Happy Friday, everyone!
This week’s poll question comes from Rod, and is a two-parter:
1. If your station has a dress code for salespeople, what is it (for men and women)?
2. If your station has no dress code for salespeople, what is your personal practice?
Looking forward to reading your replies!
We are still old school, stuffy suits and uncomfortable ties! Except Friday....i'm in slacks and a golf shirt. There are several people who are in jeans....not sure how comfortable I would be in jeans at work but more power to them.
We are business casual, jeans on Friday. (nice jeans, no holes, lol)
We just changed companies. Our sales department used to require suit and tie. I don't agree with that for Oklahoma City. You wear a suit and tie they see you coming and pull out the key on the cash register. They know you want money and a LOT of it. If you go in semi casual they open up to you...you're a businessperson just like they are. I learned that after doing business for 27 years in Dallas, Texas. They'd rather see you in jeans.
We're way past the tie and suit days. Let's get real, most businesses don't wear a suit and tie anyway. If you're trying to do business with Wall Street and where are you going to do that in East Overshoe, Nebraska???..that's one thing, but if you want to work for a guy who gets his hands dirty every day and just wants a great traffic flow...walk in dressing like him. People want to do business with people like them. Besides, how are you going to occasionally show a retailer how to move old goods to the front and mark them down 60% for that blast out sale copy you just wrote for him or her. You don't want to be schwitzing in a suit and tie, do you? That's just a fact Jack. I've run 3 ad agencies, one of my own. I've built up a bunch of accounts, 4 from zero to over $60 million a year in sales. You can argue with me, and so can your bosses, but make a note of this date and see how long they keep their jobs.
In north central MN we're business casual. If a guy is wearing a suit, we ask if they have a job interview! Dress down Friday with nice jeans. Today, after 10 inches of snow...winter boots, fleece vests are definitely in.
We are usually business casual. Typically I'm in slacks and a collared shirt or golf shirt.
Generally, business casual. However, because of the diversity of clientele, (financial to ranchers) I will leave it up to the reps to determine what applies best for the clients they are seeing.
I dress professional - but always wear slacks not dresses because I am in and out of the car all day.
Khaki pants and polo shirts are the norm around here. I was invited to a meeting for a local chamber of commerce and when I got there I realized I was the WORST dressed person in the room. So, I have a suit on stand by all the time now and when I'm in doubt or heading somewhere unfamiliar to me, the suit comes out! No casual days here.
1) Our sales staff uses a business casual to business dress code. Many of the other reps in the area dress in jeans and polo shirts, but I personally feel that when I dress professionally I act professionally. Even if our dress code was more casual I would dress up, but I always wear slacks and a nice blouse. I'm not a skirts girl.
We have a dress code. Business dress. jacket & tie for men, skirt, dress or dress pants for women. We used to REQUIRE that women wore "hose" but now we can go bare-legged.
Larry, I agree with you completely. I remember being told years ago that a good salesperson is like a chameleon. And that is true in the way we dress. In east central MN I want to blend in with business people I call on.
Here at our station cluster we are dress casual. Khaki slacks and a nice golf or dress shirt and shoes. Since we also have golf and dress shirts with our station logo (at least one of each of the three stations - in both golf and dress, we wear them at least three days of the week, they are preferred. It's not a requirement, but as a Sales Rep. you want to. It seems to put the client "at ease" when you come in. Only a suit and tie, if it's a S & T type business/client. In Alabama, the weather almost dictates this typre of dress code.
Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. I have always keep this in mind. As media sales people you show respect in your company and your client by the way you present yourself.
I currently work for myself and I still find that dressing to impress will get you in the door quicker than just showing up.
We just stopped requiring ties for the guys. Some, however, still wear ties. Most days I'm in a shirt and sweater vest. No jeans anyday.
Astor Broadcasting is a coat and tie company. Still many Southern California decision makers are California Casual so they wonder who I'm trying to impress. Thus I go CC two or three times a week. Besides a Tommy Bahama silk Camp Shirt cost a lot more than a simple cotton dress shirt. I know real estate people try to show off, but radio buyers don't seem to trust over dressed reps who are taking their money.
We don't have a dress code at our station, but we must look presentable. I choose to wear business casual
I wear slacks & dress shoes mostly with a Tommy Bahama grade shirt.Sometimes a good polo, If I know there is an important meeting or luncheon to attend I go suit and tie.
Never jeans.Never t-shirts. I am a professional.
I'm at a different station than I was in 2013. Rules were tighter then.
Rural NC/Va is the coverage area. Dress like the folks I call on....That's Business Casual for the most part. In the past, I have sold for stations that required closed toe shoes for ladies....at the time I found it odd.
