If you’re serious about landing your dream job, how you dress needs to be important to you. Your clothing plays a bigger role than simply covering you up; it gives people information about you, whether it’s true or not. People who dress sloppily can often seem careless or lazy, and people who are too casual aren’t always taken seriously.

However, dressing to impress your higher ups doesn’t always mean wearing an expensive suit. Dressing for the job you want requires you to gauge how your boss or manager is dressing. If you work at a company where formal clothing is avoided or even rejected and even your managers show up in casual jackets, wearing a business suit might not be such a good idea.

Regardless of the preferred clothing style of your workplace, there are a lot of ways to make sure that you dress well and make a good impression. If you work at a place where formal attire is the norm, wearing more expensive business clothes will go a long way. The number one thing to remember when considering how to dress at work is that how you put yourself together directly indicates how you view your work. You want to give the message that you are serious and dedicated and that you can lead a group to success.

Dressing for the job you want isn’t only necessary at work, but it’s a must for every job interview. No matter what type of company you’re applying with, always do your best to dress appropriately and dress well when meeting with a potential employer. First impressions are more important than you might think, and showing your character and level of seriousness through your clothing just might get you the job.

Dressing for the job you want is only one small part of landing your dream job. Here are a few more tips to help you get to that bigger office, or wherever you want to be:

  1. Behave for the job you want. Dressing for the job you want won’t fool anybody if you don’t play the part. Show your dedication to your job by getting to work early and leaving late, always giving 110%, and making sure your team succeeds, not just you.
  2. Stay focused. Stay focused on the goals your boss cares about instead of getting caught up in the work place drama. Be observant of what you and your coworkers need, and be ready to offer solutions. Show that you can be innovative and flexible.
  3. Get Organized. Your workspace speaks as much about you as your clothes do. Keep an organized, efficient work area at all times. Take the extra time to de-clutter paperwork, organize your files, and throw out what you no longer need.

Dressing for the job you want isn’t an option – it’s a necessity. The way you need to dress for that specific job can vary depending on where you want to work, but your clothes must always reflect positive character traits.

Author bio: Rana Tarakji is an entrepreneur and a contributing writer at Stylerail.