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?

When I was in the professional services industry they trained us as consultants to observe what people in our client sites were wearing and to mirror that in our own dress, but never anything more casual than "smart casual". So if they wear polo shirts and jeans, you wear polo shirt and jeans.

@Happy1982ish

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”

US owned companies are still very big on this in my experience

@CSJobseeker when I started in professional services in a BIG4 in 2001 it was forbidden not to wear tights with a skirt! Suit skirts only!

Congratulations !!!! Lovely to hear of some ones joy , hope you enjoy every minute .

@Avarua

When I was in the professional services industry they trained us as consultants to observe what people in our client sites were wearing and to mirror that in our own dress, but never anything more casual than "smart casual". So if they wear polo shirts and jeans, you wear polo shirt and jeans.

We had an informal dress at least 1 level up or mirror the most senior person in the building. So you may be working with IT all in jeans but if the CEO was suited and booted so were you. You needed to look like you were worth the money they were paying for you

Best thing I ever did was get a house of colour style and colour day. I’m never without an outfit that I feel good in, despite being overweight and over 50.
Good luck with your new job, sounds great!

@HolidayTime2021

Nicola Sturgeon is the queen of Hobbs.

She wears a lot of stuff from The Fold

I don’t get all the Hobbs love tbh, particularly tops which are always made from unpleasant fabrics. They used to be good.

Hello! As someone with a similar change in jobs... A few pointers, yes DO NOT by Next... It looks low quality and cheap in comparison to Hobbs, Reiss, Coast, etc... depending on your style you might also like Ted Baker (big fan here). You can also go to a TK Maxx and see what you can find or if you live not too far from Oxford try Bicester Village. I once bought a beautiful D&G business dress there as well as some lovely Burberry shoes. If you're going to parties get a nice bag and purse (especially if you're going to entertain clients). If WFH at all buy some nice jumpers and blouses.

Congratulations OP.

Depending on the job and industry you might need to be more or less dressed up. I'm in a senior leadership position in Big4 professional services. Pre covid I'd be travelling every week, mostly wore suits or smart clothes. These days nearly everything is remote including our major conference events. Its more inclusive, cheaper and more sustainable.

If you can let us know roughly the job and industry you'll get advice.on what.to expect. A law firm will be very different from a tech company or a pharma company

I would echo the comments about dress code becoming less rigid. I'm a lawyer, when I started out trouser suits were considered edgy and modern, and it was unheard of not to wear a suit even for junior lawyers not seeing clients.

Now our female senior partner doesn't ever wear a suit and pretty much the only women who do are barristers.

Last time I saw our senior partner in the office she was wearing leather trousers and a blouse, at our AGM a midi dress and boots. Our female head of department was a wrap dress or slip dress fan.

Don't buy too much until you have scoped out the dress code.

Good for you op. I'd second aiming for higher end pieces new or 2nd hand depending on your budget - reiss, Hobbs, whistles, mint velvet, etc. I would go for dresses as another poster said - really easy to dress up or down (I've had a few from warehouse that were brilliant) and don't underestimate the impact decent accessories can make and definitely get a matching laptop holder and case for travelling.

I absolutely hate networking and work dos but over the years have learnt to fake it. Tell yourself you will go for 1 hour and talk to 2 new people - and feel no pressure to do any more than that. Have 3 topics up your sleeve that you can pull out if things get awkward (something industry related but non controversial then something lighthearted but open ended - eg tell me about your summer holiday plans?).

People are still people OP, and unless customers are seeing you or you're "dressing like 2 levels up" to get a promotion, don't sweat clothes too much.
Though I second Hobbs clothes as I have a few of them and they are bomb proof.

I don't like networking and small talk so I always have a few 'conversations' tucked away that I can wheel out of I need to. I've read quite a lot of Vanessa Van Edward's stuff (www.scienceofpeople.com/) she's hugely American, and some of it doesn't sit well for me but some of her hints and tips I have found very useful & effective.

I was also recommended this book hbr.org/books/watkins The 90 Day plan when I recently changed roles. Again, not all of it is wonderful but some very useful bits and pieces to tuck away and use as you negotiate starting a new job.

Good luck, it sounds absolutely wonderful, I hope it works out brilliantly for you.

Also, my work wear has pretty much changed to 95% dresses, purely because I like them. Whistles has an outlet section on their website that I search every couple of weeks.

I agree corporate wear has changed but good quality basics can be dressed up or down very easily.

Watch out for perks you might lose....like the quality of the pension, sick pay, holiday and flexi and being demanded 24/7.

These might not be the case, but many moves from public to private do find changes in these too.

Congratulations on your new role

I'm excited for you op! It made me think of the plot to a book, I would love to read about your transformation into the new you! But you most likely won't have time to write about it as well 🤣.
Good luck, enjoy it.

What did you wear to the interview? You must have come across really well. They were obviously impressed by you and thought you were a good fit for the company, so I doubt you need a drastic makeover!

I wore pj bottoms and a shirt from Next I go the TEAMs interview…

M & S currently have some nice dresses. You could wear a jacket over the top if you need to be smart. Also the M & S Ghost range of dresses are v well made in my opinion and not that expensive.

Many many congratulations 🎊

If you go to your new office (before you start), you can see what others are wearing

Congratulations! How big a job? What type of industry? I’m finding ‘professional attire’ has got much more casual in the last few years. My more formal stuff now looks too stuffy and try hard.

I favour mint velvet/the fold/massimo dutti/reiss and flat shoes these days. Either dresses or chino/smart denim style trousers with blouses or knitwear

Drinking alcohol is not a requirement in the public sector. Many firms (esp. US owned ones) tend to be booze free.

I did the same sort of move a few years back and grew to love Hobbs, LK Bennett, Mint Velvet and others. Pinafore dresses with smart shirts underneath were great for stress free dressing in winter.
I agree Hobbs tops are expensive for what they are. I used to buy women's shirts from Hawes and Curtis. They had some fabulous patterns, often in lovely silky fabric, for much much less than blouses cost in more traditional women’s shops eg 3 or 4 for £100.
I’ve just finished work and have been selling my old work wardrobe on Vinted. Some of the dresses are 9 years old but still in great condition.

It’s sounds so exciting! Enjoy it, even when you’re exhausted and travelling too much. I’ve had to attend such things on my own and it really increased my confidence in talking tp people. Awkward at first but you will get used to it the more you do it.

Thank you all for being as excited as I am about this.
And it’s really not a dinosaur company and I absolutely refuse to be brought down about this with the “old s hook” comments.
I don’t care!
In over 30 years in public service having been given nothing more glamorous than a pen once, I am embracing all of the perks and embracing the changes!

I am just one of probably thousands jumping the NHS ship.