Appearance counts at the job interview

Sure you have the credentials to nab that new job, but do you have the right look to knock ’em dead at the interview?

Too often when looking for a job, we concentrate on getting the resume just right - worrying how we look on paper - when we should be just as concerned with how we look in person.

Here are some tips on how to make that first impression be a lasting one for your next job interview:

• Investigate the dress code. The standard dress code for a job interview used to be a conservative business suit. But today's dress codes have run amok. Many companies have scaled back their standards of dress to business casual or even as casual as wearing jeans and sneakers. You can call the receptionist at the prospective employer's office for tips on what employees there wear.

• Be clean and pressed. No matter what the dress code is, be sure that your clothes are clean and pressed and free of any rips, stains, or pet hair. Make sure your shoes are polished. Scuff marks on your shoes can reveal a lot about a person, such as a lack of forethought and attention to detail.

• Wear your smile, which can be the gateway to your personality.

• Keep your business accessories to a minimum. Don't go charging into an interview armed with a briefcase, pocketbook, portfolio, etc. Women should carry a nice briefcase or portfolio only and leave the overstuffed handbag at home. Men should also carry a briefcase or nice leather- or vinyl-bound portfolio to carry resume, references, or other pertinent documents. And don't forget to turn off your mobile phones and pagers before you go to your interview.

• Consider your personal appearance. The cliche that ‘‘it's the clothes that make the man’’ is a falsehood. Who's going to remember your clothes if they can't take their eyes off your bad dye job or chipped nail polish? Be sure your whole appearance is polished, not just your shoes. Also go easy on the perfume, cologne, and makeup.