Different careers have different dress codes, but how do you know you’re wearing the right items? Here’s a breakdown of the right fashion choices for the most popular careers.
Student
Though not technically a career, people do spend many years of their lives as a student. If you’re earning an online counseling psychology degree, you might be tempted to wear your pajamas every day to class. While an online course doesn’t require you to go to an office or workplace, you should still use your time as a student as practice for the field you’re entering.
If you’re planning to provide therapy after graduation, you may want to start dressing as though you’re going to a session with a client (probably professional slacks and a button-up). If you’re studying to be a nurse, start looking into scrubs. Students have the chance to learn what will be expected of them in the future and experiment with how they’ll fit. Take this time to perfect your look so you can enter the workforce feeling confident and prepared.
Software Developer
Software developers work in a variety of fields. They’re creative professionals who typically find themselves working in an office setting or occasionally working from home. The dress code for this career will depend on where you spend the majority of your working time. Are you in an office creating websites or do you work in a hospital designing patient databases? Most software developers find themselves needing to wear business casual attire on a daily basis.
Stock your wardrobe with a few essentials. A nice white dress can be paired with heels for a meeting or flats for a typical day in the office. You can’t go wrong with a collection of slacks, button-ups, and cardigans. Software developers spend most of the day sitting, so footwear isn’t too much of a concern.
Teacher or Professor
There are 3.2 million teachers in America’s public schools alone and almost 200,000 professors. The dress code varies slightly for school teachers and professors. A professor is usually expected to dress business casual — dress pants, blouses or button-up shirts, and dresses. There are very few times when a professor would look any different.
A public school teacher, on the other hand, has a few more options. On a daily basis, he or she might look similar to a professor, though with a few small variations. Elementary teachers will usually not wear dresses or high-heels, due to being with small children. A high school teacher will usually wear jeans on Fridays, and all public school teachers participate in a variety of spirit weeks which might require them to dress to a theme. As a teacher, you’re always safe dressing business casual and can consult with other teachers about the exceptions to the rule.
Medical Professional
The daily dress code of a medical professional varies depending on the type of profession and the setting. Scrubs are the most commonly recognized clothing of a medical professional, but they are only worn by certain people in specific situations. A hospital nurse will usually wear scrubs every day, while a nurse practitioner in a doctor’s office typically will not. A surgeon will wear scrubs while in the operating room, but not while doing consultations or rounds. Doctors in private practice often wear business casual clothing under a white coat, as will physician assistants. As a medical student, you’ll get an idea of what you’ll be expected to wear and when. Use your time as a student to learn the ins and outs of your field and the dress code.
What you wear to work says volumes about your competence and confidence. Stock your wardrobe with everything you need to create the perfect look for your career, no matter the situation.
