How-to Article Assignment
Appendix A: Planning Form
1. After reading this
article who will be able
to do what?
a. Who are the
readers or learners?
b. What will they do
with the material?
2. What points must you
cover so learners or
readers can respond or
act as you had
intended?
3. What is the need that
learners or readers have
for the information?
4. What is their appetite
for information?
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After reading this article employees with an undergraduate
degree who have been working for 2 years will be able to
improve her/his styles and overall look to increase the hiring
chance for the internal managerial position
Readers will be employees with an undergraduate degree who
have been working for 2 years
They can read to get extra tips and the science behinds those tips
they can work on their own properties to dress and impress in the
interview
How is “dress to impress”
Identify the purpose of “dress to impress”
All the essence: tips to boost that likelihood
 Follow dress code policy (if there is any)
 Go with the safest and the most comfortable choice
 Observe other managers and dress beyond your status
 Keep accessories, fragrances, and makeup minimum
 Weaponize your attitudes and charisma
 Must-know
 Should-know
 Nice-to-know
Explain your choice: As the targeted readers are employees who
have been working for 2 years and they have gone through at
least one interview, they develop fundamentals of typical attires
that provides professionalism for the workplace. Hence this
how-to article will serve as an extra tool to advancing their look
for better impression. However, remember that with any
interview, they look for talents, not looks. So, it is nice to know
this article to elevate their style.
How does this affect your content?
The content should provide valuable points that the readers may
have a hard time searching or spend too much time to find that
information.
 Nibbler (just a factoid or two)?
 Grazer (an overview but not many details)?
 Hungry heifer (everything on the subject)?
1
 Explain your choice: As it is nice to know the following
information, they just need a few stand-out factors that can offer
the readers something to improve their looks.

How does this affect your content?

Because the need for information is nice-to-know, the content
should be straight-forward, concise, and have something that can
provide unique values to readers.
5. What information might Understand why dress to impress is a chance to leverage your
readers have difficulty confidence and impression to interviewers and not the thing that
following? they should be anxious and stressful.

How will you handle My content should give address clearly the purpose, the science
this? behind it and convince them not paying too much about it during
interview.
6. Anything else that To those who have strict dress code policy in their workplace
might affect learners’ or (uniforms or typical hairstyles) will not be as beneficial from this
readers’ use of the article as the ones who have more freedom in dressing.
material?
7. Which sources will you  Peer-reviewed (reviewed by other experts)
consult to learn about Peluchette, J. V., Karl, K., & Rust, K. (2006). Dressing to
the topic of your impress: Beliefs and attitudes regarding workplace
assigned article? attire. Journal of business and psychology. Retrieved from
https://www-jstor-org.lib-
ezproxy.concordia.ca/stable/25473469?
seq=3#metadata_info_tab_contents
 Professional (by pro in the industry)
Schmalz, K. (2000). Marketing Yourself, Part 2: The Unwritten
Dress Code: How to Dress for the Job Interview. Health
Promotion Practice. Retrieved from
https://www-jstor-org.lib-
ezproxy.concordia.ca/stable/26734160?
Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=dress+for+inter
view&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery
%3Ddress%2Bfor
%2Binterview&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcont
rol&refreqid=fastly-default
%3Af4c933298698c83bcd81f0081a6ed072&seq=1#metadata_in
fo_tab_contents
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/do-clothes-make-the-manager/
Tobak, S. (2000). Do Clothes Make the Manager. CBC News.
Retrieved from
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/do-clothes-make-the-manager/

Frost, A. S. (1970). The Art of Dressing Well: A Complete

2
 Guide to Economy, Style and Propriety of Costume. Dick and
Fitzgerald Publisher. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com.vn/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=5WtBAQAAMAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=why
+dressing+well+is+important&ots=3tWNmMaEor&sig=xdagw
CGB3PqPknPN2dxJznlyO_s&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=fa
lse

Bardack, R. N. & McAndrew, T. F. (1985) The Influence of

Physical Attractiveness and Manner of Dress on Success in a
Simulated Personnel Decision, The Journal of Social
Psychology. Retrieved from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224545.1985.9
713553?journalCode=vsoc20

Devine, G. (September 13, 2015). 10 Reasons to Dress for

Success. LinkedIn. Retrieved from
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-reasons-dress-success-
gerard-devine/

How-to Article
Tips to be one step closer to that managerial position
By Thi Tuong Vi Ha (Student ID: 40126210)

“Dress to impress” is not your problem. It is everyone’s problem. To save you from a
headache of dressing, this article provides insights and better ways to dress which can upgrade
your game and increase the chance of earning that promoted position. It will explain in detail
how is “dress to impress”, the tips to impressively dress and the science behind those tips 

How is “dress to impress”?

“Dress to impress” does not necessarily mean you need to tie yourself in fancy
clothes.  The phrase indicates the way that your dressing should illustrate your personality, your
styles, and respect to whoever you contact in the workplace. 

Identify the purpose of “dress to impress”

Psychologically, people will have a better impression of the ones who are well-dressed,
especially in the interview. In addition, individuals will feel more confident and productive.

All the essence: tips to boost that likelihood

3
Tip 1. Follow dress code policy (if there is any)
If your company does appear to have a dress code policy, you as the employees must
strictly adhere to it, whether those are pieces of clothes that you do not enjoy. A future manager
can hardly demonstrate leadership and manage their team members if they break the very basic
rule. If you do not feel confident, practice being comfortable in it prior to the interview.

Tip 2. Go with the safest and the most comfortable choice

When you are trying to pick an outfit, choose the one that is the most comfortable and
safest. The clothes that you have been wearing at least more than five times should be the safest,
not the ones that just arrived yesterday. The most comfortable outfit means the pieces that you
feel the most confident in and it portrays the best version of yourself. Not being comfortable or
safe in clothes will unnecessarily bother you and decrease your confidence and focus on the
interview and your performance decreases.

