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140                                          Nail the Job Interview!

           business look. The most powerful attire for a male to wear to an interview
           is a suit. Let’s look at power suits in terms of color, fabric, and style. The
           suit colors that convey the greatest power are navy blue or medium to
           dark gray. Usually the darker the shade, the greater amount of authority
           it conveys to the wearer. However, you would do well to avoid black,
           which in our society is a color for funeral or formal attire; also, it conveys
           so much authority as to be threatening to an interviewer. If you want your
           attire to convey a bit less authority, then navy, gray, camel, or beige are
           other  acceptable colors for  a business  suit.  Still less  power  could be
           conveyed by choosing to wear a sport coat and slacks rather than a suit.
           Again, you have a range from which to choose and still be within the
           bounds of  acceptable business attire. A navy sport jacket with medium
           gray slacks is a strong but less authoritative look than the matched jacket
           and slacks. You must male your choice based on your goals and what you
           believe to be appropriate to the situation and the job for which you are
           interviewing. There  may  be  times when  you  purposefully select  this
           slightly less professional, yet acceptable, choice and choose not to wear a
           suit. Remember, though, the interviewer expects you will be on your best
           behavior, and this applies to your appearance as well as how you conduct
           yourself. Most applicants choose to dress as if they were after a job several
           levels above the one for which they are actually interviewing.
              Your suit should be made of a natural fiber. A good blend of a natural
           fiber with some synthetic is acceptable as long as it has the look of  the
           natural fiber. The very best suit fabrics are wool, wool blends, or fabrics
           that look like them. Even for the warmer summer months, men can find
           summer weight wool suits that are comfortable and look good. They are
           your best buy.
              The style of your suit should be classic  - well-tailored and well-styled.
           Avoid suits that appear trendy unless you are applying for a job in a field
           where being on the forefront of fashion is valued. A conservative suit that
           has a timeless classic styling will serve you best not only for the interview,
           but it will give you several years of wear once you land the job. Select a
           shirt color that is lighter than the color of your suit. White long-sleeved
           shirts still are most acceptable with a business suit, although many pin
           stripes or solid colors are seen in the hallways of  companies today.
              A silk tie will look better than other fabrics. Male sure the width is
           current and select a pattern that goes with the rest of your outfit, loolts
           good on you, and is fairly conservative. Dark, classic shoes and dark soclts
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