Do you love partying? If yes, then you must be very excited about the party that your company is throwing for all its employees. Of course, you will be surrounded by your colleagues instead of your friends. But that shouldn’t stop you from letting your hair down.
However, you have your reputation and job at stake here. You can’t dress or behave as you like. No matter what you choose to wear or do, a little professional demeanor will take you a long way.
Here are some tips that will come in handy.
What to Wear
The first thing you should do is find out the dress code for the party. This will help you decide what to wear. You also won’t have to double over in anxiety wondering if the outfit you have chosen is appropriate for the occasion or not. If you are unable to find out the dress code, remember to always choose something conservative instead of revealing.
Don’t be too casual and turn up in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. After all, you’ll be partying with your seniors and you may even find yourself face to face with the CEO. People in the higher management usually notice these things so don’t take the office party lightly. There are several beautiful cocktail dresses for women out there and it will do you a lot of good to buy one that flatters your body type.
Most women see such parties as an opportunity to dress up their best to impress. While this is not bad at all, the problem lies in the choice of clothes. Outfits that are too gaudy or overtly sexy will be a distraction to others.
Moreover, women who dress this way will come across as trying too hard to get noticed. You certainly don’t want to be talked about for the wrong reasons, do you?
Don’t show too much skin. If you are in doubt, consider if you would wear the outfit to office. If you wouldn’t, don’t wear it to the party. Avoid dresses that are too tight.
Make-Up
As with your clothes, don’t go overboard with make-up either. Avoid using too much of glitter. Just dust some on to highlight your collarbone and décolletage. Accentuate either your eyes or the lips.
Make sure you don’t get ready for the party in the morning before heading to work. Your make-up will wear off as the day progresses and you’ll end up looking tired at the party. Fixing your look after work will ensure you are looking your best and will also get you fresh compliments from colleagues in the evening. It will also kill the surprise element if you show up for work with your party make-up on.
You might have to rush to the party after work. If this is the case, don’t make the mistake of removing your already existing make-up and doing it all over again. Doing so will waste time and if you already have a great base, you shouldn’t remove it. You might even end up with a bad one if you have to rush through with your make-up routine.
Just add more color to your eyelids. If you avoid the smoky-eye look in the office, this is your chance to show off. A fresh coat each of mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick or lip gloss will have you ready for the party. If your skin tends to get shiny, use blotting tissues along the bridge of your nose, on the forehead and on the chin. Finish it off with translucent shimmery powder.
How to Behave
Remember to not let your hair down too much! Though it’s a party, it is an office gathering. You cannot drink and act crazy like you do while partying with your friends. If you are planning to hog on whatever food is served at the party, drop the plan. It is advisable to eat something and then get to the venue so that you feel full and eat less.
You will also have to watch how you act and talk. If you maintain sobriety, you will be able to conduct yourself well. Flirting with colleagues is a strict no-no. So is bad-mouthing others. If you have an affair with a colleague that is meant to be kept under wraps, keep your distance from him.
If you love partying a lot, chances are you love dancing too. Don’t attempt to show your burlesque or risqué moves at the office party. Again, keeping the alcohol consumption in check will keep you from dancing like there is no tomorrow.
Taking along a friend or a date to the office party is fine. Just make sure it isn’t your first date though! Always see to it that your friend is well aware of how they should be behaving at the party. Ask them to dress appropriately too. Keep in mind that taking a friend along means someone to talk to and enjoy the party with when there’s nobody around. Don’t stay away from your colleagues.
Greet employees from other departments too and use your networking skills. Engaging in smart small talk will help create a rapport. Avoid topics such as politics and religion; discussions on these can easily turn into arguments.
Don’t be either too late or too early to the party. Maybe there’s going to be an after-party too. Be polite enough to show up but don’t be the last one to leave.
Conclusion
Office parties can be fun and rewarding in the long run if you play your part to perfection. Just because you have to be cautious regarding a couple of matters doesn’t mean you look for excuses to not attend the party. Don’t pass up this opportunity to mingle with your colleagues and seniors. Act smart and use this chance to your advantage.