As Oscar Wilde said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. January is the time of year for making a new start and that often means looking for a new job and going for interviews.

Research has shown that 90% of people will decide what they think and feel about you within the first 10-40 seconds of meeting you.  This is based on:

• What they see – 55%,
• What they hear – 38%
• What you say – 7%

The main thing to remember is that you need to feel comfortable in your choice, otherwise you will worry about it and feel self-conscious. Here are our top tips to help you on your way:

MEN

Go for a plain or pin-striped, 2 or 3-buttoned single breasted suit in Navy or Charcoal for your first purchase. Don’t wear a black suit – these are for funerals or evening wear.

Take the time to try both 2-button and 3-button options to find the best fit for your body shape. The etiquette of wearing a suit is to fasten the top button of a 2-button jacket and either the top two or middle button of a 3-buttoned jacket.

Ideally, you should keep your interview suit just for interviews as if you wear it every day, it won’t stay looking good.

Your trousers should be hemmed to the correct length – this can be done free of charge in one of our stores or when ordering online. See our Perfect Fit article for help on getting the right length.

Wear a white, soft white, light to medium blue or subtly patterned shirt with a collar that fits well. As most of the focus will be around your face, you also need to make sure that you invest the time in ensuring the correct collar style for you. Again, a store assistant can help you find the right collar shape and size or get more advice from our “The Perfect Fit” section.

Choose a tie that reflects your individuality, but make sure it isn’t too loud as it should not be the first thing the interviewer notices. Avoid anything comical as you want to be taken seriously.

If you wear cufflinks, keep them plain and avoid novelty versions.

Wear clean black, lace up shoes. Your socks should match your suit trousers but only if you can find exactly the same shade of navy/grey, otherwise it’s better to opt for black socks to match your shoes.

Always put a belt in suit trouser belt loops, otherwise it will look like you forgot to put one on.

Be clean shaven and remove any facial piercings, or cover tattoos.

Don’t overdo the aftershave.

Follow these simple steps and you will look the part - the only thing left for you to wear is a smile. Good luck!