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Look Sharp By Restaurant Expert Witness – Howard Cannon The National Football League has uniform requirements for every player if they expect to get on the field. Baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer all have uniform requirements as well, and any player who doesn’t abide by the requirements gets a hefty fine. After a couple of violations, they don't play. Chances are good that the company you work for has some kind of employee uniform policy, too. Some employers are more particular than others, so know what the rules are and follow them. However, there’s a huge difference between an employee who follows the bare basics of uniform policy, and an employee who uses their appearance as yet another tool to convey to others their competence and desire to succeed. Who you are on the inside won't get a fair shake if your outside appearance is a distraction. Your image says a lot about who you are, even if that's not what you intend. However, if you aren’t willing to put forth the effort to look good and take care of yourself, what would make me believe that you would be any better at taking care of my business, my customers, or my team? Whether we like it or not, whether it's fair or not, a book gets judged by its cover all the time. Bosses, coworkers, prospective employers, and customers will size you up by the way you look before you ever get a chance to open your mouth. Don’t be afraid to get some image advice from a mentor, a friend, a family member, or a boss. Choose someone who always looks sharp; it wouldn’t do you a ton of good to get advice from a slob. Taking cues from someone else’s good sense of style can put you on the right track to developing your own positive image. Buy smart as you build your professional wardrobe. You don’t need to empty your wallet to dress well. Before you shop, go through your closet and make a mental inventory of your professional wardrobe. Knowing what you have on hand makes you a smarter and thriftier consumer as you hit the stores. Buy the best quality clothing and accessories that you can afford on your budget. You're better off buying a brand that's known for durability than purchasing a cheap brand that you'll have to replace in a few months. Worn out looking clothes make you look worn out. Be wary of trends in your professional wardrobe. If people won't consider something good fashion sense a year from now, it's probably not worth investing in for the job. Whatever you wear, your clothes must be neat and clean. Just because the label says "wrinkle-free" doesn’t mean it's true. If you're in doubt about how your clothes look, iron them. If you can see a stain, others will see it too. Be particularly conscientious about your shoes. Professional people notice shoes, and so do customers. Keep your shoes polished, clean and scuff free. Shoes support the whole weight of your body; cheap shoes can get uncomfortable quickly with arches that break down and soles that wear unevenly. A pair of lousy shoes will make you absolutely miserable, and it will show on your face and in your attitude. Invest in quality shoes that will get you through your workday with ease. Details matter! Keep your hair neat and professional and get it trimmed regularly. Keep the perfume or cologne to a minimum. Makeup needs to be applied conservatively. Jewelry should be tasteful and never worn in excess. With this in mind, follow your business's uniform policy to the letter, and then take the steps needed to always look your very best. The investment of time and money you make will be well spent.
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