Mastering the Remote-Work ‘Uniform’ in Your Civilian Job Transition

Many years ago, I worked with a corporate executive who kept a full suit, dress shirt and coordinating tie hanging on the back of his office door. He wasn’t just being fancy; he was prepared. He kept that backup on hand in case he spilled coffee or food on himself right before an important meeting.

Take a page from his playbook: Even in a remote setting, keeping spare clothes nearby is a smart move. Whether it’s a fresh blouse or a crisp button-down, having a “backup uniform” within arm’s reach, even as you work from home, ensures that a minor spill doesn’t become a professional disaster.

In the military, the idea of a dress code and the importance of appearances are second nature. Your uniform symbolizes the duty and honor you uphold, and the importance of appearance was drilled in from Day 1. While the rules are less clear when working from home in the private sector, the stakes for your professional brand remain just as high.

When leaving the military — and particularly if you work in a remote, work-from-home position — the rules around dress code are less clear. This makes it hard for some veterans, transitioning out of the formality and clear guidelines of the military, to know how to dress accordingly.

Related: Military Discounts on Clothing

5 Things to Figure Out

In deciding how to dress, consider:

1. What’s the Industry?

Some industries are typically less formal and more casual, such as technology, creative arts, publishing and automotive. Others are typically more polished and professional, such as finance or law.

2. What’s the Work?

If you’re meeting virtually with workers on a construction site, you can be more relaxed than if you’re speaking with potential clients in the health care space, where the expectation is a more refined appearance.

3. Who Will Be in the Meeting?

If you’re meeting with your team or with vendors, perhaps you can be less formal. Meeting with senior stakeholders or clients? You should dress up more than you normally would.

4. What’s the Nature of the Meeting?

For a daily team stand-up, you might dress as you normally would. If the meeting is a formal performance review, promotion conversation, or meeting with a senior leader, dress up to show respect for the audience and the circumstance.

5. How Do You Want to Be Perceived?

Consider the impression you want to make. Do you want to appear confident, knowledgeable and polished? Then dress the part. Even the most experienced professional can lose credibility by showing up dressed too casually or even sloppily.

Related: The Benefits of Investing in the Right Civilian Wardrobe: 6 Things to Ask

Decide What to Wear

With those questions answered, choose what you’ll wear:

1. Manage the Optics

How you’re perceived is influenced by what others see. If you have ketchup on your shirt, you’re wearing a band T-shirt, or you haven’t shaved today, the impression could be unfavorable. Even if you aren’t in uniform, being clean-shaven (or well groomed) and alert is the civilian version of standing at attention. Your clothes should be clean, pressed, aligned with company and industry norms, and appropriate for the audience and nature of the meeting.

2. Be Comfortable

Comfort matters, especially if you work long hours or sit for long periods of time. While it can be comfortable to wear gym shorts and slippers paired with a dress shirt and tie, remember that you might have to get up to grab a file or close a door, and your colleagues will see what you’ve got on.

3. Consider the Environment

If your home office tends to run hot, and you’re going to wear a suit jacket for an important video meeting, consider a small, quiet fan to keep your temperature regulated. If you’ll be meeting via video from a crowded coffee shop, headphones can work to reduce distractions. Background noise and environmental factors affect what you wear but shouldn’t dictate what you wear. The audience could be in a very different environment and won’t understand why you’re wearing a tank top and they’re in a heavy sweater.

While the transition from a literal uniform to a remote work wardrobe offers more options, your appearance remains a tool in your professional arsenal. Just as you maintained your gear in the military, maintaining your professional image while working from home signals to your team, your clients, and yourself that you are still mission focused. Whether you’re in a polo shirt or a blazer, dress for the respect you’ve earned and the career you’re building.