Dress for Success: Does It Matter Today? Maria A Stuchly Professor Emeritus University of Victoria, Canada.

Dress for Success:Does It Matter

Today?

Maria A StuchlyProfessor Emeritus

University of Victoria, Canada

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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Dress for Success: Introduction

Mt. Everest ClimbMt. Everest Climb Beijing Olympics (2008) Swim

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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Dress for Success: Does it Matter Today?

• What is success? – Sports and adventure

- electromagnetics engineering

– Professional success - successful life

• Has engineering changed - what about dress for success?– Changes in the society– Changes in our

profession

• Is there any dress code at all - critical situations?– Interview– Business meetings– Presentations

• Practical advice & personal perspective

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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What is Success?• How do we really define it?• Does it depend on personal priorities?• Does it change over our lifespan?• Is it gender dependent?• Does it depend on the professional

environment (industry, government, academia)?

• Is balance in life important?

We all want to be successful, and we define what it really is!

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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Professional Success Today

• Changes in the society– Globalization– Gender roles– Developed & developing countries

• Changes in the profession– Multiculturalism– Increased participation of women– Informality & tolerance

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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Dress for Success: Are there any Rules?

• Dress - Style - Fashion

• Occasion & Role we Play

• Age & Personal Preference

Michelle & Hilary

1993

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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Dress for Success: WEB, Newspapers etc.

• Current environment (economic crisis) - be conservative

• Suit: skirt or pants? Or maybe dress?

• First impression critical– What you wear

depends on employer

– Style & creativity– Shoes matter

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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The Six Occasions for Wearing a Jacket

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1. Meeting a client for the

first time

2. Formal presentations

3. Formal meetings

4. Interviews

5. Unannounced official

visits happen

6. Appearing in court

http://www.professionalimagedress.com/dress-six-occasions-for-jacket.htm

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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Formal Professional Attire: Fashionable Examples

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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Informal Work Environment

•Does anything go?

•Why it still may be important to dress carefully?

•Style & fashion

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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What About a Dress or a Sweater?

When can we wear them?

• Social functions• Less formal workplace,

everyday• Conferences when not

presenting• Lecturing? Yes, but

preferably with a jacket• Some formal occasions

(dependent on the design or with a jacket)

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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More Informal Professional Attire

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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Transition from Student to Professional

There is a step function change from a student (including a grad student) to an engineer

• No flip-flops• No shorts• No cut-out jeans• No bare midriff, etc.

Really critical when you start• Your students may be older than you• You want to be taken seriously as a

professional

in the office

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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My Professional Closet: what used to be in it

Winter • Black or dark grey skirt suit• Black dress pants• Two jackets• Two skirts Mix & Match• Two pants• Assortment of tops (long & short

sleeved)• Sweaters• “Little” black dress• Two pairs of medium & high heel shoes

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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My Professional Closet: what used to be in it

Summer• Off white or light beige skirt suit• Two casual dresses • Two jackets• Two skirts Mix & Match• Two pants• Assortment of tops• Dressy dress or skirt or pants with a top

and a matching jacket• Dressy sandals (high heels) and lower

heel summer shoes

June 7, 2009 The First IEEE Women in Electromagnetics (IEEE WiEM)

Workshop

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Personal Perspective• One can be successful without paying any

attention to the dress (as long as it is not offensive)

• First impressions are very often important • Dressing for occasion & your role is important• Dress can give an additional level of

confidence• Style and fashion are not the same. Stylists

may not really be helpful. One should follow fashion, but never blindly.

• Dress and style can be fun• Your personal style may help people to

remember you