Skintern, Continued
Business-appropriate Attire for the Summer
No summer associate or intern should make the mistake of thinking the next few months are all about fun and games. Employers want interns to enjoy their time in the office. But truth be told, an internship or summer associate position is actually a multi-week interview requring new professionals to understand the rules of business etiquette. Perform well and a job offer may result. In fact, a recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that 63 percent of paid interns received “at least one job offer upon graduation” in 2012.
Throughout this summer, as interns and summer associates choose the outfits they plan to wear work, they should keep this multi-week interview concept in mind. Over the course of the summer, employers will determine whether their interns "fit in" to their corporate culture. One factor that will be taken into consideration is whether their summer associates and interns "get" what the organization views as appropriate attire.
All of which brings me back to my previous posting about "skinterns," a term used by Katherine Goldstein in her recent posting on Slate's website. Ms. Goldstein suggests that, once the heat and humidity of summer settles over the city, it's perfectly okay for an intern to wear shorts into the office. And maybe that's true at Slate. However, before pulling on a pair of Bermudas, most summer associates and interns would benefit by asking themselves, "Would I wear this outfit to an interview?" If the answer is "no," grab a more conservative outfit.
What Do You Need to Know?
Your appearance matters. It's good manners to dress in a manner that conforms to your employer's culture.
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