Complicated Decisions About Casual Business Attire Can Open or Close Doors, Says CareerBuilder Survey
Most Workers Fail to Research Appropriate Dress for Job Interviews
RESTON, Va., March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 75 percent of U.S. workers
say that clothing or personal appearances influence attitudes about
professionalism, according to a national Casual Dress in the Workplace Survey
from CareerBuilder Inc., delivering the most powerful career network on the
Web. Yet, when first impressions are most on the line -- during job
interviews -- more than 80 percent fail to research what is appropriate attire
and what is not.
"In today's cautious economy, workers must maximize their chances of
success," said Diane Strahan, a career expert with CareerBuilder. "Your
resume needs to be sharp and polished and so do you. Researching and
selecting the appropriate type of attire for a job interview is a requirement
in today's perplexing casual work environment. What's tricky is that casual
means different things to different people."
Casual assumptions
While 78 percent of workers describe their typical work attire as casual,
definitions of casual vary. Over half describe their typical work attire as
"business casual" (khaki slacks, polo or golf shirt, optional jacket, for
example), but more than a fourth describe their attire as "extreme casual"
(jeans, T-shirts, shorts). And while business casual is the norm, nearly a
third of the workers polled say that casual dress is only allowed on
designated dress down days.
"Making assumptions about proper business dress can be disastrous,
especially for job seekers who are trying to fit into a new corporate
culture," Strahan said. "The first impression is critical. Even the most
glowing qualifications can't erase a bad first impression."
Business suits, halter-tops or khakis?
Poor grooming, halter-tops, tube tops, sweatshirts, sweatpants and
piercings are generally considered as unprofessional by survey respondents.
Business suits, khaki pants, polo shirts and golf shirts received the high
marks for professional attire. Visible cleavage, according to the survey,
received mixed marks along gender lines.
"If you have to ask whether something is appropriate or not, it's probably
not," Strahan said. "Remember that what you wear to work reflects your
professional style."
Conducted by SurveySite on behalf of CareerBuilder, the survey also
explores the 2001 work attire mix, what's in and what's out and casual dress
perceptions within different departments and across job titles. The survey
also looks at workplace attire and challenges related to job interviews and
other business dealings.
About CareerBuilder, LLC
CareerBuilder Inc., the most powerful career network on the Web, is the
leading provider of targeted Web recruiting. Through the CareerBuilder
Network, employers can post jobs to pinpoint exactly the right candidates by
location, industry or diversity. Job seekers can instantly search more than
75 of the Internet's best career sites, in just a couple of clicks.
CareerBuilder also provides personalized career services and advice. The
CareerBuilder Network includes careerbuilder.com -- the flagship career center
-- and the career centers of premiere destination sites including MSN,
Bloomberg.com, USA TODAY.com, iVillage.com and latimes.com, Philly.com,
chicagotribune.com and BayArea.com.
About SurveySite
SurveySite ( http://www.surveysite.com ) is a leading online market
research firm specializing in Web-based surveys, online focus groups and
Website evaluation. SurveySite has conducted online research for a number of
Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Dell Computer Corporation, IBM,
Compaq Computer and Eli Lilly. The corporate offices of SurveySite are
located in Toronto, Canada.
The online survey (+/- 2.1 percent accuracy) conducted by SurveySite drew
2,100 respondents during a five-day period earlier this month.
CareerBuilder Media Contact
For all media inquiries and interview requests, contact:
Jennifer Grasz
(P) 773-527-1164
(E) jennifer.grasz@careerbuilder.com
