How to Dress for Your Internship

It can be challenging starting off your professional career and knowing what the dress code is for every event or meeting. What you wear to interviews, meetings and even daily in the office can make an impact on how others view you. Navigating what is appropriate and expected isn’t always the easiest which is why I am here to help give you advice most people don’t think about.

Interviewing and starting your job

Most know that you should dress for the job you want. This means looking the part for the interview. Walking in with a nice and professional outfit will not only help you make a great first impression but will help you create a strong reputation within the office. Take note on your first couple of days to see what other people are wearing. It’s important to look nice, but you should avoid standing out for looking too professional or too laid back. Find a happy medium, and you will be good to go.

Meetings and beyond

Some interns might not know that every meeting has a different undiscussed dress code. It depends on who you are meeting with and what the is meeting is about. This is the same for events or conferences. Don’t be afraid to ask a coworker what the expected dress is! I have mentioned this in a ton of my blogs, but your coworkers are there to help. Even if that means asking for help on what is appropriate, I’m confident they will assist.

Professional shopping

As a business major and current intern, I know firsthand how expensive nice dress clothes can be. What a lot of people forget about is how amazing thrift shopping can be. A long time ago thrift shopping had such a negative connotation and wasn’t as celebrated as it is now. More and more people are beginning to understand the greatness that is thrift shopping. Professional clothes are so easy to find in thrift stores. The sizes are in a wide range and there are always so many different styles. Thrift stores are becoming more popular and are located almost everywhere. It’s a great way to find some nice clothes for a lot smaller of a price tag.

Remember that internships serve as a way of getting your foot in the door for the professional world. Starting your journey as an intern means not only doing great work, but also looking the part while doing it.