Comments on: Personal brand: Rethinking the dress code http://www.kristidaeda.com/2009/10/29/personal-brand-rethinking-the-dress-code/ Executive Brand Strategy Career Coach Kristi Daeda Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:37:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kristi http://www.kristidaeda.com/2009/10/29/personal-brand-rethinking-the-dress-code/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Kristi Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:58:39 +0000 http://www.kristidaeda.com/?p=1804#comment-349 Adrian: You make some good points, and I admire the fact that you have such a clear vision of your personal brand. For those who may not have spent time connecting the way they dress with their advancement, thinking through perception can be really helpful. For people like you that have considered the implications thoroughly--i.e., that you'd rather not be hired than try to be something that you're not--the same guidance may not be necessary. In the end, everyone has to make their own decision about where "being professional" ends and "being someone else" begins. Thanks for reading!! Adrian: You make some good points, and I admire the fact that you have such a clear vision of your personal brand.

For those who may not have spent time connecting the way they dress with their advancement, thinking through perception can be really helpful. For people like you that have considered the implications thoroughly–i.e., that you’d rather not be hired than try to be something that you’re not–the same guidance may not be necessary.

In the end, everyone has to make their own decision about where “being professional” ends and “being someone else” begins. Thanks for reading!!

]]> By: Adrian Ilie http://www.kristidaeda.com/2009/10/29/personal-brand-rethinking-the-dress-code/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Adrian Ilie Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:09:36 +0000 http://www.kristidaeda.com/?p=1804#comment-348 hi all gr8 debate stuff, and i mean the questions in the end of the article; i feel the same about the "look into the mirror and see if you like what you see", but no more than that; if i were to meet the CEO of my dream company, what should i do? the "dress to be liked by the mega-boss" is not the way of thinking that suits me - do you like people who do things ONLY to be liked by others? do you like those who OBEY and suck-up to their bosses (or any person with higher authority than theirs) no matter what? why should i ask mom/best friend abot my looks? why should i dress according to their taste? isn't this "do things to be liked by others" thinking-style worst thing a person might think of me based on how i dress? "worst thing" ?? "a person"? ... now really, do i dress to be comfortable with myself, or just to fit others' standards? Scott's example is perfect for the dual-thinking we are forced to display and act upon in this world of false facades ... and the best thing that someone may say about me is "he's in a class of it's own" - which is trully a DIFFERENTIATION from others ... which is part of "personal branding"", isn't it? so, i will keep going to interviews in jeans-shirt-jacket (because i am a relaxed guy) until i find an employer that likes me for what i trully am one last thing - i bought a bathingsuit in Rome that has a large print of the penis of David sculpture (made by Michelangelo) on it (when i put it on, from far it looks like i am naked and you can see "my precious family jewels"); at the time i bought it i had a girlfriend who told me "i hope you won't wear it when we are toghether on the beach" ... better we split up, isn't it? best regards and i'll keep reading you Adrian hi all

gr8 debate stuff, and i mean the questions in the end of the article; i feel the same about the “look into the mirror and see if you like what you see”, but no more than that;

if i were to meet the CEO of my dream company, what should i do? the “dress to be liked by the mega-boss” is not the way of thinking that suits me – do you like people who do things ONLY to be liked by others? do you like those who OBEY and suck-up to their bosses (or any person with higher authority than theirs) no matter what?

why should i ask mom/best friend abot my looks? why should i dress according to their taste? isn’t this “do things to be liked by others” thinking-style

worst thing a person might think of me based on how i dress? “worst thing” ?? “a person”? … now really, do i dress to be comfortable with myself, or just to fit others’ standards? Scott’s example is perfect for the dual-thinking we are forced to display and act upon in this world of false facades …

and the best thing that someone may say about me is “he’s in a class of it’s own” – which is trully a DIFFERENTIATION from others … which is part of “personal branding”", isn’t it?

so, i will keep going to interviews in jeans-shirt-jacket (because i am a relaxed guy) until i find an employer that likes me for what i trully am

one last thing – i bought a bathingsuit in Rome that has a large print of the penis of David sculpture (made by Michelangelo) on it (when i put it on, from far it looks like i am naked and you can see “my precious family jewels”); at the time i bought it i had a girlfriend who told me “i hope you won’t wear it when we are toghether on the beach” … better we split up, isn’t it?

best regards and i’ll keep reading you

Adrian

]]> By: Kristi http://www.kristidaeda.com/2009/10/29/personal-brand-rethinking-the-dress-code/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Kristi Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:56:22 +0000 http://www.kristidaeda.com/?p=1804#comment-347 Scott: Great example! This is part of the reason that I'm an advocate of knowing what you want from work, and being who you are in the interview. Sometimes we compromise for opportunity, but in general we'll be happier if we can find a fit with a culture. Scott: Great example! This is part of the reason that I’m an advocate of knowing what you want from work, and being who you are in the interview. Sometimes we compromise for opportunity, but in general we’ll be happier if we can find a fit with a culture.

]]> By: Scott Bowman http://www.kristidaeda.com/2009/10/29/personal-brand-rethinking-the-dress-code/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Scott Bowman Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:49:10 +0000 http://www.kristidaeda.com/?p=1804#comment-346 This reminds me of a guy who hired into our office many years ago at my day job. Our office at the time was professional attire, but nothing over the top. A new guy was hired in customer service, and he was quite polished. Nice dress clothes including a tie, neat hair, slick all around. But slowly over time, he morphed. Lost the tie and picked up some leather wrist bands. Ripped cargo pants replaced the dress slacks, etc. Within months, this nice polished guy had totally morphed. Spiked colored hair, ripped baggy clothing, combat boots and a little make up to boot! He didn't stay too long. (May have had an anniversary or two) He knew how to get the job and was good at it, but I don't think he was as happy as he could be. Coworkers liked him, but I think he limited himself in the eyes of management. I think when they say "Dress for the job you want", that extends beyond just the interview :) This reminds me of a guy who hired into our office many years ago at my day job. Our office at the time was professional attire, but nothing over the top. A new guy was hired in customer service, and he was quite polished. Nice dress clothes including a tie, neat hair, slick all around. But slowly over time, he morphed. Lost the tie and picked up some leather wrist bands. Ripped cargo pants replaced the dress slacks, etc. Within months, this nice polished guy had totally morphed. Spiked colored hair, ripped baggy clothing, combat boots and a little make up to boot!

He didn’t stay too long. (May have had an anniversary or two) He knew how to get the job and was good at it, but I don’t think he was as happy as he could be. Coworkers liked him, but I think he limited himself in the eyes of management.

I think when they say “Dress for the job you want”, that extends beyond just the interview :)

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