Want a Promotion at Work? Dress Like Your Boss
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Your Money Briefing.
Money and Market Stories from The Wall Street Journal. I'm J.R. Whalen in New York. Not sure what to wear to work in the morning? Have a look at what your boss is wearing. We'll explain in a moment why it could boost your chances for a promotion. First, these money headlines. Labor Department data shows that 3.4 million Americans quit their jobs in April. That's near a 2001 peak and twice the 1.7 million who were laid off from jobs in April. Workers have been made more confident by a strong economy and historically low unemployment, which stood at 3.8% in May, the lowest since 2000. The data also shows more than one in seven of the nation's 6.1 million jobless Americans in May were voluntarily unemployed, having left a previous position to look for another.
That's the highest share of voluntary unemployment in more than 17 years. If you have any backyard barbecues planned this summer, keep an eye on the price of propane when you're ready to refill your cooker. Prices of propane have been on a tear the past three years, more than doubling to about 95 cents a gallon.
What job market trends are highlighted in the opening money headlines?
That's a far sharper rise than the highly publicized 30% climb in U.S. crude prices over the same period and far outpaces the generally flat shares of energy producers and natural gas prices.
How many Americans quit or were laid off in April and why does it matter?
And the Wall Street Journal real estate team spotlights a growing number of homeowners who are emphasizing comfort over the sleek minimalism of recent years. It's inspired in part by the television show Fixer Upper, in which hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines promoted casual farmhouse chic. For now, realestate.com says that farmhouse or craftsman-inspired homes sell for significantly more than other styles. And the website says the use of words like barn doors, exposed beams, or freestanding tubs in a property listing can push up home prices by as much as 30%. And a description that includes farmhouse sink, for instance, creates a 26% premium for an entry-level home and a 16% premium for a high-end house.
This is your Money Briefing from The Wall Street Journal. Welcome back, everybody. How much time do you spend picking out your work clothes in the morning? New research indicates how you dress for work can play a role in your success. Brandy Britton is district president at Office Team, and she joins us via Skype to discuss. So, Brandy, Office Team surveyed people throughout the workforce, and workers and managers alike agree on the importance of making the right choices when it comes to office dressing.
Absolutely. So from our survey, we found that 86% of workers and 80% of managers feel that the clothing that you choose to wear can impact your promotability or chances of getting promotions.
And while nearly every office has an official or unofficial dress code, you say it's good to keep an eye on how senior members of the staff, how they're dressing.
It is. Certainly, particularly right now, casual dress or business casual dress is very prominent in the workforce. And if you're an individual who wants to get promoted or wants to be noticed, it's a good idea to take a look at your manager's and somewhat mirror their attire or in some cases dress just a notch better. That's how you look can really impact your credibility and how people perceive you.
And office dress has become more casual over time, as you alluded to. You know, jeans and tennis shoes are a little more in vogue these days than they were maybe five years ago.
They sure are. You know, you think about Mark Zuckerberg certainly made jeans and sweatshirts a little bit more popular. Certainly not all dress or work environments change. are that casual, but people have found a way to make jeans look nice and professional. In some cases, you might see leggings with nice jackets and things like that. So your ability to make some of these more casual clothes look sharp and presentable has helped businesses incorporate more casual dress codes.
So I think the point here is that you can wear casual clothes, but you really should make some effort to put it together and put together a smart-looking outfit.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:04
2
What job market trends are highlighted in the opening money headlines?
1:04–1:16
3
How many Americans quit or were laid off in April and why does it matter?
1:16–4:49
4
Why should propane and home design trends matter to consumers this summer?
4:49–6:33
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from WSJ Your Money Briefing
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