I have landed a life changing job. Anyone ever had a drastic change like this? How did you deal with the change?

[Vampiricouncil]

It’s a big increase in pay.
It’s big change day to day.
I have gone from public sector to private world wide company.
No more jeans and jumper to work.
Attending big corporate events, lots of travel and lots of company meetings.

Having been public sector I have never ever had perks like this.

I’m fat, I’m over 50, I have never had “nice” clothes, I don’t drink alcohol and I’m not inclined to ever attend any social events.
Never ever attend social events at work. Never.

I want to make this about being the new me.
To tolerate social events, meet and talk to loads of new people, to really enjoy a life I have never known.
Anyone ever done this?

I dont think a pair of trousers will do it. You need at least 3 full suits and range of nice tops, I would get smart tops rather than shirts. Have you got smart shoes. Noce accessories and a little make up. Will make you feel the part then you will be able to act it!

The rest will work itself out....where ever you work it is still just people. Good luck

Well done @Vampiricouncil !!
I've just done exactly the same thing, in my third month now.
Definitely book a JL personal styling session.
By the best quality clothes you can afford, Hobbs is a good call.
Treat the socialising as work, it's just part of your job.
Don't underestimate how much you know or how much value you are adding
Enjoy it!!!

Brand Alley sometimes have Hobbs stuff reduced if you’re prepared to trawl through and spend a bit more. (I don’t work for them!)

Posted too soon

And congratulations 🥳

Congratulations Op !

Congratulations!

I used to work in the kind of environment you mention pre children and absolutely loved it. Sharp well cut suits, shift dresses would be my go to work staples. I love shopping and have some really lovely clothes I’ve had for years.

My child’s school is very hot on recycling and as a result I’m constantly moaned at by them for being a high consumer. To appease them I said I’d always try and buy second hand going forward. I recently discovered Vinted which has some real bargains for Hobbs and Reiss type clothes shops. I’ve got an amazing Christmas skirt from there that cost me £17. It’s still in the shop for £80!

All the very best of luck x

I came on to say go to John Lewis personal shopping and invest in some high end outfits. It will make you feel amazing plus they will last a long time.

Congratulations

Enjoy it. I did similar at about 40 and spend about 200 nights a year away in hotels (work and holidays)
Massively stepped back now and DH has stopped completely and I am not really missing it

tips:
2 of everything.
2 sets of cables/chargers
2 full make up/toiletries bags. Use hotel toiletries - they are fine.
1 week of underwear always washed and in the bag. Packing cubes are good for that
Small umbrella in case

If you are driving I used to have 3 coats, 6 Pairs of shoes, pillow and a full range of food and drink in my car as well.

My bag wasn't really unpacked for 9 years- just topped up.

Good luck - wish you all the best!

Oh and get a matching suitcase and laptop bag that fit together
(laptop bag slides over the handle)

much simpler to handle but nothing looks worse than a person crashing in looking like a bag lady/man

Small suitcase. Matching laptop bag over handle. Small handbag.

Join all of the hotel loyalty schemes and all of the airline ones if you are flying. Depends on who books and each scheme is different but we get lots of free travel with points.

Definitely Hobbs. Put your email on Hobbs mailing list. They have lots of sales. Good luck with the job.

Are you being charged out to clients?

Nicola Sturgeon is the queen of Hobbs.

£30 for a synthetic shirt from next…. But only perhaps £40/50 for something much higher quality and will last and last and last.

Congratulations and we'll done for going for it.

Suggestion for socials and networking (I used to find these awkward too) - get there early, much easier than walking into a busy room, speak to other people who are on their own (they will be grateful), ask questions (people love to be asked about themselves), and then slip off early if you're not having a good time. Everyone will know you've been there and won't notice you've gone.

I did it the other way round, and miss my nice clothes!

2 hairbrushes and 2 sets of straighteners.

* Attending big corporate events, lots of travel and lots of company meetings.*

This company sounds very old school!

I work for a big private corporate and none of this is going on
Instead investing in supporting business as much as possible to have a very slick online work environment in the main

Lots of travel?

Op it sounds like a dinosaur company

All the private corporates I know have green credentials they need to tick box to share holders and the public

@Happy1982ish

Lots of travel?

Op it sounds like a dinosaur company

All the private corporates I know have green credentials they need to tick box to share holders and the public

Some people need to travel to work on site

My job was largely based at clients and couldn't be done any other way- still cant.

Yes

But also lots of “big corporate events”…. Perhaps 4 years ago

But now? I can’t think of any big corporates that are planning “big events”

IMO professional/office dress has changed over the past years, much less formal. But I don't know if this is universal.

Are you sure you have to dress so fancy @Vampiricouncil I'm in the private sector and I'm on over 50k and I wear dark jeans practically every day...even our head of site who is on six figures wears fairly chilled enough outfits most days. I wouldn't invest in too much until you have sussed everything out. What is the industry and what is the role??

I agree with others that non-creasing dresses are much more practical and people don't wear 2-piece suits that much nowadays. Depending on your body type of course, but a few good quality dresses will look better than a load of odd fitting cheaper things. And people really don't pay that much attention to what you wear, so you can go through many meetings in the same black/blue/beige etc dress, just with different accessories. Try some of the pinterest boards:
www.pinterest.fr/pin/217791331949555278/

Main thing, you want to feel you look good and you want to feel comfortable in it. If you're already not that confident in social situations, you don't want to add the worry about gaping buttons or pulling hems onto it.

Oh and I also agree, if you travel a lot, keep a suitcase with your basics always ready. Extra chargers (adaptors if international), cosmetics, underwear always packed.

@tulips27

IMO professional/office dress has changed over the past years, much less formal. But I don't know if this is universal.

The Big4 firm I worked for had a smart casual dress code. Smart jeans and a jumper/shirt kind of thing. Properly smart clothes were only required for client meetings.