Simple Truths about Wardrobe and Grooming for Your Job Interview

You should be mindful of your breath when preparing for job interviews. Bad breath can be a real show stopper. If you have the opportunity, you should brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash just prior to leaving for the interview to give yourself the freshest breath possible. Of course, that's not always practical unless the interview is first thing in the morning. Be sure to have breath mints or a breath-freshening gum or spray available, and use them as close to the time of the interview as possible. However, when you walk into the interview you shouldn't have anything in your mouth, so make sure you finish your mints or discard your gum before the interviewer greets you.

Along these lines, be mindful of any foods or beverages you consume prior to the interview, and what kind of aroma they leave on your breath or on your clothing. It's best to avoid onions, garlic, or other heavy spices; even coffee or milk will affect your breath, so be ready with the breath mints or gum. Tobacco also will leave a smell on your breath and your clothing that can be difficult to mask. If you're a smoker, you may feel as though you need that last cigarette before you go into the interview, but if you can avoid smoking right before the interview, especially in a confined space (such as your car), it will be to your advantage.

You should also be careful with perfume, cologne, lotion, or aftershave. What may seem like a perfectly delightful aroma to you may be offensive to others or, worse yet, might elicit an allergic reaction in some. Even if neither of these circumstances applies, too much fragrance can be overpowering and therefore distracting and objectionable. For women, a tried and true trick is to spray a fragrance into the air and walk through it to capture a subtle scent without it being overpowering. For men, a drop or two (no more) on the end of a finger and then rubbed onto the skin will typically be sufficient.