Congratulations on your new job! The job market can be a tough slog, especially if you’re new to the industry. Now that you have the job, the next step is your onboarding meeting. You may be thinking about how to get to your new office or how to set up your home office for a video call, but you might not be thinking about your wardrobe for your onboarding meeting. However, you need to consider it. The first impression you make at an onboarding meeting is critical, and your wardrobe could make just as big an impression at your onboarding meeting as it did during your interview. Here are some unwritten rules about what to wear to your onboarding meeting. 

What Is Onboarding?

First of all, onboarding is not the same as employee orientation. Usually, employee orientations last for a day. Employee onboarding is a gradual process of introducing the new employee to the company culture, rules, regulations, and procedures. The onboarding process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. 

Why Is It Important

There are some things you need to know about the onboarding process. 

• Onboarding duties are shared by more experienced employees, managers, HR people, and executive staff. In other words, you are going to meet a lot of people in leadership positions who could influence your career trajectory–for better or for worse. 
• There will be opportunities to interact with other employees, give and receive feedback, job shadowing, and on-the-job training. 
• This is your opportunity to learn how things work in the company, fill out your employee paperwork, and get to know your co-workers. 

What to Wear for Onboarding

Now that you understand how important onboarding is, you need to spend some time thinking about your onboarding wardrobe. Before getting into specifics, there are a couple of tips you need to know beforehand. First, take note in your employee intake paperwork if a dress code is specified for onboarding. Second, dress up more on your first day of onboarding, and then observe what other people are wearing for clues about what to include in your work wardrobe. For example, are they opting for smart casual or business casual? Here are some ways you can be sure your look will fit in with the company’s brand. 

What Should Men Wear to an Onboarding Meeting?

For example, if a business casual dress code is defined for onboarding, men should wear:

• Pants rather than jeans unless you are beginning on a casual Friday.
• A collared shirt, either tucked into pants or left out, depending on the company culture. 
• A leather belt for a polished look
• If you want to wear tennis shoes, be sure that they are a leather-like material and a neutral color
• A high-quality leather wallet, a belt matching your shoes 
• Socks – If you choose with patterns, keep the design subdued
• Jewelry – you’ll want to keep this at a minimum when you are beginning to work for a company. In general, men can wear a wedding ring, a class ring, a signet ring, a watch in a matching metal tone to match rings, one bracelet, and one chain. 

What Should Women Wear to an Onboarding Meeting?

Women have a little more choice in their wardrobes because they have more fashion choices in general. If your company requires you to wear business casual during your onboarding, here are some suggestions. 

• Pants rather than jeans. You can also opt for a skirt or a dress. The length of the skirt or dress needs to be no shorter than an inch or so above the knee. 
• You have the option to wear a collared shirt or a blouse. Nothing super tight, and no spaghetti straps or tank tops. Leaving buttons on your blouse unbuttoned? Sure, but keep in mind that being conservative is always a good idea on the first day. 
• If you are wearing pants, you’ll want to wear a leather belt. 
• shoes of your choice, but tennis shoes in wild colors are a no-no. Usually, business casual women opt for flats, wedges, or boots. 
• A purse that matches your shoes or coordinates with your outfit. 
• A jacket, raincoat, or sweater for the weather. 
• As with men, keep your jewelry conservative. In general, women can wear multiple necklaces in groups, as well as bracelets, rings, and earrings – all in matching metal. 

Before you panic, keep in mind that if you go with a great outfit on your first day, you’ll get a chance to observe what other employees wear, and you can then plan accordingly. With a little planning on the wardrobe front, you’ll be onboarding like a pro in no time.