They say, “Dressed to kill!” That’s true, and especially in a job interview setting, what you wear, whether it’s your clothes, shoes or even your make-up can make or break you. What kind of impression do you want to leave behind?

Color is an important element. Different colors convey different feelings and message. For example, darker colors are always perceived as formal and forceful; lighter ones are seen as friendly and casual. The contrasting colors of say, between your suit/jacket and shirt/blouse/skirt again convey different messages altogether. Generally, if both pieces are sharply contrasted, say a black suit on a white shirt, it naturally conveys a strong tone. On the contrary, if the contrasting colors are low, say a white blouse matched with a beige color skirt, they are deemed to be less intimidating and give a more approachable ring to it.

So, what color shall I choose? Well, it all depends on the job and the company or industry. The more conservative jobs and industries such as accounting in an audit firm, you won’t go wrong with navy blue or charcoal gray. Navy blue has always been perceived as honest and diligent and gray means reliable and stable.

However, if you are attending an interview in an entertainment or advertising firm, so-called the creative industry, then you are expected to show some flair in your personality. Wearing gray may be perceived as boring and dull. But even then, be careful of colors that are too bright such as neon orange and apple green. You would not want to be remembered as the candidate that looks like an orange or apple at the end of the day. Try lighter tones but you can be creative by adding an interesting color to your accessories - tie, necklace, belt and etc.

For women, make-up is equally important. Do not overdo it like putting too much eye-shadow that gives a smoky effect – it surely looks good on you when you are out for a date but in an interview setting, that may not be such a good idea.

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