My first job interview I wore a business suit, my task was to impress them not only with my fantastic answers but also with what I was wearing. Over time women's business wear has evolved. Years ago in the business world women wore sleeves on their dresses and it was mandatory to wear pantyhose. As time moved on the style and trends of how women dressed in the business world changed. Women started to wear tight skirts with loose blouses, pants with just a button up shirt, and even blouses that showed lots of cleavage.

With all of the changes our wages are still paid 79 percent of what men are paid. In 1950 about one in three women participated in the labor force compared with 59.8 percent in 1998. So there are more women in the labor force, yet we are not seen as equal to our male counterparts. I recently had a job interview, it is a dream job (without the seven figure pay). My sister who is a top manager in the corporate world, told me I should wear a dark grey, dark blue, or black suit. I didn't have either of those in my wardrobe. This insight I thought was full of malarkey, however I went and purchased a Calvin Klein dark blue suit from my local department store. She told me not to wear my contact lenses, and instead wear my glasses. I'm not sure if it was my attire or just my intellect and grand answers but I received an invitation to a second interview.

So for my second interview I wore a dark grey suit and yes I wore my glasses again. I felt great and confident, I suppose that is what one should feel. As I looked at what other applicants wore I know why the business suit was the only thing one should wear to a job interview. Sweaters, printed dresses, and colored suit pants such as red and coral are distracting. Now there has been some job interviews in the past where I was under dressed, but the pay scale was less than desirable. Many of us think we will impress with just our resume and a great college transcript. There are a lot of people who have drive and termination that attempt to launch one's career the corporate world unprepared. How can you stand out? Managers are judging you by how you look, because they may have to work with you.

As women we are paid less than expected to perform at a similar or higher capacity than our male counterparts. We run companies, households, and in some cases kingdoms. Some may think that becoming equals with men in the business world is so far out of reach. It may be, however we damn sure better try. Something else that I recall from shopping for business attire. There are not too many selections, it is like they expect us to look like housewives in square dresses. If I were much older and wanted to have on my Sunday's best the selection would have been up to par. Thank goodness for Calvin Klein still believing in the everyday business woman.

Ladies we have the freedom to dress how we want, however the business suit continues to demand the respect and honor we deserve. If you don't have a suit in your closet, there is no time like the presence.

Mhysa

Nikki