Joshes and Joshettes, it’s Monday, so here’s a Business Monday post. Today I will be talking about the importance of how you dress. If that interests you, read on.

Today’s post is inspired by my court visit from a couple of hours ago. Today I had my worker’s compensation hearing, so I made sure to dress appropriately. My outfit consisted of a pair of slacks, a button-up dress shirt and a leather watchband for my watch (instead of my normal sports band). I arrived at the courthouse an hour early and took a seat in the waiting area. To my surprise, many of the people in the room were wearing jeans, hooded sweaters and tee shirts. This might not sound like a big deal to most, but this is a red flag for me. My family has old school values and I was raised a certain way. One of the customs drilled into me was dressing up for certain occasions such as church, funerals, interviews and when going to court. I already know some people may say dress clothes are expensive but is that true? On Amazon, you can find a three-piece suit for as low as fifty-five dollars. This suit will not be fancy or the best, but it will get the job done. Still on the fence, let me dive a bit deeper.

There is a saying that goes “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” The real meaning of this quote is that our outfits play a major factor in our first impressions. I know we are told not to judge a book by its cover, yet we do judge people based on their appearances. Making a good first impression is crucial in any job or business because it affects the way we are treated. A couple of years ago, a coworker of mine often had issues with customers because of his first impression. His uniform was unkempt, he had a closed body language and he spoke in a condescending tone, all of these qualities lead to him being transferred and his eventual termination. Some people say dressing nicely boosts confidence and they suggest dressing up for phone interviews. That sounds ridiculous, but they say doing this can change your mindset and helps with the interview. I personally can’t say that I agree nor do I disagree but I rather wear dress clothes than casual clothing. When I finish tying a tie to complete my outfit I instinctively admire myself in the mirror whereas when I throw on a shirt and a pair of jeans, I just leave my house.

This post is more of a rant but that’s because it’s hard to explain the topic. You can not fully grasp the importance of this topic from reading alone, you need to experience it. I challenge you to try dressing up for a week and keeping a journal of how you feel each day. Let me know your observations in the comments below. Thanks for reading.