Professional Image for the Educational workplace

The balance between professional and practical dress when working with children and young adults Today’s Topics • Making the Right Impression

• Personal Branding

• Professional Image

• Determining Workplace Dress code

• The practical side of Style • Interview Style

• What Do You Need to Buy?

• Creating a Capsule Wardrobe for Work

• Where do you Buy It?

• Clothes-ing Questions Making the Right Impression

• Image is everything. This begins when you write your name at the top of your CV…. and ends with your retirement party

• Vet your social media presence…today

• Your online profile is the only representation of you, when you are not there to represent yourself. Your Life Online

• Google your name

• Remember the cornerstones of online content:

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Snapchat • LinkedIn

Safeguard Your Profiles

• Timeline Review An effective online profile illustrates the right content in the right place Remember

• Facebook is a party • Instagram is a photo gallery • Twitter is a conversation • Snapchat is real time, no frills content

• Tailor your content accordingly and modify your privacy settings today • Professional social media platform

• Do not underestimate it’s value in the education sector

• Picture: against a white wall, not cropped or from a recent wedding

• Work experience: up to date, relevant yet diverse

• Share and interact with industry-relevant articles and features

• Don’t be shy to connect, this is the appropriate place to do it From Virtual to Reality

• Your personal image derives from your online profile

• Keeping consistency in both is key Cultivating your Image Determining Workplace Dresscode

• Teaching does not have a very particular dresscode

• There is a lot of room for manoeuvre and individual interpretation

• Q: Can I get away with this? The Key Considerations

• Dress to reflect your position of responsibility

• Your colleagues give you a promotion, not students or parents

• Always fitted….this does not mean tight

• Never creased

• Neat and smart The Practical Side of Style

• Less influenced by trends and more influenced by environment

• Realistic factors to be considered:

• comfort | warmth | washability

• Co-ordination

• Diversity

• Movement Smart Casual Work Environments

• More influenced by the creative environment and less by traditional workplace style

• Principles of professionalism, i.e. neat and groomed appearance, still apply

• Remember the principles of maintaining a workplace image, whatever that may be… For the Girls… Smart Casual Workplace

 Shoes: ankle boots, ballet pumps, loafers

 Outfits: Casual dresses, pencil or A-line skirts, tailored trousers, dark denim jeans

 On the Top: silk shirt or blouse, cotton fitted top, fine knit jumper

 Pair with: a cropped jacket, blazer, waterfall jacket

 Accessories? Yes – this is where you can show your individual style

 Grooming: beware of chipped nail polish For the Guys… Smart Casual Workplace

 Shoes: brown leather or dark suede laced or loafers, ankle boots. Casual laced shoe (with rubber sole) but no runners

 Suits? Not necessary

 Separates? Yes - trousers and an open neck shirt or dark wash jeans and a fine knit jumper

 Shirts: fitted but not tight, avoid white if you are pale. Choose pastels for Spring/Summer and a heavier fabric and gentle print or check for Winter months. Wear these over a t shirt

 Ties: Optional First, you have to get the job… Teaching Practice precedes Interview

It is your first taste of School as a workplace……. Teaching Practice

• This can be viewed as a placement–long interview

• Retain a professional image at all times

• Keep the capsule wardrobe for this consistent and conservative

• Initial outlay may be considerable, but can be updated from one placement to another

• General rules: no hoods, no trainers, err on the side of caution with denim Interview Style

• This is the time to hit the nail on the head

• Your image reflects your competency and overall professionalism

• Dresscode dictates – This is not the time to stand out

• Be memorable in what you say, not what you wear

• Hint at your personal style using your accessories What to Wear

For the Girls… www.BettyandBiddy.com

Mango, Zara, Marks & Spencer Interview • Option1: A dress – less margin of error in terms of tucking and co-ordinating. Cap sleeve, or else add a cropped jacket.

• Option 2: Separates – tailored trousers and a shirt / silk top / fine knit jumper plus statement necklace

• Heels are optional

• Bring a large but neat bag with your documents

• Wear a watch – this shows you are mindful of timekeeping

• Jewellery – one or two pieces to suit your style What to Wear

For the Guys… Interview

• Casual suit: dark colour, no print, open neck shirt, loafers or lace up shoes in suede or brown leather

• Separates: tailored trousers, shirt and fine knit jumper, shirt and blazer, dark heavier fabric chinos.

• Neat and sharp – no creased fabrics

• Shoes polished or cleaned

• Socks in a block colour – avoid pattern

• Document case or satchel, less formal than a briefcase

• Again, wear a watch to show an awareness of timekeeping Marks & Spencer / Best Menswear www.Zara.com

or So you’ve got the job ….. Now let’s look at Creating a Workwear Wardrobe Creating a Capsule Wardrobe For the Guys… 1 coat + 1 jacket + 3 bottoms + 6 tops

Initial financial outlay is often higher, but cost-per-wear is more efficient 1 + 1 + 3 + 6

• Work out your co-ordinating options and rotate

• Brown shoes will cover all options, purchase 2 different styles. Creating a Capsule Wardrobe

For the Girls…

12 items = 40 outfits

That is 8 weeks of work (at 5 days per week) 1 coat

2 jackets

3 bottoms (trousers or skirts)

6 tops Now, let’s look at where to Buy… Top Stores for Workwear Dressing For Guys & Girls...

Zara: Spanish tailoring at its best

Next: New buyers = fresh style and lower price points

Marks & Spencer: Tailored trousers and comfortable, smart shoes for women. All-round best work-wear store for men. For the Girls….. Mango: Great for basic separates (buy online)

Zara: excellent cut, classic designs with an edge

Marks and Spencer: comfortable and smart footwear

Dunnes Stores: diffusion lines are very strong Some examples of what is available to buy right now…… 12 Piece Capsule Workwear Wardrobe Sample Work Wardrobe

www.zara.com

www.mango.com www.marksandspencer.ie www.zara.com

www.zara.com www.topshop.com www.zara.com www.zara.com www.zara.com

www.mango.com www.mango.com www.zara.com Now let’s add the magic…. www.bettyandbiddy.com

STYLESAVVY25 For the Guys… First Stop: www.marksandspencer.ie - view their full collection for inspiration

Zara: shirts at a cheaper price point – for more petite frames, beware of a snug fit

Next: machine washable fabrics

Kildare Village: Clarks shoes and Thomas Pink shirt outlet Sample Workwear Wardrobe

www.Zara.com www.Zara.com

chino

Tailored trouser Dark wash denim www.Zara.com StyleSavvy's Success Secret: Prioritise Determine Inform Organise Succeed Clothes-ing Questions… “StyleSavvy® is a full service Image and Brand Consultancy, offering tailored insights to both individual and business clients, in Ireland and the UK.”

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