You wake up feeling very anxious. You have a job interview today. Not only do you have to deal with the normal stress of the interview process, but you also have to decide how you will “present”.
As masculine identified women, we have the added pressure of conforming to gender “norms” of dress, or wearing the clothes that best represents us, which for most, is male clothing. That choice is even more painful concerning the workplace. Some MIW feel they can’t dress in male clothing at work for fear of being discriminated against. They are forced to wear more feminine clothing to ensure their careers are safe and they continue to earn a living.
Times are better these days. People are a little more accepting and aware of gender expression and the LGBTQ community. There are also laws in place to protect us against discrimination so for those reasons, many more people are coming “out” so to speak and are presenting in the ways that make them comfortable. However you present, the most important thing to remember is HAVE CONFIDENCE! If YOU can’t sell yourself, who will “buy” you?
Confidence starts with appearance! Bois, if you look good you feel good right? If you’re going to wear men’s clothing , wear them CORRECTLY! Business casual clothes need to fit. If you don’t know your size then go get measured. You can do this in any major clothing store or dry cleaners. Purchase slacks/suits/blazers/vests in the five major color groups: black, blue, brown, beige and grey. Shirts can be in various mild colors to compliment the slacks. We’re not looking for loud zoot suits here. If you need ideas, just look around you. Check out the styles of the men you most admire or look at fashion blogs and magazines. Observe the color combinations of the business suits men wear. Be creative, yet keep in mind you’re a professional. Shoes should be shined, not shabby and should generally match the belt/tie/suspenders you are wearing. Socks can match the shirt or slacks. I like to match them with my shirt to break up the color scheme of my slacks. If you’re going to wear a tie PLEASE learn how to tie a proper knot. You can pull up a thousand You Tube videos on your phone to get a quick lesson! I suggest a Windsor or half Windsor knot as they present a more professional look. Ties should not be loud in color or “gimmicky”. You can never go wrong with cuff links as they give extra flair and confidence.
Now that you feel good in your professional attire you have to go out and “sell” yourself. This starts with your resume! Your resume should be as clean and concise as possible! I cannot stress enough to PROOF READ, PROOF READ, PROOF READ! Generally, if a resume has more than two grammatical errors, it is tossed. If you can’t take the time to spell/grammar check, then employers will assume you will be sloppy on the job. Make
use of WHITE space! The resume has to be visually appealing to the eye. Don’t have graphics and wild fonts. Keep it professional. Have your references and cover letter with you as well. It’s important that YOU know what’s on your resume as you may be quizzed about it. Don’t put information on your resume that isn’t true. You may be called on that to be verified and you don’t want to be caught in a lie. KNOW your job! At the end of the day an employer wants to know that the person they are hiring knows what they are doing. If you’re confident in your skills, answering questions about your job shouldn’t be a problem. Be precise, project your voice, and make eye contact. This establishes trust and interest. Make the interviewer focus more on your qualifications and less on your appearance. Remember you’re “selling” yourself!
Other important tips while interviewing is NEVER, EVER chew gum! Always research the company before you go. Employers like when you know information about them. It shows that you have a vested interest and not just looking for a job. Also have at least 3 copies of your resume. Some interviewers may not have a copy of your resume so you have to be prepared to give them and possibly others a copy. As well, some interviewers do in fact have a copy, but ask you for one to see if you are prepared! One of the most effective ways to score ‘brownie points” is to have a list of relevant questions to ask the interviewer. Near the end when they ask if you have any questions this would be a good time to get any additional information you need.
Bois/Studs/Doms/Butches DON’T be afraid to be yourself! I most certainly don’t judge the bois who feel they have to dress more feminine! WHATEVER it takes to make your coin, DO IT! But for those that want to present at work the same way they do in private, you can, and STILL be successful. Don’t let your presentation hold you back from having a fulfilling career and being comfortable doing it. I am proof that you can have a career while presenting masculine. I LIVE by all those tips and information I provided above. That is all from experience. I can honestly say I’ve never felt any negative vibes from an interviewer because I wore men’s clothing. I’ve been hired at plenty of jobs where I interviewed in masculine clothing. I stayed professional and knew my job. What more can an employee ask for?
Kai Brown {Stud Slayer}
Stud for Stud & MIW advocate
@studslayer
http://studslayer.tumblr.com
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