Dressing for the Holiday Work Function 

Holiday parties and other work-related functions are both a blessing and a curse this time of the year.  One can count on co-workers getting drunk, making a pass at the male or female “hottie” from the office and plenty of folks kissing up to the boss.  You can also count on people wearing the most outrageous and unacceptable attire.  So what should you wear to a company holiday function? 

For Men During the Day 

If the holiday function is during the day, it is best to wear what you wear to work if the invitation does not say anything special.  That means if you wear a suit normally during the day, then wear a suit.  If you usually wear business casual, then do the same but it is always a good idea to at least bring a sport jacket or blazer.  Do not wear jeans, work-out attire or sneakers even if those are the things you normally wear during the day.  Avoid the funny Santa hats, reindeer antlers and ties that play “Jingle Bells”.  That is not how you want the boss – and her boss to remember you. 

For Men During the Evening 

If the holiday function is in the evening, the invitation may say business attire or formal attire.  If it says business attire and you have a very casual office, then you may be able to wear a sport jacket, shirt and tie and dress (not cotton khakis) trousers with non-sport shoes (and NO sandals).  You are safest for evening “business attire” wearing a dark suit.  Dress as if you are going to an appointment with an important client and not like a teenager’s first job interview.  Take the time to look right and together.  Make sure you suit is clean and pressed, that your tie is clean and press too and that your shirt is clean and crisp looking.  Polish your shoes.  And again, no Santa hats, reindeer antlers and ties that play “Jingle Bells”.  You want to make a good impression with your co-workers, your boss and her boss too. 

For formal attire, you can often get by with the dark business suit, a white dress shirt and serious looking tie with dress shoes.  Ideally, for formal attire, you are going to need to wear a tuxedo with a white shirt (no ruffles please) and a black bow tie.  Polished black dress shoes are acceptable unless you own patent leather formal shoes (ideally slip-ons with grosgrain bows).  Remember, no powder blue suits, spinning Santa ties or holly motif shirts.  Simplicity is elegance. 

For Women During the Day 

If the Holiday function is during the day, the attire rules for the women are the same as the men.  If you wear suits to work – either with a skirt or slacks – then wear the same to the Company Holiday party during the day.  You can dress it up with very good shoes (heels NOT flip-flops) and a bit better jeweler than you would normally wear – but nothing overwhelming for the event.  A holiday themed pin is acceptable for women but not encourages.  And please no reindeer pins that light up or play songs digitally.  In lieu of a suit, a business cut skirt (dark) and a dress blouse with or without a pin also works for daytime events.  Again with the good dress shoes.  The skirt can be replace by a pair of dark, business cut slacks worn with dressy shoes.  As with men, no workout attire, non running shoes, nothing “cute” and no, No, NO! Flip-flops.  If skirts are worn, remember to wear stockings – it is not the middle of summer. 

For Women During the Evening 

For many companies, the evening Holiday function is a place to see and be seen.  Dressing well is something many women thing about long before December.  There are three different types of attire that can pass based on how formal the evening is noted as in the invitation.  If the event is right after work, then attire mentioned for the daytime event may be appropriate – a suit with a skirt or slacks and a dressy blouse with the addition of tasteful jewelry and good shoes (read that as heels).  For the more formal function during the week, a dress may be appropriate.  It should be conservative and tasteful unless you are in a glamour industry (in which case you don’t need to read this).  Match the dress with heels and stockings, pearls and a pin or other simple jewelry.  No short skirts or plunging necklines please.  Again, you want to impress you boss and her boss with what a brilliant employee you are, not sleep with her husband. 

Finally, if it says “formal” and is held at a private venue in the evening – and probably during the weekend, then the sky is the limit.  You had best go shopping now if you have not already.  A couple of points to remember.  What you wear should be conservative, it should be classic, it should say that you are educated and success and it should be something that you can wear again in the future.  Do not forget the pearls.  You can wear a little more jewels.  And no matter what, do not wear anything with a holiday theme or with red and green in it.  You might as well be standing by Santa at the mall if you do that.

