Choosing a career path, or evaluating a new job opportunity, can seem like a daunting decision. There are all the logical/rational pieces like the financials and benefits, not to mention the work itself. You’ll find yourself asking lots of questions: What’s the earning potential? Are there opportunities for advancement. Will the work challenge you? Will it inspire you to be your best?
And don’t overlook the more “emotional” factors like culture and environment — these are things that can have a significant impact on your overall job satisfaction and happiness. Will you get along with co-workers? How about fitting in socially? You’ll want to consider the workplace too, including both the environment where you’ll work as well as the dress code.
Obviously getting to wear your favorite Levi’s® jeans to work is just one among myriad decision factors. But still, it’s a definite perk! Denim has long been a favorite workplace uniform that cuts across industries and job titles — from coal miners to cowboys to CEOs.
- IT. With much of the labor being done behind the scenes (and increasingly, at home), IT professionals can usually feel free to wear whatever they want. From developer/programmer positions to technical support staff, jeans and a T-shirt have pretty much become the norm in this industry.
- Farmer. Whether cultivating crops in an urban greenhouse or working the fields in a rural area, farmers work hard to grow our food. They need pants that will work just as hard, while also providing much-needed protection — from the elements and machinery alike.
- College Professor. A Harvard Business School research paper found that nonconforming behavior such as dressing differently shows higher status and competence. Among the test subjects were college professors. At academic conferences, the big-shot professors would be the ones dressed very casually,” Silvia Bellezza, the lead author on the paper, told National Journal.
- Retail Clerk. Being on your feet for hours at a time isn’t easy, so there’s a practical reason for wearing jeans on the job. Most casual retailers (Levi’s® stores included) allow, and even encourage, jeans on the job.
- Editor/Writer. The editorial sides of publishing houses have long embraced the casual workplace. A casual dress code that allows for individuality sets the tone for a loose, collaborative atmosphere — one that kindles creative sparks.
- Truck Driver. You never know where the road is going to take you next, but wherever you go, you’ll need comfortable clothing that can withstand the long days and nights on the road.
- Graphic Designer. Telecommuting will soon be the norm for many businesses, and no occupation fits that style of work better than a graphic designer. From freelancing for a big firm to scoring smaller gigs, these corporate artists can wear what they please.
- Any Position at a Tech Startup. Many new companies are following the casual dress code philosophies of star executives like Tony Hsieh and Mark Zuckerberg. The Facebook CEO has a very smart rationale for his hoodie, t-shirt and jeans uniform: he wants to make as few decisions as possible that don’t relate to improving his business. The late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs offered a similar explanation for his uniform of black turtlenecks and Levi’s® 501® jeans. We can’t argue with that.
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