How to Transition Your Look from Admin Student to Working Professional

With so many potential careers to pursue out there, it can be a difficult decision to narrow down your options and focus on one area in particular. Typically, it's best to choose a path that speaks to your strengths, interests, and of course market trends when it comes to job availability, but even then, landing that dream job will be competitive and take effort on your part.

For those who have chosen the path of a business degree, it's likely that you were looking for something that would offer flexibility come graduation and allow you to choose from careers in a few different areas. It's a smart approach for the future and one that can help boost your odds of success. What you may not have considered, however, is that there is more to landing a job than just getting your education.

Here we'll take a look at how you can start to transition your personal style and look from that of a business administration degree student to that of a working professional who feels confident in the field.

When you first start to pursue your business degree, you may not yet know which career path will ultimately be the right one for you. For example, with an online business degree - such as the business administration Bachelors's degree, you can often choose a concentration that allows you to narrow down your options. The most common concentrations are human resource management, accounting, and management.

As for what the careers a business degree can prep you for, they include:

Each of these tends to have a very professional attire dress code. This will help to shape your purchasing and style choices.

Another tip is to start that transition well before you actually graduate. Here's the thing - once you start to dress the part, you start to feel the part. Your confidence will start to build, your air of professionalism builds, and you just start to naturally slip into that role. This can make a huge impact once it's time to start applying to jobs and attending interviews.

And what exactly makes your wardrobe feel more professional? Well, there are a number of pieces you can add to your closet, most of which are considered basics, which means you can build upon them. The key items to look for should include:

While this may not sound like a lot of clothing, because each one acts as a basic, you will be able to mix and match and create a number of different looks.

Let's take the simple black dress that you have picked up. Throw the cardigan over it and you have an office-appropriate and stylish outfit. Pair a blazer with that same dress and suddenly you are in "power-suit" territory and look the part if you happen to be attending a meeting or giving a large presentation.

Of course, your accessories will also play a big part in just how successfully you are able to transition from student to working professional. Accessories help to bring an outfit together, make you appear stylish and modern, and again give you that extra boost of confidence that can be so important in the workplace.

Some of the key accessories you can start to build upon in your wardrobe should include:

Once you've got the basics under control, then you can start to add the fun pops that speak to that season's trends. For example, maybe a brightly colored scarf, stacked bracelets, shoes in a fun pop of color, and even a lively looking purse to jazz up your outfit.

Each of these pieces will help to make your outfits appear more customized and unique as you mix and match.

By using each of these tips, you'll be able to seamlessly transition from a student wardrobe to that of a professional, giving you the boost of confidence you need to get out there and land that dream job.