Business English - Dressing for Success: Professional Attire and Presentation

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! (Warm-up)

Think about this: Why is it important to wear nice clothes when you go for a job interview or to work? What kind of clothes make you look professional and ready for a job?

Activity 2: New Words (Vocabulary)

Here are some new English words. These words will help us talk about what to wear for job interviews and work.

Attire (noun): Clothes, especially the kind of clothes you wear for a special event like an interview.

Example: Your interview attire should be clean and make you look good.

Professional (adjective): Looking neat, serious, and right for a job or an office setting.

Example: It is important to wear professional clothes to your job interview.

Neat (adjective): Clean, tidy, and not messy or wrinkled.

Example: Make sure your shirt is neat and ironed before you go.

Grooming (noun): Keeping your body clean and tidy, such as your hair, face, and nails.

Example: Good grooming, like having clean hair and nails, is also important for an interview.

Impression (noun): The first idea or feeling that someone gets about you when they meet you.

Example: Your clothes and how you look help make a good first impression.

Appropriate (adjective): Right or suitable for a certain time, place, or situation, like a job interview.

Example: A dark suit is often appropriate for a formal job interview at a big company.

Activity 3 (Reading)

Let's read about Maria. She has an important job interview tomorrow and is thinking about what to wear.

Maria has a very important job interview tomorrow morning. She wants to make a good first impression, so she is thinking carefully about her attire. She knows that looking professional is key for most job interviews. Maria looks through her closet and chooses a clean, dark blue skirt and a white shirt. She checks them carefully to make sure her clothes are neat and nicely ironed, with no wrinkles or spots. This will help her look put-together.

Besides her clothes, Maria also pays attention to her grooming. She plans to wash her hair so it is fresh and tidy. She will also make sure her nails are clean and short. She wants her overall look to be polished and show that she cares about details. Maria believes that choosing appropriate clothes and having good grooming shows the interviewer that she is serious about the job and respects the company and the opportunity. She decides to lay out her clothes the night before so she will not be rushed or stressed in the morning. Maria feels that when she looks her best, she also feels more confident and ready for the interview questions.

Think about the story:

Why does Maria want to choose her attire carefully for the interview? (Hint: What does she want to make?)
What does Maria do to make sure her clothes are neat and professional?
Besides clothes, what other important thing (grooming) does Maria pay attention to, and why does she think these things are important?

Activity 4: Role Play

Read this dialogue with a partner. One person is Alex (who is asking for advice about interview clothes), and the other is Sara (his friend).

Alex: Sara, I have my first big job interview next week! I'm not sure what kind of attire I should wear. Can you help me?

Sara: Hi Alex! That's great news about the interview. Yes, it's very important to look professional. What kind of job is it for?

Alex: It's for an office assistant role at a law firm. It seems like a serious place.

Sara: Okay, for a law firm, you should definitely aim for a very professional look. The most important thing is that your clothes are extremely neat.

Alex: So, does that mean I have to wear a full suit? Or is a nice button-up shirt and smart pants okay?

Sara: A nice shirt and smart pants can be appropriate, especially if they are very clean, well-ironed, and fit you well. Good grooming is also key – like having tidy hair and clean shoes.

Alex: Right, good grooming is important too. I really want to make a good first impression on them.

Sara: Exactly! Your attire and how you present yourself are big parts of that first impression they will get of you.

Alex: So, even if I hear the office is a bit casual day-to-day, for the interview it's always better to be more professional?

Sara: Yes, it's always safer to dress a bit more formally for the interview. It shows you are serious about the job and chose appropriate clothing for an important meeting.

After reading, discuss: What is one small thing you can do the night before an interview to make sure your clothes look neat and ready?

Activity 5: Let's Practice

Objective: Practice using the new vocabulary about professional clothes and presentation.

Scenario: Ben (the learner) is talking to his sister, Lisa, about what he should wear for his upcoming job interview.

Lisa: Hi Ben, are you getting ready for your big interview tomorrow? What are you planning to wear for your meeting?

Ben: Yes, I'm trying to choose the right . I want to look good and feel confident.

Lisa: That's very important. You definitely want to look for the people at the company who will be interviewing you.

Ben: I washed my best shirt last night. I need to make sure it's perfectly and ironed this evening, with no spots or wrinkles at all.

Lisa: That’s a good idea! And don't forget about your hair and hands. Good is also a big part of looking ready and put-together for an interview.

Ben: You're absolutely right. I really want to make a good first from the moment they see me walk in.

Lisa: Exactly. So, just choose something that is for an office setting and makes you feel comfortable and confident!

Try to fill in the blanks with appropriate words or phrases from this lesson!