Tip 3. Observe other managers and dress beyond your status

To give the best impression that you should be promoted to this managerial position,
giving them the sense of familiarity, maturity, and credibility by dressing like managers will
create a good impression. The first step is observing what other managers usually wear in terms
of color, specific pieces of clothes, or some common dressing details. Writing in Dressing to
Impress: Beliefs and Attitudes Regarding Workplace Attire, Katherine Karl comments that
individuals monitor their environment and change others’ perceptions about them. By doing so,
they can stimulate and dress like a manager. Then, the interviewers can visualize you better as a
manager in the future.

Tip 4. Keep accessories, fragrances, and makeup minimum

It’s better to overdress than underdress but that does not mean you put everything you
fancy onto your body. It is suggested that you should pick one jewelry category such as a piece
of earing or a simple necklace only, subtle fragrances, and light makeup. Minimalism in those
categories will create a better sense of professionalism. Interviewers and you desire
professionalism, not the catwalk vibes. If you feel unsure, you can take trials and ask for others’
opinions. More opinions can address your uncertainty. Too much in each of these categories will
make them think you take too much time for looks. 

Tip 5. Weaponize your attitudes and charisma

Before you even speak a word, attitudes and charisma already demonstrate half of your
impression. An optimistic, confident, and great charisma which delivers credibility, maturity, and
leadership can increase more chances of getting the desired position. As the future manager
needs to inspire, lead, and influence the members, you should generate openness, so the team
members are willing to approach and collaborate. This will score an impressive point for the
interviewers. 

4
 In conclusion, these tips should help you to gain better confidence, be more relaxed and
increase your performance. If you cannot follow the tips and your dress code does not provide
confidence, and performance support, you can get used to it by dressing in that outfit several
times before the interview. If you desire more information, you can consult The Art of Dressing
Well: A Complete Guide to Economy, Style and Propriety of Costume by Sarah Amie Frost,
published in 1970 by Dick and Fitzgerald Publisher.

(Word count 727)

Observe someone using a draft of the article

I gave my friend who is majoring in Accounting as a Concordia undergraduate student.

She has been having two internships and she already acknowledges the solid fundamentals of
dressing appropriately for the workplace. She will have an interview in one more week for her
part-time job as a receptionist of a hotel next semester.

After she finished her schoolwork at 8 pm on Tuesday, I sent an electronic copy to her,
and she began to read. There were some parts that she read without any pause and there were
some parts that she read slowly and displayed surprises. I came to the recognition that she had an
easy time reading but was filled with surprises as she never thought of some tips and the science
behind those tips. Within 5 minutes, she had finished her reading which I considered was an
average time for a person to read and understand without any major confusion or difficulties. She
mentioned that there were some tips that were suitable to use now as she would begin her part-
time job soon. However, there were some tips that she said she would need to modify as she
would be interviewed for a receptionist position and not a managerial one. She told me that the
tips that she never thought of like dressing beyond your status really interested her and
weaponizing attitudes was never a serious tip to her before.

After letting her reading this, it is hard to conclude which parts I should modify because
the intended audience for this article is not her initially. However, I will add some versions of
each tip so people can easily apply not only for managerial positions. Maybe dress beyond your
status for someone who is applying for an executive position. That way my article can be
versatile, and more people will be able to utilize it.

References

Peluchette, J. V., Karl, K., & Rust, K. (2006). Dressing to impress: Beliefs and attitudes

regarding workplace attire. Journal of business and psychology. Retrieved from

https://www.jstororg.libezproxy.concordia.ca/stable/25473469?

seq=3#metadata_info_tab_contents

5
Schmalz, K. (September 28, 2010). Marketing Yourself, Part 2: The Unwritten Dress Code: How

to Dress for the Job Interview. Health Promotion Practice. Retrieved from

https://www.jstororg.libezproxy.concordia.ca/stable/26734160?

Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=dress+for+interview&searchUri=

%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Ddress%2Bfor

%2Binterview&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-

default

%3Af4c933298698c83bcd81f0081a6ed072&seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents

Tobak, S. (2000). Do Clothes Make the Manager. CBC News. Retrieved from

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/do-clothes-make-the-manager/

Frost, A. S. (1970). The Art of Dressing Well: A Complete Guide to Economy, Style and

Propriety of Costume. Dick and Fitzgerald Publisher. Retrieved from

https://books.google.com.vn/books?

hl=en&lr=&id=5WtBAQAAMAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=why+dressing+well+is+i

mportant&ots=3tWNmMaEor&sig=xdagwCGB3PqPknPN2dxJznlyO_s&redir_esc=

y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Bardack, R. N. & McAndrew, T. F. (1985) The Influence of Physical Attractiveness and Manner

of Dress on Success in a Simulated Personnel Decision, The Journal of Social Psychology.

Retrieved from

6
 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224545.1985.9713553?

journalCode=vsoc20

Devine, G. (September 13, 2015). 10 Reasons to Dress for Success. LinkedIn. Retrieved from

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-reasons-dress-success-gerard-devine/

Orpen, C. (1984) Attitude Similarity, Attraction, and Decision-Making in the Employment

Interview, The Journal of Psychology. Retrieved from

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00223980.1984.9923666

February 14th, 2016. What Does Dress To Impress Really Mean? GruhMe. Retrieved from

https://gruhme.co.uk/what-does-dress-to-impress-really-mean/

July 22, 2020. How to Dress to Impress in the Workplace. Nad Lawrence. Retrieved from

https://nadlawrence.com/fashion-trend/how-dress-impress-workplace/