Your New Uniform: A Dress For Success Guide For Transitioning Servicemembers and Veterans

When you showed up for initial entry training you were divested of all the trappings of your former self. Your civilian clothes are packed away, your hair got cut, unauthorized jewelry disappeared, and you were repackaged as a? member of a time-honored profession. Now, some years and plenty of life lessons learned later its time to reverse the process but you have no idea how. So, let’s break it down.

1.????? Conduct Reconnaissance. As in any military operation its best to understand the “battle space” before completing the plan. So, get started on that reconnaissance. Research the industry in which you would like to work and the specific companies you are with which you are hoping to be employed. Head over to websites or social media sites of your target companies and check out the photos of senior company leadership as well as the employees who may be your future peers.

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2.????? Understand the Vocabulary. As, Bs, Cs, ACU, BDU, OCP, MARPAT, MCCUU, Flight Suits, FRACUs, Greens, Blues, Browns, Whites, Field, Dress and Service . These are terms with which you are probably familiar. These terms let you know what you were expected to wear, when you were expected to wear it and your leadership made sure you knew how to wear it right (or else!). The world of civilian employment has its own standards. You need to learn the vocabulary and you need to learn it quickly.

a.????? Evening Wear. If it looks like something you would wear on a date or to a night club,? do not wear it to work. If its tight, trendy, revealing or shiny save it for the weekend. As a rule, black is for Friday night, not Monday morning, unless you are mourning. And patent leather is patently wrong.

b.????? Business Formal. This is what some would refer to as the “power suit” and it is probably what you want to be wearing at a job interview, depending on the industry. Suits for both ladies and gentlemen should be high quality and fitted. Shirts should be white or very lightly colored. French cuffs and cufflinks are appropriate, just make sure they match the watch. Ties and scarfs solid in color and top-quality material, typically silk. Add a matching pocket square to close out the look. Ladies should wear the same but may choose a skirt over slacks. Ensure the hem hits the knee or slightly above, hosiery matches natural skin tone, and the shoes are closed toe.

c.????? Business Professional. Business professional is like business formal but does not necessarily mean you have to break out your best shoes and custom-tailored suit. Gentlemen are expected to wear a suit and tie but may chose lighter materials, as well as conservatively patterned buttoned down shirts and ties. Ladies can wear a skirt or pantsuit with closed toe heels.

d.????? Business Casual. This is the common standard for the average office and tends to be more a range of choices and less of an absolute standard. One step down from business casual means hanging up your jackets and ties. Lighter fabrics, brighter colors, stylish weaves, and patterns find a place in business casual.

e.????? Casual. Casual Fridays at the office could be everything from jeans and a t-shirt to shorts and sandals.? But typically, khakis, a polo shirt, sharp looking sweaters, and comfortable conservative shoes win the day.

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3.????? Build your Wardrobe and Be prepared.? On your way to a job interview and you spill that venti-latte no-foam-extra-shot down the front of your shirt? Not a problem if you have a clean pressed shirt and another clean and pressed suit hanging next to it. You can survive the interview process with a couple of impressive ensembles but once you land that dream job outfit your closet with enough options to keep yourself in a variety of acceptable looks and enough of them that you don’t have to run off to the dry cleaners every four or five days.

4.????? Accessories Matter. Watches should be slim conservative and in a civilian style. That $500 GPS/Altimeter/Barometer that looks like a hockey puck on a wristband is going to look out of place. It is not going to fit under the cuffs of your shirt and worse still it is sending a message that you have a mind mired in the military culture. Smart phones in the workplace are often seen as a time leech so pulling your phone out every time you need to check the time speaks poorly of your maturity. Spent you last tax return on a timepiece covered in jewels and shining bright enough to be spotted by the crew of the International Space Station? Leave that one at home too. Get a simple, reliable low-profile watch that matches whatever other accessories you chose and will not interfere with the wear of that sharp business suit.

5.????? Safety in Non-Negotiable. Manufacturing, construction, warehousing, and transportation are among the industries where workplace safety is a daily concern. Understand the workplace requirements for Good Manufacturing Practices and Personal Protective Equipment. Your new workplace may require safety shoes, hard hats, eye-protection, ear plugs, high visibility clothing and more. Food safety standards may prohibit jewelry, fake nails, heavy fragrances, unkempt hair, and anything else that could interfere with product safety. Understand that in many workplaces these standards are not open to interpretation and failure to comply could be grounds for disciplinary action or even termination.

6.????? Make-Up and Fragrance. Make-up should be subtle and conservative. Earthy tones lightly applied and nothing glossy, sparkly, or glittery. Fragrance should be subtle if not barely noticeable.

7.????? Grooming Matters. Transitioning servicemembers and veterans alike often celebrate their freedom from draconian military grooming standards. Hair gets longer, the face goes unshaved, the tight bun becomes a casual ponytail and the freedom to choose feels pretty good. But as you head out to the workplace you need to understand that grooming matters in the modern workforce.? This is especially true if you are in public or customer facing roles.? That should give you a clear understanding of the grooming expectations. Some companies have clear grooming standards written into their employee handbooks. Whatever you do make sure you look sharp for your interview. Gentlemen who choose to wear a beard may want to have it professionally trimmed prior to an interview and of course, a fresh haircut.? Ladies may find that the day before a job interview is a great time to swing by the salon so they can look their very best.

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8.????? Tattoos. If you spent some time in uniform and haven’t picked up a few pieces of ink along the way you are probably now in the minority. However, there are still folks out there that view them as unsightly and unprofessional. Many companies have written policies about visible tattoos in the workplace, especially in those public facing roles. Do what you can to keep them covered up for job interviews and read up on company policy before putting your proudly earned ink on display at the office.

9.????? When in Doubt, Ask. Be honest! You are still figuring this stuff out. So, get a good long look at the employee handbook and if you need clarification ask someone in the organization to give you the low-down on what is expected.? This could be a part of your first conversation with your new boss, done during on-boarding or a quick one-on-one with the peer in the next cubicle.? Lean forward and ask theses questions during your research prior to the job interview and you will well on your way to success.