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| Can this woman get a job in your office? | Can this woman get a job in your office? |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Office dress codes are loosening, but where do the boundaries lie? Rebecca Knowles-Dixon, 24, is at the edge of what constitutes acceptable work wear. Could she work in your office? | Office dress codes are loosening, but where do the boundaries lie? Rebecca Knowles-Dixon, 24, is at the edge of what constitutes acceptable work wear. Could she work in your office? |
| Suit and tie, heels and nice skirt. Dressing for work was much simpler when the rules of office attire were so much stricter. | Suit and tie, heels and nice skirt. Dressing for work was much simpler when the rules of office attire were so much stricter. |
| Today in many offices, ties - if worn at all - are knotted loosely over an unbuttoned collar, jackets - if worn at all - may be denim, and women can wear flip-flops. Posh flip-flops, but footwear once reserved for holidays none the less. | Today in many offices, ties - if worn at all - are knotted loosely over an unbuttoned collar, jackets - if worn at all - may be denim, and women can wear flip-flops. Posh flip-flops, but footwear once reserved for holidays none the less. |
| FIND OUT MORE On BBC Radio 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire show at 1000 BST on 25 June | FIND OUT MORE On BBC Radio 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire show at 1000 BST on 25 June |
| But how far along the spectrum between smart and casual can you go, without being dismissed out of hand by a prospective employer? | But how far along the spectrum between smart and casual can you go, without being dismissed out of hand by a prospective employer? |
| Here, Emma BedfordPatel, of recruitment agency Tate, assesses how Rebecca Knowles-Dixon might fare if she pitched up to a job interview. | |
| You can see what the public make of Rebecca, and whether she's prepared to smarten up, in this video . | You can see what the public make of Rebecca, and whether she's prepared to smarten up, in this video . |
| MAKE-UP | MAKE-UP |
| Becky's look is natural - achieved not with myriad cosmetics in subtle shades of brown, but by wearing no make-up. At all. | Becky's look is natural - achieved not with myriad cosmetics in subtle shades of brown, but by wearing no make-up. At all. |
| "She's really pretty, and you can carry it off when you've got a lovely, pretty face," says Emma BedfordPatel. While not strictly necessary, she says putting on a bit of lippy can help with first impressions, "it looks like you've made more effort". href="#top">Return to top | |
| HAIR | HAIR |
| Part buzzcut, part dreadlocks, such a look can be challenging for an interviewer to see past, says Emma BedfordPatel. So what can Becky do with her 'do, without sacrificing a hairstyle she loves? | Part buzzcut, part dreadlocks, such a look can be challenging for an interviewer to see past, says Emma BedfordPatel. So what can Becky do with her 'do, without sacrificing a hairstyle she loves? |
| "Tidy it up. Take it back into a ponytail, smooth it out. There's not much you could really do with it, because it's shaved on one side. | "Tidy it up. Take it back into a ponytail, smooth it out. There's not much you could really do with it, because it's shaved on one side. |
| "Again it's about showing the effort that you've made to create the right impression, and that you're aware of the corporate environment." href="#top">Return to top | |
| CLOTHES | CLOTHES |
| For a job interview, Becky should wear a suit, even if she never wears one once in the job, says Emma BedfordPatel. | For a job interview, Becky should wear a suit, even if she never wears one once in the job, says Emma BedfordPatel. |
| "Leggings and a baggy cardigan I just don't feel is a very corporate image. It's all about looking smart. We always advise interviewees to wear more corporate colours, such as black, grey, navy. | "Leggings and a baggy cardigan I just don't feel is a very corporate image. It's all about looking smart. We always advise interviewees to wear more corporate colours, such as black, grey, navy. |
| "If you wear a skirt, wear hosiery. And the skirt shouldn't be short - you don't want to give the wrong impression. It should be knee-length ideally, if not below." | "If you wear a skirt, wear hosiery. And the skirt shouldn't be short - you don't want to give the wrong impression. It should be knee-length ideally, if not below." |
| For men, the dress code is similar - a suit in a smart, dark colour. | For men, the dress code is similar - a suit in a smart, dark colour. |
| "A crisp, white shirt looks better than a black shirt. And definitely wear a tie - plain, paisley or stripes, not one with cartoon characters. It makes it look like you almost think it's all a joke." href="#top">Return to top | |
| PIERCINGS | PIERCINGS |
| With so few jobs and so many candidates, Emma BedfordPatel suggests multiple piercings might count against a candidate in a job interview. | With so few jobs and so many candidates, Emma BedfordPatel suggests multiple piercings might count against a candidate in a job interview. |
| "It can cause an impression that you aren't taking the interview seriously, that you haven't researched the company to see how they like to portray themselves, and that you're not matching yourself to them. | "It can cause an impression that you aren't taking the interview seriously, that you haven't researched the company to see how they like to portray themselves, and that you're not matching yourself to them. |
| "You need to look more business. While I think it's fine to leave one or two in her ears, take out the nose ring and the earrings that go all the way up, simply for the interview." href="#top">Return to top | |
| TATTOO | TATTOO |
| Keep tattoos covered, unless it cannot practicably be concealed, being on your face or hand. | Keep tattoos covered, unless it cannot practicably be concealed, being on your face or hand. |
| "I always suggest you wear a suit jacket to a job interview so that would conceal it anyway," says Emma BedfordPatel. | "I always suggest you wear a suit jacket to a job interview so that would conceal it anyway," says Emma BedfordPatel. |
| "Covering the tattoo creates the right impression, shows that you've made the effort." href="#top">Return to top | |
| JEWELLERY | JEWELLERY |
| "I would advise against wearing ornate jewellery. Simple is best," says Emma BedfordPatel. | "I would advise against wearing ornate jewellery. Simple is best," says Emma BedfordPatel. |
| The same goes for scent or after-shave - keep it subtle. "It's not good to go in with an overpowering perfume - you don't want the other person feeling that they can't breathe, or they're feeling slightly sick. They're not going to take in any of your answers." | The same goes for scent or after-shave - keep it subtle. "It's not good to go in with an overpowering perfume - you don't want the other person feeling that they can't breathe, or they're feeling slightly sick. They're not going to take in any of your answers." |
| href="#top">Return to top | |
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| Dressing to impress | Dressing to impress |
| Return to link | Return to link |