The old saying that you should never judge a book by its cover doesn’t apply to all lines of work.
If you’re an entrepreneur bootstrapping your startup, you can get away with casual wear. You’ll be able to scrap the jacket and tie or skirt and blouse for ripped jeans and flip-flops if you wish.
Start your own business or find a line of work where you can dress as you please if you can’t stomach being told how to dress for success.
With that said, here are three professions that require you to dress and look your best.
1. Realtor
If you’re a realtor, you understand how critical it is to be on point with your attire. People will judge you based on how you present yourself. While some of the agents you’re competing with might rage against the norm by dressing informally, it’s best to err on the side of caution by dressing in formal attire so that you look the part.
Day in and day out, you’ll be dealing with the public and other real estate agents. You’ll be overseeing open houses, helping people buy and sell properties, negotiating terms and conditions, and networking to drum up leads that can lead to commission checks down the road.
With each interaction, people will judge you. You can make an excellent first impression and good subsequent impressions by being sharply dressed. Remember that your clients are counting on your help to buy and sell properties that can be worth six figures, seven figures, or more.
Considering that a home represents the most significant investment for most people, you can appreciate that prospective clients will want to find the right realtors to represent their interests.
You don’t have to dress in a three-piece suit or an evening gown. But you need to dress in a way that denotes professionalism if you want to be taken seriously and win people’s confidence.
Whether you’re a realtor or are thinking about becoming one, how you present yourself matters.
2. Lawyer
If you’re a fan of crime dramas like Criminal Minds or Law & Order, you probably already know that lawyers dress in formal attire. While focusing on representing their clients and getting them the best outcomes in courts, lawyers are among the best-dressed professionals.
Clients will judge you by what you wear and how you present yourself – so will judges. Courts typically have dress codes that lawyers must follow. So, you won’t see lawyers wearing what they would dress in to walk their dogs in the park or work in their gardens.
3. News Anchor
Another profession that requires professional attire is that of a news anchor. These professionals are front and center when delivering the news to thousands or hundreds of thousands of people across the country. News anchors need to set a professional tone when disseminating the day’s news or interviewing politicians, A-list actors, and high-profile business people. It’s not just about their oration skills, either – it’s also about their hair and formal wear.
The way they present themselves in terms of communication, professionalism, relatability, and attire will speak volumes. If you’d like to work as a news anchor, you’ll want to ensure the way you present yourself to the public resonates with them.
These are three specific professions where what you wear and how you present yourself matter. It’s not enough to be great at your job. You need to dress and look the part to succeed. There are other professions that will require that you dress your best day in and day out. But the ones mentioned above are among the most prominent.
