contributed by Amy Johnson [field reporter / stylist / comedienne] 

Hey, I said PRIMPING, not pimping. Get your mind out of the gutter. This is a professional website here. Geez, that’s the same reaction I get every time I mention going to a Tapas bar – as in small plates of Spanish foods. Not topless bars featuring Tiffani and Lexus. Maybe I need to work on my diction. Anyway, back to the point, which is that Image Counts. It’s time for you to go out into that big scary world armed with your degree and portfolio and find yourself a J-O-B. And, like it or not, a big part of that interview is the sartorial impression you make when you first walk through the door.

That’s right – what you wear to the interview plays a large part in how you are perceived throughout the rest of said interview. Even if you graduated first in your class and have a kick-ass book, if you dress like you’re still dragging your sleepy self to class in last night’s sweats, your potential future employer is going to have serious misgivings about giving you your big break. Even if you have exactly the talent they desperately need.

Think about it – they’re looking for someone not only to produce amazing work for them, but also to occasionally crawl out of Cubicle World and come face to face with (gasp!) the Client. And when that happens, the firm wants the Client to be as impressed by you as they are by your work. Both The Firm’s and the Client’s impression of you, before you open your book, needs to be one of professionalism, credibility, and downright good grooming.

So the next time you have a job interview or a big presentation, here are some tips for maximizing your credibility factor long enough to get them to pay attention to your talent.

1. Dress the Part.

If you look like you fit in, you’ll feel like you fit in, and you’ll be more comfortable as a result. (Ever wear something super casual to a dressy party and feel like everyone was staring at you” Awkward, eh” The same applies here.) The wrong interview outfit can make a huge difference in your chances at getting hired.

Are you interviewing at a super-hip firm in the grooviest part of town” Or at a very conservative agency in the high-rent district” Scope it out ahead of time! Check out their website – you’re bound to get clues from they style of the writing and types of projects they’ve done. And then, play stalker! That’s right, those skills you honed while following your ex who was cheating on you (at a discreet distance so as not to get caught) are a valuable commodity. Stake out the firm at least a week before your interview and watch the comings and goings – are the staff sporting cutting-edge threads” Are they in suits and conservative shoes” Model your interview attire on what you see.

But by all means stay professional! Even if the staff is oozing casual-hipness, remember that you do not yet have the job – you are there for a Job Interview. In this case, though, maybe guys can wear a more creatively patterned shirt under a jacket; or ladies can bring out the more colorful shoes or bag/portfolio case. But if the shop you’re interviewing with is ultra-conservative, stay away from the funky! Show up in a bright orange jacket and you may blind the interviewer with too much color for his taste. He may think you’re too bold and daring for this highly-respected, conservative firm.

Remember, if you look like you belong, they’ll subconsciously think that you already do.

2. Don’t Distract.

Yeah, we know that’s your lucky charm bracelet, but every time you even twitch your hand, it jangles so loudly we can’t hear a word you’re saying. So if you must bring it with you, leave it safely in your purse where it will stay quiet. And you guys with that pocketful of change – leave it in your car! Nothing is more annoying (besides the charm bracelet) than a guy who fidgets nervously with a pocket full of change while talking. Hey, why is your hand in your pocket anyway”

3. Don’t be “Comfortable”.

So those slip-on loafers are a tad dressier than your tennies, but they’re just as comfortable. They should be; you’ve been shuffling around campus in them for years and have gotten them worn in just so. That does NOT mean you can wear them to your interview! No, you don’t have to wear pointy-toed heels or ugly old-man wingtips. But you do need to buy or borrow a pair of shoes that are appropriate to wear with an interview ensemble.

Make sure you can walk in them (if you’ve never worn heels before, interview day is not the day to try). And make sure they’re shined and in good repair. Those scuffs ARE noticeable and that gouge in the back of your heel looks like you were attacked by crazed kittens in the teething stage. NOT a professional look when trying to get hired or convince clients to spend big money on your ideas.

4. If the Suit Fits…

By all means wear clothes that fit! Don’t squeeze yourself into that suit you bought two years ago before you discovered any-coin beer night. And don’t borrow from your roommate who is “just a little bigger” than you. You’ll end up looking like a little kid playing dress-up.

Ladies, if the blouse gaps across your chest, choose something else. Guys, if you have to wear a necktie to disguise the fact that you can’t button your top shirt-button, get another shirt. If it’s a fab suit, but the sleeves are just a tad too long, have the local dry-cleaner take them up a bit. A few dollars are well spent to make you look like a million.

5. Get Ready for Your Close-up

All right, clothes aside, it’s time to focus on you from the neck up. When was your last haircut” If it wasn’t in the last week, you could probably use a trim. Make sure your bangs aren’t in your eyes and your sideburns aren’t all scruffy.

Ladies – it’s time to talk make-up. Less is more. We want to see a polished, clean look. No smoky eyes for day, please. And while your friends may appreciate your Goth lips and nails, we don’t. Lighten up! If you need some help, go to your local department store and have one of the nice ladies at the makeup counter show you what to do with that thing called “concealer”.

Guys – facial hair is generally looked down on in a first-impression situation. But if you absolutely refuse to give up your goatee, make darn sure it’s trimmed and neat.

6. Finishing Touches

Okay, so you’re 15 minutes early for your interview. Good job. Stop in the restroom and make those last minute adjustments: straighten your clothes, button your jacket, smooth your hair (it was windy in that convertible!).

Check your teeth for spinach and lipstick (I’m the Queen of that!). Wash anything sticky off your hands. And pop a mint in your mouth. Just be sure you’re done with it before you go into the office. No talking with anything in your mouth besides your tongue!

Now go get ‘em tiger! Make us proud and let us know where you landed that big job!