Dressing for respect in a male-dominated field
Hello budding young professionals,
Picture this, you’ve landed your dream job/internship and are ecstatic for your first day. There’s only one problem, your male hiring manager gave you little to go off of from the dress code perspective. Sure, maybe you asked about the dress code during the interview process and were told one of the common descriptive (not) categories: Business professional, business casual, smart casual, or “we don’t believe in dress codes”. Unless you are confident in making the pieces in your closet work for you, these titles can only give you so much insight into the wide range that these categories operate on. Presenting yourself in the best light possible starts with the way we dress. While it is unfortunate that we as humans make judgments on appearance to determine how trustworthy, reliable, and respect-worthy each other is, it is reality. I am here to share my experience in various dress situations and provide examples of what I would wear to ensure I am well-presented and respected as a woman working in engineering.
Knowing what to wear for engineering can be tricky because it is one of the few professions that does not have a uniform. Also, this all can change based on the level of your role, the company, and the country in which you work. Doctors, nurses, and other first responders have to wear uniforms and from what I’ve seen on Suits, lawyers wear suits. Engineering as a whole tends to be more casual than other non-uniform professions in that it is unlikely you will see anyone, at any level, wearing a full matching suit (and tie or heels). Some reasons I’ve observed are:
(1) Access to a manufacturing/shop floor (need for PPE or work in a dirty environment).
(2) Engineers tend to value function over form (unless they are in management).
(3) Comfort/ease of movement… think sneakers or jeans instead of dress shoes and slacks.
For full transparency, I have worked in Fiber Optics in manufacturing, product development, and sustaining roles throughout my first year of rotations. I have provided direct line support, worked on a manufacturing floor, and worked in a cubicle farm. Throughout these location changes, I have found that my dress has not shifted much beyond switching out my daily mules for steel toes. At the beginning of my professional career, I would have loved a guideline to help me plan a wardrobe. Luckily as your engineering big sister, I have listed the 3 C’s below, to guide you in planning a wardrobe that garners respect and cultivates confidence.
The three C’s to professional dress:
- Culture
When I talk about culture, I am referring to company culture but of course, the culture you come from and where you are working will also play into dress. Learning the company culture and how others dress where you are working will help you determine how to fit in or stand out, based on your goals. Before I started at my current job, I reached out to women engineers who work at the same company via LinkedIn and asked to chat about their position, what a day looks like, and what people wear. Connecting with other women engineers, who had similar level roles, provided me with peace of mind in knowing what level of dressiness to expect for my first day in the office. Aside from comfort in hearing what others wore, it was good to have a person to reach out to for direction if anything came up going forward. I can’t speak for everyone, but usually women in engineering stick together, so I imagine most women engineers would be happy to help at other companies too.
- Confidence/ comfort
Confidence and comfort are the most important things for me as I know I will not be nearly as productive if I am feeling like a slump or uncomfortable with what I am wearing. For the first few weeks of putting together professional outfits, I took more time than normal planning what would pair best together and provide me warmth in layers since our office/lab is freezing. After a little bit of practice, I now throw together professional-looking outfits with very little thought. It may take some practice, but I believe you will quickly find what works for your situation.
- Cost
I like to mention cost because if you are like most college students, you are not dressing professionally on a daily basis, and therefore do not have many “professional pieces” in your wardrobe. Buying an entirely new set of clothing can be extremely expensive. If you are going to buy new, I suggest investing in quality timeless pieces that can be worn for many years in many situations. If you do not want to invest the capital in new pieces, thrift stores are a gold mine for all things professional dress. A majority of my professional and day-to-day clothing is from thrift stores and no one would be the wiser. Thrifting has become a hobby for me, so I don’t mind the bit of extra time it takes to find closet gems. I love this route because I very often find near-new brand name items for under $10. Thrifting is also a great way to support a healthy environment through the reuse of items. That said, I do have a few staples that I bought retail and I always invest in quality shoes.
I am a big believer in first impressions backed by continuous supporting evidence. Therefore, I am always slightly overdressed. Further, I look young and I look for opportunities to interact with upper management. Both of these support the need for me to “dress up” more than is expected.
As women engineers in a male-dominated field, we are already going to stand out. Why not stand out as the best dressed and most prepared too?
Here are examples of how I dress for the categories of business professional, business casual, and smart casual. Keep in mind, these categories are on a spectrum and I find that each of these categories tends to lean more casual in an engineering environment.
Business professional:
Wide-leg trousers, silk button-up shirt, chunky suede heels, and an oversized blazer coat.
Business Casual:
Paper-bag style dress pants, a fitted knit with ruffle shoulder detail, and suede mules. *This is the most common way I dress*
Smart Casual:
Dark-fitted jeans, a super soft blouse with shoulder pads, and my steel toes. *This is the second most common way I dress*
In terms of culture, all of these fit within the acceptable dress code of my company’s culture. Every single piece I am wearing is comfortable and makes me feel confident in my abilities to appear my best and perform my job. Lastly, every article of clothing I am wearing was either bought at an outlet store, the thrift store, or provided by my company (steel toes are PPE).
One of the biggest parts of gaining respect is looking at the part, as this is the first thing people will see. Set yourself up for success and take your work outfits seriously, then you will get the opportunity to blow people away with your brain.
I hope these examples were helpful and I am happy to chat with you about professional dress ideas. Feel free to message me!
