By Leona Bently
As we move on through presentations in class, I’ve taken notice on how some of us have chosen our attire during our conversations with Prof Sweet. Even though Sweet has told us we can be “totally casual” during our presentations, the various attires we have all taken on throughout the last week and a half have caused me to contemplate the new salesperson’s wardrobe.
At first thought, the traditional attire is all suits and ties. However, Prof Sweet pointed out a very interesting point; sometimes a more relaxed look can affirm one’s own professional level in their field of business. Many experts like our guest speaker Wendy Mascio (’88) say that it is important to “dress the part” of a professional business person and be more formal rather than less. However, I find that the millennial generation and our generation are drastically altering that standard. Workers and professionals alike are fast adjusting to the more simple and casual looks of tshirts and jeans as opposed to the starched shirts and stiff pants of past professionals.
So along with the change in attitude and approach, what will the outer shell of the new salesperson look like? As the next generation of the workforce, I believe we should take a different approach to our everyday wardrobes. We should bring a mix of modern creative fashion, a touch of old time professionalism, and a reflection of the company we represent. Even though many of our peers believe that lounge-wear is appropriate no matter what, we should still hold ourselves to a higher standard and maintain an appearance of excellence. After all, a mix of good will only appeal to more individuals. So be fun, creative, funky, and fresh, but remember that we are representing not only ourselves and our companies, but we also represent our faith and the God we believe in.
testacr22
This was an interesting observation! Prof. Sweet did comment on several people’s outfits, especially if it helped them play the part — such as a personal trainer, surfer, etc. It may seem strange if someone in the fitness industry wore a suit and tie to a meeting, but their gym attire proves they are athletic, a characteristic you would want in a trainer.