Whether you are a recent college graduate or looking for an opportunity to make a major career shift, you need to impress the HR department when applying for a new job. Your resume should speak volumes about you and make them feel intrigued. However, your appearance shouldn’t take a back seat, as dressing shabbily or taking cues from Mark Zuckerberg (the billionaire behind Facebook, who reportedly wears the same t-shirt to office every day) could ruin the positive impression you’ve worked hard to create. Remember, you don’t have the liberty to wear sweatpants and still be hired.

So, what do you need to do? Well, you need to create a killer first impression when meeting your new hiring manager. You can only do this if you have confidence in your abilities as well as your appearance. Here is what you have to do.

Dress to impress

On your interview day, you don’t need to wear anything overly fancy. Even if you are in talks about becoming the CEO of a company, you don’t have to wear dress shoes and a dress jacket. Tone it down but keep it neat, fresh, and professional. Ideally, avoid bright colours and wear a well-knotted tie if applicable. For jewelry enthusiasts, the added sparkle of a simple silver bracelet or necklace purchased from Jacobs the Jewellers (https://jacobsthejewellers.com/) or similar sources can also help bring the entire outfit together. Lastly, be mindful of your footwear. As the saying goes, you can always tell a person by their shoes – so invest in a quality brand pair as this will show you have made a great effort, though don’t wear anything too uncomfortable as you’ll be wearing them for a few hours and you need to be able to concentrate on the matter at hand.

Keep your hair tidy

Again, fancy hairstyles are a strict no-go at an interview. Instead, you should be focusing on neater, more professional hairstyles. Talk to your barber or hairdresser and find the Best Haircut which would suit your face and don’t forget to shampoo your hair and use hair gel, mousse or spray to hold it in place. This will keep you looking smart and professional throughout the day.

Body language

Even if you are wearing an expensive outfit, your poor body language could have a negative impact on the impression you give. You could appear as though you are hiding in a shell by slouching your back. Even worse, your ability to maintain eye contact could be affected due to your poor posture. All this will culminate into a bad impression and you may not be hired.

Drive your own car

When you are wearing good clothes and want to look crisp for your interview, taking the subway isn’t a good idea. It will make you sweat profusely, you could be late for the interview, your clothes could become dirty and god forbid if an excited child spills their milkshake on you. To avoid all these issues, ditch public transport and drive your own car. Though it’s always best to check for traffic alerts on the morning of your interview and give yourself ample time to take into account any potential traffic on your way in. It’s also worth finding out if there is parking available at your (potentially) new work place as this will give you an idea of how much extra time you will need to account for.

Worried about how you will be able to pay for everything, including the car? Simply use Mr Lender. They can provide you with a small, short term loan which could pay for everything you need, right from your car to your clothes and shoes. If you are a UK resident with a valid debit card, a working mobile phone and a net monthly income of at least 600 GBP, you can apply. The loan amount ranges from 200 GBP to 1,000 GBP over 3 to 6 months, giving you payment flexibility and financial help in times of need.