Dressing professionally pays dividends

You wore your only suit to the interview. Now that you've snagged the job, you've got nothing to wear. You open your closet and take out your clothes, piece by piece.

But low-rise jeans and T-shirts printed with slogans like "The voices won't stop talking to me" just won't cut it in the work world.

Many young people face this dilemma every day as they enter the job market. Although many corporations have relaxed their dress codes, experts say it's still important to dress professionally.

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression," said Jennifer Ellick, marketing coordinator for the law firm Stearns, Weaver, Miller, Weissler, Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. "Anything that is low-cut, revealing, short or tight, as well as anything that is visibly wrinkled or dirty, are definite no-no's."

"It's not high school or lunchtime with your friends," she said. At her firm, dress is "business casual." Generally, open-toed shoes, cardigans and tailored pants are acceptable for women. Collared shirts and khakis are fine for men.

Aislinn Perez, a summer intern at Stearns, admits clothing was a concern. "I had no idea what to wear," she said. "I had to ask my mom."

She said she had little idea what "business casual" meant. "I was on the debate team at school so I have a suit already," she said. "But I didn't want to come in that every day. It's just not comfortable."

Finding most of her attire at Target, Perez spent about $60. She stuck to basics, such as khaki pants and polo shirts. Perez also went to Pacific Sunwear, a retailer known for surfing attire, and purchased long-sleeved Henley shirts.

She found wearing sports bras and camisoles under these low-cut shirts made them appropriate for her workplace.

Shopping was a must for Alyssa Abramat, 18, of Pembroke Pines, who works as a teller at BrightStar Credit Union. "You basically need an entire new wardrobe," she said.

Abramat deals with customers on a daily basis and said she knows she must dress professionally, especially because she's younger than her coworkers.

Abramat said she went to department stores like Dillard's and JCPenney to find khaki and navy slacks as well as dress skirts that fell below the knee. She also checked out Ann Taylor Loft for petite sizes.

Like many companies, BrightStar gives its employees the option to dress casually on Fridays, which means jeans are permitted.

Companies such as BrightStar outline their dress codes in employee manuals or handbooks. Abramat also receives e-mails reminding her of appropriate attire. "That usually happens when a member complains about something that someone is wearing," she said. Abramat said dressing professionally has its advantages. "[Customers] treat you with more respect," she said. "They treat you like you're older."

Matt Cardin, associate director of the Career Development Center at Florida Atlantic University, tells students going into the job market that it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Cardin, 29, suggests being mindful of your entire appearance, not just of appropriate apparel. "Be careful with perfume. You don't want to make the interviewer's eyes water," he said. Cardin also suggests wearing traditional colors, minimal jewelry and shoes that match the outfit. "Try to mirror the employees at the organization," he said.

FAU and many other colleges have workshops with their career fairs to teach students.

If the dress code is more "business" than "business casual," the rules change. For a more conservative company, women should wear a neutral-colored pant or skirt suit with a blouse or button-down shirt and pantyhose.

Appropriate shoes vary from office to office, but because of the Florida climate, most allow open-toe heels for women. For men, some companies require ties and jackets.

Ahmad Salam, 16, of Hollywood, is a summer intern at Citibank. He said he has encountered one problem when dressing.

"I didn't know how to tie a tie," he said. "I went online to try to learn how."

Salam said his supervisor urges him to wear a tie even though it's not required. "You want to look professional," he said. "The least you can do is look good when you're an intern.

"Other people will remember something like that, especially if I go looking for a job here," he said.

Salam's usual outfit consists of dress pants, a collared shirt and sometimes a sport jacket. He found a suit jacket at Macy's and borrows collared shirts from his friends.

For people looking for professional attire, outlet shopping is a good option. Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise has more than 300 specialty stores as well as department stores such as Off Fifth (a Sak's Fifth Avenue outlet), Nordstrom Rack and Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center.

Teen retailers like Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe have recently extended their product lines to include business attire. Teens can find slacks in black and khaki, skirts that fall below the knee, blazers and button-down shirts in their stores. Affordably priced, most items run less than $30.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.