Is Image Everything? (Page 2)

We get clues about people's interests and lifestyle based upon their appearance all the time. 

Yes, the Timex conveys an interest in health and fitness. That means you talk the talk. People will look for signs that you also walk the walk - that is what gives credibility to the image. If I saw a morbidly obese person wearing a Garmin and eating a 3lb banana split, I would assume that person just likes gadgets - or maybe it's an image of where he would eventually like to be. On the other hand, if I saw a fit looking man wearing a Garmin I would assume he is active and maybe even a triathlete. I might look for signs to validate my assumption. I once saw a guy in Sports Authority with shaved legs - first thought was "is he a triathlete or a cyclist?"

BTW, Welshy made a good point about your father's POV. Different generation - the generation that handed out a WATCH after a man retired from the company where he spent much of his adult life.

When I get interview feedback from clients, it is rarely about the dress (unless it's slovenly) and not once about the watch - although dirty or worn shoes can really send a bad message . Instead, the feedback is almost always personality and behavior oriented.  Did the candidate exude confidence? Eye contact? Friendly?

If you want to put your money into something, put it into your shoes. They don't have to be expensive - just clean and never worn looking. Shoes are important to image.

Take your cues from the Flav-meister:

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I'm somewhat on the fence with these type issues. On one hand I would never spend the money on a Rolex, but on the other hand it is only big deal to wear a "dress" watch if you make it a big deal. I wear a $30 Timex "dress" watch to work that I bought at Target. Sure it looks nicer than my Polar, but at the end of the day it is still a cheap watch from Target that cost a fraction of my Polar. The only time anybody ever commented on my watch was when I guy I know, sitting next to me at a wedding, said I had a nice looking watch. I personally don't think he cared one way or another about MY watch, he just wanted an excuse to show me HIS Rolex.

I guess ultimately what I am trying to say is don't get too caught up having the "right" image and don't get too caught up in trying to buck the "right" image. As a lot of the others have said, just be yourself.

Mark, what exactly was your dad's point and context?  Generic "professionals need good watches," or fatherly "I don't want my kid to look like a slob," or practical/targeted "maybe one reason you aren't getting the pay you deserve is that people aren't taking you seriously," or something else entirely?  If #1 or #3, figure out if it's true in YOUR workplace (didn't you recently get a new job?).  If #2, figure out whether you care what your dad thinks you should be wearing (admittedly some of us over 12 do still consult our parents about things like that). 

Oh my.  I was in the exact opposite camp on this because  "image" and "status" are things I care nothing whatsoever about and my first thought is to say "Screw that - be yourself".  But I have to say, this statement just hit me instantly as making so much sense.  Wow - I actually agree with this.  I'm so pleased to know you just changed my mind.  Very nice.

I always thought Movado was a nice compromise...

bts 

I posted a pic in the "dress up" thread of my "firm" picture, that's on the website.... and Dave /auto asked "hey, isn't that a Timex ironman watch??"  yup   guilty.

I am in a very image and status conscious profession.  We have valet downstairs, and when I go get my car, I have to weave between the Bentleys, Mercedes', Beemers, Land Rovers to get to my Pathfinder.  And I wear jeans to work

As always, you can be who you want to be.  Honestly - aren't we all trying to be who we want to be?  At any given point?

That said - you've got a career or a work place as well.  And, whether you like it or not, what you wear DOES send messages about you (true or not.)

If you don't give a flip - wear what you want.  Wear a tank top and shorts if that's what floats your boat.  BUT if you're in a profession where suits are the norm and expected, then this is a quick way to career suicide or, at the very least, making it much more difficult to move ahead.

Most careers (professions) that I have been in have at least some rules (written or unwritten) as to what is acceptable and seen as professional.  This does NOT mean that you have to become a clone, having a BMW or a rolex cause joe schmoe does, but it DOES mean you should be aware of how you are viewed.  If a simple change such as wearing a different watch will send a more positive message - then buy the watch. 

If you want to get to the top - look at what the top people are wearing/doing.  Maybe you choose to follow, maybe not - maybe you choose to move on to something else because the career doesn't work for you. 

This thread reminds me of a guy who worked with me quite some time ago.  Good guy.  Really smart.  Casual dress company which he interpreted as old worn out T shirt, ratty sweat pant type shorts, tennis shoes, socks.  Head guy of the company - Polo shirt, khakis, decent work type shoes.  First guy?  yeah, he could do the job - but ended up being relegated to support, never in front of the customer, and eventually quit cause he wasn't getting anywhere.  He just didn't have the "image" the company wanted to present.  He usually looked like someone who just finished working out at the gym.  I talked to him about his attire once or twice (in a friendly way - we were peers) his idea was that what he wore shouldn't matter.  Which in an ideal world would be true.  Unfortuately, that's not where we live.

It's not that you have to compromise your ethics (although if you feel this way it's probably not the correct career path) but that first impressions and how you present yourself DO matter. 

It depends on what you do for a living.  If your work involves clients and their money--and perhaps a lot of their money--your entire presentation, from the top of your neatly combed hair to the bottom of your brilliantly shined shoes, is designed to put your CLIENT at ease.   In that case, it's not about YOU!  Would I, as your potential client, want you working for me, representing me, and in all likelihood interacting with my social circle in some capacity or another, if you can't dress yourself appropriately?  Not bloody likely.

As Autumn and hangloose pointed out, every job has an acceptable and appropriate uniform.  If yours requires a certain level of dress and decorum, and you're resistant to comply, what you are really saying is "I'd really rather not have this job."  You'd be better off in an environment where you can wear your watch of choice without catching grief, because I can just about guarantee that in your current environment, your clients and potential clients are drawing the conclusion that you'd rather not be working here.  How much should I trust someone with my money who doesn't even want his job in the first place?  How much is he going to care about ME, when he obviously doesn't care about the details in his own life?  Or maybe he just doesn't get it.

Harsh?  Yes, but the truth of the matter usually is.

Ugh - I had a catch up with my boss yesterday and one of the comments was about how Ive improved my presentation recently and how it was very important that I needed to be more image conscious.

Newsflash I managed to get the money together for a haircut and a makeup lesson but I did it for me not the job.

The thing that really irritated me is its long been acknowledged that Im very good at my job inside the company BUT they dont see that as important because i dont wear a suit. Im not client facing, I work in an industry where a lot of people wear jeans every day and I always make sure im clean or tidy.

Ive been stewing on it for 24 hours... and Im not any closer to an answer to be honest, other than it has really annoyed me!

Be true to yourself, everyone else can go **** themselves.   I personally wear my 4 year old Timex all the time, whether I am in a suit or jeans and tee.  If someone does not want to do business w/ you because of the watch you are wearing, I don't know that I would want to do business with them either.  Plus, if you notice someone looking at your watch it can make a nice conversation piece about how you do triathlons, etc., etc., etc.

Just my .02 worth.

Adios
Dave