I get so tired of having to remind, even the most professional candidates, about the little things in their dress and mannerisms that will kill an interview before you get started… here are most of them:

Perfume, cologne, any kind of smell… including body odor, bad breath (…you may not know you have it), if you smoke, dip or chew…you stink (so get one suit for interviews and don’t smoke while wearing it…also give up smoking in your car while you are finding a job…the stench gets on your clothes) {yes! we have had dozens of candidates over the past few years who were not hired because they smoked…btw, that is perfectly legal}, dandruff, dirty hair, hair in the face, facial hair, especially beards (i don’t care if your wife or girl friend thinks it looks good on you, or that you have had it for umpteen years…grow it back after you get hired), five o’clock shadow facial stubble (that you think makes you look like Brad Pitt..btw, it makes you look stupid), toupees, beehive hairdo, butt cracks, baggy pants, cleavage, gold chains (for men){especially with that little gold nugget on it}, overwhelming jewelry (for women..long, dangling or big ringed earrings, gaudy, over done necklaces ), ridiculous hairstyles, dark glasses, gold or silver or diamond studs in ridiculous places, i.e. noses, lips, eyebrows, tongues etc., sunglasses, dark glasses that supposedly lighten up inside (but don’t), open collar shirts (for men) unbuttoned more than one time, loud colored shirts or blouses, sports coats, suits or dresses that are way too small, i.e. they were purchased 20 pounds ago, big watches, more than one conservative ring on the fingers, ($25,000 diamond rings on your finger communicate “I don’t have to work,”) black, dark red, or ridiculously colored finger nail polish… for both men and women… gun, golf, bird, dog, fish, animal or bright colored ties,  untied tie, decals on the fingernails, thumb rings, tattoos, stomach protruding over the belt, no bra or revealing bra, sundresses, strapless dresses, ridiculously big belt buckles, tight pants or slacks, shorts, short skirts above the knee, tight skirts, no hose (for women), no socks for men, any kind or informal footwear, sandals, platform heels, boots..both men and women …even if it is cold or snowing…any color of business footwear other than black or dark brown, scuffed shoes, obviously old shoes, stockings with ridiculous patterns, socks with ridiculous patterns, short pants, anything other than a suit, casual cloths ..(some of us remember jumpsuits), lapel pins that might offend, political buttons.

Please don’t argue with me about this stuff…argue with yourself..if you don’t want to shave your beard for interviews, don’t..if you argue that “It is a part of me..and people shouldn’t care about that stuff”…fine…i’m trying to get you a damn job.