Dressing for success should always present a professional image towards all customers and other professionals that you will have contact or potential contact with. Clothing should be clean, in good condition and wrinkle free. The clothing worn for work should cover all body areas including the back and abdomen area as well as fit properly. Clothing worn to work should be free of sayings, brands or sports teams. Casual business attire should be the gauge for many non physical contact type of employment such as office positions. Other positions such as early child care educators that have physical contact and lots of movement with small children can have a dress code that deviates slightly. The general attire should be Dockers type pants or another form of pants, skirts or dress that is modest. Skirts or dresses should not rise much above the knee or have high cut slits. Shirts should be modest in coverage including cleavage and with sleeves. Shoes can vary based on the type of work environment and the season. Thongs should not be worn. Hair, makeup and cologne should be conservative. Personal hygiene and manners need to reflect consideration of co workers and the customers they serve.
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ReplyDeleteWhat Not To Wear with Stacy London and Clinton Kelly has a message for all people, but for the Communications class, the message is particularly vital. Non-verbal communication makes an impression within the first 10 seconds. The childcare professional needs to project a presence in the classroom to build a positive image with clients and the public.
The childcare professional already has the disadvantage with parents and the public because of the societal stereotype of a child care professional as being “just a babysitter” with no marketable job skills and certainly with no education. In order to become credible in the eyes of society, the child care professional should dress in such a way as to convey professionalism and the quality of being approachable. Then, the child care professional will have the chance to partner effectively with parents with a knowledgeable voice.
In What Not To Wear, many examples of sweat pants, tee shirts, ill -fitting jeans or tacky attire filled the screen. Often the people featured had forgotten the importance of self-care, to the point where they had no positive influence as a role model or were unable to advance in their careers because of the unprofessional way in which they presented themselves. The airlines admonition of taking care of yourself before taking care of others is a thread throughout this show. This rule is one that childcare professionals should take to heart.
The child care professional, unless forced to wear a uniform by a company, should avoid scrubs, the attire for a nurse, not a child care professional. Sweats, and tee shirts with logos should also be avoided. If dresses/skirts are worn, they should be of a modest length, but not so long a person trips over them. High heels would be a hazard in the classroom. Flip flops or shoes that leave toes exposed do not belong in the classroom or even in the center. This represents a safety hazard for children and part of the professionals’ job is to lead by example. Of course, the daily sanitizing poses risks for clothing, so of course, the professional wants to avoid ruining silks and wools. One can buy wisely and frugally, but always with the professional look in mind.
Bottom line, LOOK PROFESSIONAL. Clean, neat, put together, Ready to work, ready to play.
This assignment was not for you to tell what the show was about but what it was about FOR YOU. What do you look like when you are a professional? How do the parents treat you when you are in the classroom? Do you get the kind of respect you think you should? What is the message that you send to the public with the way you dress? Are you a professional or merely the babysitter?