Clothes help show if you "fit" the firm

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In a job interview, clothes can definitely "make the man." A good interviewer is alert and will catch any clue that will help determine whether you will fit the job's qualifications and the company's environment. Your personal appearance is one of the concrete things that can and will be appraised to determine a likely corporate "fit." The signals you send with your appearance had better be congruent with your verbal proclamation of competence, dependability, trustworthiness and confidence.

The power of the polished look is almost magical. When a candidate looks perfect for a job, the tendency is to assume he is perfect. Fair? No. But it's a fact of life that others' perceptions of you are formed, to a large degree, by subconscious, nebulous things like facial expressions, mannerisms and your overall appearance.

You will need to learn the rules to win at this game, the objective of which is to move across the corporate game board, being careful not to trigger any biases that will disqualify you. The trick is to meet the appearance standard appropriate for the job and the company.

Analyze the company.
Your first move is to analyze the company and the job for which you are applying. For example, if the job involves dealing with people, your appearance must be conventional and meticulous. Companies want you to inspire confidence and professionalism as a company representative.

In the creative professions, or in smaller, informal firms where the fashion codes are less rigid, it may be counterproductive to show up looking like a junior banker. However, for any interview, I'd still suggest a businesslike, conservative approach.

Therefore, your next move is to put together a classic, "safe" look that works in almost any business environment. National surveys of top executives and interviewers reveal that conservatively tailored, dark colored suit creates the look of competence.

Loafers are out.
Researchers have found that suits in brown or plaid should be avoided when interviewing with ultra-conservative firms. Suits in dark blue or dark gray create the best impression. The preferred shirt is either crisp white or light blue, and the tie should be well matched to the suit and very conservative.

Men over 40 set the trend at the top of the organization, so emulate their style. Suits with a European cut or sporty lines may make you appear either too flamboyant or nonchalant. Look crisp and pressed. It creates an image of efficiency.

The best choice of shoes is still the dark, leather, lace-up style with low heals. Loafers or shoes made of suede are too casual.

Avoid long hair, a beard, turtlenecks, black trench coats, hats, the clasps, flashy belt buckles, pocket handkerchiefs, argyle socks, cluttered pockets and jewelry other than a wedding ring and a watch. Be sure to wear over-the-calf dark socks and a long-sleeved shirt, even in hot weather. (I never said this would be fun.) Never wear anything brand new to an interview. The idea is to feel at ease in your clothes so you can project confidence.

Don't wear anything that will distract the interviewer or elicit a negative response, including ethnic clothes or hair styles. Make your fashion statements in your own time. A sharp, businesslike appearance is as important in corporate interviewing as the right credentials. It shows that you know the rules of the game.

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Savvy Negotiation Strategies to Get Paid What You’re Worth on a New Job (Detailed, special report)
Easy, Step-by-step Guide to Using the Internet to Land a Great Job (Detailed, special report)
How to Get Your Dream Job (VHS video)

The Resume that Gets Results and the Interview that Gets the Job (37 page, detailed instructions)