Or for example in the UK, cufflinks are accepted if you’re the stylish type, just like a noticeable ring, a personal pen or an expensive watch. Same goes for France. You are allowed to be stylish in those countries, it can even boost your popularity.

But on the other hand, countries like Germany or the Netherlands are a world of difference. They’ll wonder what you’re up to if you wear any kind of accessory other than a wedding ring.

If your career is to be international, please take note of the various cultural differences, they can be huge.

If this is true (and it may not be for professionally trained interviewers), then being well dressed could make a big difference to your chances of getting a job offer; particularly (as Samuel suggests) the competition often let themselves down!

I recently (i.e. in the last month) sat in during several interviews for new trainees (students, due to start with the firm in 2 years time). I was stunned by the frankly dreadful state of 75% of the applicants. The firm tries hard to not focus on ’stuffy’ images etc, but there’s a line to be drawn. Most of these applicants were over 20 years old but looked like they’d never worn a suit in their lives. Some horrendous choices of shirts & ties, not-even-close attempts to match shoes to the trousers and a terrible tendency to style their hair like a spare member of Busted. Do you get Busted in the USA? No? Good, you have no idea the hell which you have been spared. Suffice to say it’s a LOT of product, entirely inappropriate for an office environment.

I actually hadn’t thought a lot about appearance until that day, and now as a direct result I spend an extra 10 minutes each morning making sure my own attire is appropriate. This article largely states what should be obvious, but judging by that recent slew of interviewees it can’t hurt to go over the basics again! In this economic climate the fine details can end up having a more disproportionate effect than the applicant might think…

I would avoid a black suit for interview situations. In America, the black suit is kind of a generational thing. Most men over about 35 (who you will probably be interviewing with) would not wear a black suit, unless it was a tux. I think European men even avoid black shoes most of the time and opt for brown with either grey or blue suits.

I also don’t view thin lapels as necessarily trendy. I think they are a classic kind of 1960s look that most men can pull off as long as they wear the right tie. A good rule of thumb is that the width of your lapels should be the same as the width of your tie. You may be right that thin lapels look odd on very large men, but I always thought they looked quite smart in the early Bond films and Connery is a pretty big guy.

For the guy from Houston: I think wearing boots with a suit is a gamble and probably not something I would do on an interview. I have seen men wear boots with a suit in places like Houston, OKC, and Fort Worth, but you would need a pretty good sense of who it is that is interviewing you and the customs of your particular industry. Boots with a suit sends out the message that you are a man of the people, which is probably why you see so many Texas trial lawyers wearing them. But they could also be taken as unprofessional.

I would also say no on the aggie ring, unless you know the interviewer is an aggie. I think they are tacky, but as a UT fan I may have a bit of a bias.

IA – I take it your in Houston? I know a few dozen Aggies myself, and understand the need to wear the class ring. But what happens when your sitting across from UT (or as you all call us, TU) grad I am all for pride, but a interviewer with a chip on his shoulder may sabotage your chances……I know, petty, but it’s something I would avoid (except in Houston!) As for footwear, the article is a general guide. Boots in Texas are natural….if you move up to Boston, you might want to reconsider that choice.

Kevin – I agree, I did err on the side of conservative. But as that it’s only a safe guide, a man well versed in men’s style is free to veer from the path as he sees fit. All of your points are excellent.

Nesagwa – Continue to set the standard!

Jonathan – I’m a tieless man myself, so I wouldn’t have held it against you!

Len & Jay – I’m sorry, but I have to disagree with you both. Black is a great color for a man – it’s the most formal color, but you can make it less formal by dressing down the clothing accessories around it. From Daniel Craig to Fred Astaire to Anthony Biddle to Tom Ford (I could go on and on here)…..black can make a man look great. It’s often the accessories, cheap fabric, and/or a bad fit that mess things up.

Dick – Great points, especially the part about doing your homework. I alluded to this in the article, but this writing is the tip of the iceberg. An interview needs to be thoroughly prepared for, as that how you want to dress for an interview with McKinsey & Co is different from if you are looking for an entry level position at department store in Midland, Texas. But there are things consistent across the board – dress neatly, wear clothes that fit & are clean, and ensure you are properly groomed.

Daniel – you bring up an important point, and one of the reasons for the article. Appearances are important, especially now in the downturn when companies are scrutinizing everything about their employees and potential hires. In boom times, when even average employees have multiple other job prospects, we tend to neglect our dress because we feel it doesn’t matter. When all of the sudden even the best are worrying about their jobs, every detail suddenly becomes important.

David – good catch, if you have a well groomed beard then wear it. I remember once reading a communication study about initial impressions that people register when meeting bearded men, but for the life of me can’t remember the findings. Anybody out there have anything to add?

Tom – A very interesting story. Did any of you all see the Will Smith Movie “Pursuit of Happyness”? I like how he handled his situation.

Kristiyan – You are right in that these tips are timeless. The title was chosen as that we wanted to remind those looking for work that they need to pay attention to the little things, because the little things aren’t really that little. In uncertain times, people tend to try to reduce risk – if they are hiring they hire those that fit certain guidelines – by adhering to a standard and accepted dress code, an interviewee eliminates that factor as a cause for rejection. Also, the article clearly states it is geared towards those applying to jobs that require business clothing. And I disagree with your final point, as that you could show up to a construction company in a suit for an interview. All of my friends that work for Fluor Construction did!

First of all, men should go to job interviews dressed well, without regards if it is recession or no.

Second, it more likely than not that during recession times a man’s budget is low and cannot include the expense of having a fitted suit with jacket and tie. Think of a young prospect or lower class man.

And at final, this article can serve as a good advice for anytime, the title is misleading, presumably for marketing reasons following the trend of current times. Much like fashion brands try to sell more cammo and khakki patterns in times of war, the same way the publisher hopes to sell a old idea in new packaging during times of recession.

However I did not see a true advise that is intended for real tip on going to interview during recession. I don’t believe that you can advise a man on how to get a job during recession, because with recession or without it, the employer is looking at the perspective employee and not at the economical time. It is only after you’ve been hired when the boss will understand if he made a good or poor employing choice.

Furthermore, the tip is irrelevant to the current economic crisis, because of job-cuts some very skilled office professionals might be forced to find a job in lower, sectors with different skills. For example a IT Project Manager might be forced to get a job as car salesman. Or a car salesman to get a job in construction. Mind you, a man has to do what a man has to do and there is no place for vanity during times of real recession. (Which hasn’t hit as of yet).

You can’t go to interview in a construction company dressed in suit. That was naive. Title’s wrong.