 

George F. Franks, III is the President and Principal Consultant with Franks Consulting Group which offers career, business and nonprofit organization consulting services. Their web site is:

www.franksconsultinggroup.com

You've Been Laid Off. Now What? Questions Every Job Candidate Should Ask

 

Job interviews are often viewed as a one-sided experience.  This should not be the case.  A job interview is an opportunity for the job candidate to learn as much as possible about not only the specific job they are interviewing for but also about other important factors about the company or organizations with which they are interviewing.  While some of the questions recommended for the candidate may seem to be common sense, there are a number of job candidates who are either too nervous, shy or afraid to raise these critical questions. 

What is the work environment?  This question, while broad, can cover everything from the formality of an office to the physical layout of the work space.  Depending on while both of these areas are important, the former one is of great interest to manner younger job candidates while the latter one is of more interest to more senior job seekers. 

What are the opportunities for development?  This question gets to the issue of how much the company or organization values their people.  Specifically, the response should address formal training and development programs including opportunities for academic and professional coursework.  Those interested in professional degrees or on-going education must clearly follow-up on the response to the question if it does not address those areas.  An additional area of inquiry is the selection process for future executives and other leaders.  What is the process and how does it work. 

How much travel is anticipated and what type?  Some people crave travel.  Other people hate travel.  The job candidate needs to know up front how much travel is anticipated and what kind.  Some businesses put travel in percentages: 25%, 50%, 75%?  What kind of travel?  Is it local?  Cross country?  International?  Will it require being away over weekend?  Unless you are committed to working 7x24, these questions are very important. 

What is the policy toward telecommuting?  Speaking of working 7x25, it is important to ask about the home office policy.  This may be very important or not important to the candidate at present, but it is something that should be known up front.  Whether due to a personal situation or bad weather, everyone wants to work from home occasionally.  And it is essential to know about front about the potential employer’s policy toward home office work. 

What is the opportunity for advancement in this position and what is the career track?  While fewer if any companies or organizations guarantee careers or any kind of job security, most do surprisingly have career maps for each of the jobs in the company or organization.  Often but not always, these are tied to the organization chart.  Is the next step from the job a lateral position?  If so, what?  Is it a promotion?  If so, what are the responsibilities?  Do these require relocation?  If so, what are the possibilities?  These questions are not out of line.  It is appropriate to think 3-5 years ahead while interview for the first or next position. 

What are the expected work hours?  Again, this may seem like a naïve question but it is an important one.  When does the work day start?  When does the work day end?  Is there overtime pay for anything over that?  What about weekends?  If so, how often?  One more time…unless you are willing to work 7X24 for your base pay it is critical to ask these questions during the interview. 

What are the benefits with the position?  This should be an up front question not an after accepting the job question.  Benefits whether extensive or meager are part of the total compensation package (salary, bonus, any other incentives such as stock or options and all benefits).  What is included?  What does the employee have to contribute?  When do they start?  Which are included and which are optional?  Which are most used by employees?  Least used and why?  This is one more case where the questions are either not asked or asked AFTER the job offer has been made. 

What is the cash compensation?  While more and more hiring managers and human resources managers get this question out of the way up front, it is a critical question.  This encompasses base bay, bonus and other incentives excluding benefits.  Related questions include: what are raises based on and how often?  What is a typical raise?  Does everyone get a raise?  What are bonuses based on?  Did everyone get a bonus last year?  If not, why?  Are options available for this position?  While these questions sometimes are answered up front, they should be the last questions discussed once the others are out of the way.  They are important, but they may not be the most important questions for most job candidates. 

Finally, get the phone number and e-mail addresses of each of the people who interview you.  If you do not get to ask all of these questions during the interview process, you need to follow-up with them to get the answers.  A follow-up call or e-mail is often as important as the follow-up thank you letter or e-mail which is mandatory for all candidates. 

Job interviews can be fun and they can be terrifying.  They are an opportunity for the company or organization to see if the candidate is a fit for their open position.  But equally important, it is an opportunity for the job candidate to find out if the company or organization is a fit for their goals, attitudes and life-style.

 

George F. Franks, III is the President and Principal Consultant with Franks Consulting Group, a career, business and nonprofit consulting service.  Visit Franks Consulting Group on the web at:

http://franksconsultinggroup.com

Contact George at franksconsultinggroup@gmail.com

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