In May of 1960, Joy Hakan went to a job interview in the Personnel Department at UNC – Chapel Hill. All she knew at the time was that she “needed to be properly attired.”

So she wore a neat navy blue suit with a white collar, a little hat, white gloves and high heels. She must have impressed Personnel because she was sent to interview in three different departments and then actually got to take her pick. She chose South Building not even realizing that a position there was considered to be the most prestigious.

For the next 16 years, Joy worked alongside three different chancellors – meeting fascinating people and doing rewarding work.

If you know Joy, you know that she has many qualities that enabled her to land and keep such wonderful work over the years.

Yet she believes her attire was an important key to success.

Though the hat and gloves are no longer needed today, dress is still a critical key to success in most organizations.

I hear frequent stories from business people expressing disbelief about the way applicants show up for interviews. And an equal number of stories about people who show up for the job not looking fine at all.

Before you go to a job interview, find out how people there dress and then dress a notch more formally on your interview day.

If you get an offer, find out the rules and expectations before you accept.

Once you have accepted the job and the paycheck, you have accepted the rules – hat, gloves, high heels and all!

copyright 2009 – Jan Bolick, Business Class Inc