Professional Development

Dress and Actions

Research III
Cameron Lee Raphael and Mai Thanh Nguyen
February 26, 2015

Professionalism
Professionalism, at least, according to Merriam- Webster, is the
competence or skill expected of a professional.
That's a lot easier said than done. It may all seem really simple: just dress
nice and act proper, but the thing is, there are lots of other important
things you need to pay attention to.
This presentation will specifically address: how to dress, how to lead a
meeting, how to participate in a meeting, handouts/ agendas, appropriate
and inappropriate mannerisms, how to talk with your hands, and mixed
signals.

Dress for Success for

Women

Do: wear business suits

Do: wear pencil skirts (the length should be at least to
your knees)
Do: wear slacks and khakis (make sure they're neatly
pressed or ironed)
Do: wear tights underneath dresses and skirts (sheer
black)
Do: wear closed- toed shoes in neutral colors
Do: wear cardigans (also in neutral colors)
Do: wear button- up shirts (also in neutral colors)
Do: wear blouses (also in neutral colors - sensing a
pattern yet?)
Do: utilize elegant jewelries that complement your outfit
Do: wear light make- up

Don't: wear bright colors

Don't: wear "sky- high" heels
Don't: wear heavy, bold make-up
Don't: wear tight, revealing clothing
Don't: wear short skirts/ shorts
Don't: wear t- shirts
Don't: wear jeans or sweatpants
Don't: wear sunglasses on your head (most likely, your
interview will be inside anyways)
Don't: wear ripped or torn clothing
Don't: wear hats

Dress for Success for

Do: wear business suits
Do: wear button- up shirts
Do: wear slacks and khakis (make sure they're neatly
pressed or ironed)
Do: wear belt and ties that match in colors
Do: wear sweater- vests
Do: wear neckties (the length of the necktie should stop
at the top of your belt)
Do: wear tailored pants
Do: wear watches
Do: wear white or black socks
Do: wear closed- toed shoes (in neutral colors such as
brown or black)

Men

Don't: wear bright colors

Don't: wear "sky- high" heels
Don't: wear heavy, bold make-up
Don't: wear tight, revealing clothing
Don't: wear short skirts/ shorts
Don't: wear t- shirts
Don't: wear jeans or sweatpants
Don't: wear sunglasses on your head (most likely, your
interview will be inside anyways)
Don't: wear ripped or torn clothing
Don't: wear hats

How to Lead a Meeting

Step 1: Set an appropriate date, time, and place for the meeting to take place.
Step 2: Stick to an agenda to pace and stay on track of time. Make sure you start your
meeting on time!
Step 3: Set an ultimate goal for your meeting. In other words, what should your
attendants know by the end of the meeting?
Step 4: While leading your business, keep your personal opinions to yourself and focus
only on business matters.
Step 5: If your meeting is lengthy, allow time for short breaks. This will help your
attendees from feeling mentally stressed or drained.
Step 6: Try to end the meeting on a good note and summarize major key points and
concepts!

How to Participate in a Meeting

Before the Meeting

Make sure you understand and know the following:

Purpose of the meeting

Content that will be covered

Who is attending the meeting

Goal

Location

Start and end times

During the Meeting
take notes
ask questions and make comments
be subtle with your opinion
After the Meeting
ask clarifying questions
stay attentive until the end of the meeting

Handouts/ Agendas
contact information should be at
the top
date of the meeting/event
key activities, points, or topics
write appropriate times for each
activity or each point that will be
discussed

retrieved from: thisisrealmedia.com; vulgaire.com

Mannerisms
Appropriate
Inappropriate
shaking hands while
speaking loudly or yelling
introducing yourself
dancing
smiling when appropriate
obscene gestures
nodding head to show
constant fidgeting
approval
loudly, or abruptly yelling an
raising hand to ask for
interjection
permission to speak
pulling out phone to check time
standing up tall
while someone is speaking
(confidence)
inappropriate hand gestures
eye contact

How to Talk with Your Hands

- moving your hands while speaking in place of fillers
such as um
- open gestures rather than closed
- closed gestures include: arms crossed, hands hidden or
held close to the body)
- try not to drum your fingers on a table
- when sitting down, place palms calmly at side on in lap
- perfect your handshake

Mixed Signals
Rubbing your hands together
Bouncing your feet
Playing with jewelry
Tapping your fingers on a table
Crossed arms

Works Cited
BERTRAM, L. (2014, September 15). DRESS FOR SUCCESS: THE DOS AND
DONTS OF OFFICE ATTIRE. Retrieved February 12, 2015, from
http://burnsmcdmedia.com/careersblog/2014/09/15/dress-success-dos-donts-office-at
tire/
Scott, K. (2013, October 17). The DOs and DONTs of working in the professional
world. Retrieved February 12, 2015, from
http://www.northeastern.edu/careers/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-working-in-the-profes
sional-world
The Do's and Don'ts of Professional Networking. (2012, May 17). Retrieved
February 12, 2015, from
http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-professional-networking
Keskerian, H. (2014, April 11). 10 Dos And Donts Of Mens Professional Wear |
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http://www.lawcommentator.com/blog/legal-fashion/10-dos-and-donts-of-mens-profes
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Retrieved February 12, 2015, from
http://www.uloop.com/news/view.php/126816/5-Dos-and-Donts-How-to-Dress-at-t
Dressing Professionally in the Workplace. (2004, January 12). Retrieved February
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Llopis, G. (2012, December 17). 5 Ways to Lead a Meeting: Make 30 Decisions in

30 Minutes. Retrieved February 12, 2015, from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2012/12/17/5-ways-to-lead-a-meeting-make-3
0-decisions-in-30-minutes/
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Quest, L. (2013, March 11). Career Boot Camp: 7 Steps To Lead Effective Meetings.
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ffective-meetings/
Ashe-Edmunds, S. (n.d.). Six Tips on How to Participate in a Meeting. Retrieved
February 12, 2015, from
http://work.chron.com/six-tips-participate-meeting-2014.html
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February 12, 2015, from http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1755015
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http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/glp/28411/Business-Etiquette.html
Burleson, D. (2009, April 22). Business etiquette for professionals. Retrieved
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http://www.dba-oracle.com/consultant_etiquette_manners.htm

Questions