News & Press

November 09, 2003

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D.J. Burrough
Special for the Republic

Suit yourself, get job

If it's true that clothes make the man, then it's never more poignant than when you're looking for a job and sitting across from an interviewer. Perhaps nothing establishes your first impression with interviewers more than the clothes you're wearing. Put on a smart blue suit and they'll listen to your credentials. Wear cut-off jeans and a Mr. Bubbles T-shirt and it won't matter if you're a Harvard graduate.

"The Number 1 reason people don't get hired is first impression, and that's your appearance," said Linda Baugh, president of American Career Executives. "It might not be fair, but that's the way it is." When you first meet someone, they take about eight seconds to size you up, and nothing influences that more than how you are attired, she said. Don't worry about being too formal. If it's a casual atmosphere, take off your coat or roll up your shirtsleeves.

Women should wear a suit or jacketed dress, Baugh said. As with the men, stay with conservative colors like dark-blue or gray. "You can still be attractive and not be boring, but if the person spends more time admiring your outfit than listening to you, that's not good," Baugh said.

Studies have indicated that when a woman meets a man, one of the biggest things that she uses to make a conclusion about him is the quality of his shoes, Baugh said. "You can be all dressed up, but if the shoes are scuffed or the heel is worn way down, it's a mixed message," she said.

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