I get a personal phone call at work, I expect a close family member to be in the hospital.
Don’t ask when you get to go home. You don’t want to appear eager to leave. Don’t say you have to leave at a certain time unless it is absolutely necessary. See your doctor or dentist NOW, not during your internship (unless you have to). Don’t make social plans for after work until you get an idea of what time you will go home each night. Be prepared to cancel social plans at the last minute.
Some employers will expect you to work even when sick. I have seen people go to work sick, throw up, clean themselves off, then go on like nothing happened.
Get a good night’s sleep each night before work.
I work in health care, so our culture might be a little different, but you can use my ideas until you get a better answer.
Jingle Bells (Hang out your Nylon Stockings Puppet Remix)
