We found that it only takes seven seconds to form a first impression, and if you noticed, most of the factors that come into play while making those impressions are physical.
I mean, the first thing we do when we meet someone is to see them.
So, in a corporate setting, it’s best to look professional because you don’t want to come off as sloppy or irresponsible to your colleagues, bosses, or clients.
We know we should dress for the occasion and present ourselves nicely, but what would be the defining part of a professional appearance?
So we asked these Singaporeans what they think is the most important physical trait in a corporate environment.
Jane, 27, Former Events Executive
1. What do you think is the most important superficial trait that would make or break a first impression in a corporate environment?
Personally, my hair gives me confidence as a woman. You’d always hear people talking about bad hair day and it’s the same for me. If I have a bad hair day, I’d already feel like the day is gonna suck.
And that would also make me feel not as confident in professional environments, in fact, especially in professional environments.
I also feel that a person can look very different just from the way their hair looks. Like for example, a nicely bunned-up hair makes an SIA girl look very neat, presentable, and professional.
And like how multi-coloured hair makes a person look very ah beng/ah lian, or artistic, depending on how their hair is coloured.
2. Why?
I’ve always been very concerned with my own frizzled hair and how it makes me look unkempt. Likewise, when I see a person with messy or untidy hair, I tend to think that s/he is a very messy person.
Subconsciously, ‘bad hair’ makes me feel like the person is unreliable/unprofessional.
3. What would you suggest to do to correct the physical aspect you think is most important?
Put in more effort to take care of your hair? It could be sussing out the right shampoo for yourself (’cause I think everyone’s hair/scalp is different), or using conditioner, or just spending a little more time to comb your hair gently.
Andrew, 26, Brand Lead
1. What do you think is the most important superficial trait that would make or break a first impression in a corporate environment?
As superficial as it seems, I feel like how you dress on your first meetup (be it interview, meeting, etc.) matters a whole lot, right form the hairstyle to the shoes.
In the end, you’re trying to sell either yourself as a product or an ambassador of the brand/company you’re representing. Not saying you have to be in business attire at all times, it’s just about looking well put-together.
Could be as simple as t-shirt and jeans, as long as you look well put-together.
2. Why?
I think as much as we try to coat things because of the hype around individuality nowadays, there’s always going to be a judgement in one’s mind.
It goes with everything, when you play RPG games where you pick out certain characters to do certain things, or just purely buying food based on how it looks or its packaging.
3. What would you suggest to do to correct the physical aspect you think is most important?
I think it’s important to figure out what looks good on you and ultimately also be comfortable. It’s a balance of looking great yet still approachable.
Kenneth, 30, Accountant
1. What do you think is the most important superficial trait that would make or break a first impression in a corporate environment?
I think wearing a proper outfit is the most important. But I wouldn’t discount the fact that a neat and tidy hairstyle goes along with a good outfit.
2. Why?
It’s important because these are the first things you notice in making a first impression and it shows how seriously the person regards the occasion, and if the person does not look presentable (unkempt and messy hair, shirt tucked out, ill-fitting clothes), the other party would likely not take the person seriously too.
3. What would you suggest to do to correct the physical aspect you think is most important?
Get proper and well-fitting clothes, no baggy shirts/pants for guys, not too-revealing outfits and no slippers for ladies.
The Verdict
Most of them agree that wearing an appropriate outfit is important to portraying a prim and professional image of yourself. They also agree that having neat hair completes that image.
They say if you look good, you’ll feel good.
In my opinion, messy hair can make even the best of any power suit look slipshod.
But in this hot and humid tropical climate, it can be difficult for us to maintain a fresh ‘do the whole day.
More often than not, our hair becomes limp and greasy by the end of lunch time because of the heat combined with the carbon monoxide-filled air in this city.
Blowing dry and styling your hair in the morning turn into a chore because you end up sweating and using more product to make your hair stay in place.
It’s not a total lost cause though, as these problems can be fixed by having healthy, well-nourished hair and maintaining the state of the hair by going for regular hair treatments.
One such hair treatment provided by hair specialist Beijing 101 is their Puriscalp Mask Treatment (similar to the one blogger Tiffany Yong did) which helps to unclog the roots of our hair and encourage hair growth.
It uses natural herb extracts from ginseng, Lingzhi, and He Shou Wu which improves blood circulation to the scalp, lowers the rate of hair loss, and slows the greying of hair, respectively.
According to them, a Nielsen survey found that 90% of customers who were treated at Beijing 101 have seen visible hair growth after receiving regular treatments.
Beijing 101 has over four decades of hair care expertise in Singapore, so you can rest assured that you are in the good hands of their experienced hair consultants who will get to the root of your problems in a jiffy!
So, forget about all your hair troubles and strut into the office with confidence and impress your colleagues with healthy and beautiful hair.
Sign up here for a 4-Step Hair Gro Treatment @ $40 nett (U.P $424) and get a free Hair Care Pack worth $86.
May you have great hair days!
This article was written in collaboration with Beijing 101.
Featured Image Credit: RedWire Times