Dress for the job... or it’s not yours

A very senior journalist came to Dubai some years ago for an interview for the post of the editor of a newspaper. He fetched up on time wearing torn jeans, a scruffy T-shirt and tennis shoes. The GM of the interview board decided against even short-listing him on the grounds that if he was so sloppy in his attitude that might be exactly the way he would work.
Contrary to the general modern approach that dress codes are not important they are. You may be famous and a very high achiever but if you do not dress the part you show discourtesy and disrespect to those who have invited you. After all, you were not brought to the boardroom on the point of a gun; you volunteered to come so there must be some parameters on how you present yourself.  
In the old days there was this ‘playing fields of Eton’ dictate that if your shoes were shining and your hair was brushed the rest did not matter.
For those who have been there, done that and are immensely successful, the casualness can sometimes work. Then this sort of self-indulgence is seen as a part of the eccentric genius and catered for.
But for most of you folks, you have not arrived, you are just starting out to map your career graphs so a dress code is vital. You are not Hussain walking barefoot.
Not only does being elegant it shows effort and character but it gives you a sense of confidence when you are being addressed.
Against this backdrop let’s talk about how you should look.
Don’t overdo it. Wear a muted tie, a pastel colored suit (though off black is the safest) and a quiet white or light blue shirt.
You are not going to the carnival or the races so a screaming pink tie and a bright green suit will not cut it. Avoid white shoes or two tones, you will look ridiculous.
Don’t dress wrong. Like you cannot wear a woolen suit when the heat is searing. Similarly, if it is cold don’t wear a tropical light combination. Jeans are not done. Chinos and slacks are okay on a yacht but not in a boardroom. For women, wear traditional or a working suit...same drill.
Some of you might be bidding for a job with modern companies who may want to interview you in a coffee shoppe. Ease up. Wear a tie but carry your jacket over your arm or over your shoulder. Women can go for a smart combination.
Don’t come with luggage. Avoid heavy bags with clasps and zips and straps where you will be struggling to get them open to retrieve a document while the panel has that ‘get on with it’ look on its face.
A simple file cover will do. No one is going to interrogate you, no need to carry all your history, they have already done their homework, that is why you are there.
Socks. These can actually be the most dangerous part of your interview day wardrobe. There you are, looking all spiffy and smart and your socks don’t match, or they are bright red or worse than anything else, they are white. If you wear white socks go for a run, not an interview.
Don’t look spanking new. If all your clothes are brand new, it will show. Break them in. You are not getting married and you cannot even fetch up like you are the best man. And, if you are wearing new clothes then make sure you get all the tags taken off.  
Part of your dress code includes clean nails (I know of someone who lost his job opportunity because his nails were dirty). Your hands will show and if you cannot take care of yourself, how do you inspire confidence to take care of the job requirements? 
Now, the touchy part. Bad breath, body odor…these are non starters. People with decent bios have been shown the door because you cannot have them in there wafting smells at you. Be honest with yourself. Check with a good friend if you have such problems, he will alert you. It is better to know and put it right then be offended.
By the same token, don’t douse yourself with perfume or cologne and come in reeking of the stuff. Air conditioned rooms tend to accentuate heavy musky colognes so go for citrus fragrances. If you are addicted to chewing gum get rid of it before you enter, the odds are if you end up sitting there chewing cud like a cow you aren’t getting this job.