The key to dressing for an interview is common sense. You just need to stop and think about the environment into which you will be walking and the type of role in question, to get a fair gauge of how to dress. This is as important as any interview skills that you may have.

As a general rule it is rare for any interviewer to expect anything less than a smart, clean, considered look. More often than not this means a suit for men and a skirt or trousers, teamed with a jacket for women.

This is not to say you need to spend thousands on your interview wear. The clothes you wear on your interview day should be clothes you would feel comfortable wearing in your job, should you land the position. That said, you would not want to wear your jeans to a meeting for a sales and marketing recruitment process. Such attire just doesn’t fit the role.

There are some specifics to avoid. Men should be wary of ties or shirts that are more horse racing than office attire. This means no loud ties or shirts. The trick is to appear confident without making your clothes the focus. Also, although it sounds obvious, double check that your tie is clean. No type of interview techniques will make up for the impression made by dirty or untidy clothing.

Women, similarly, should avoid making their clothes the focus. Don’t go overboard with super-high heels that will leave your interviewer wondering for the first five minutes how you are able to walk – rather than focusing on how well you may suit the job. Also, opt against flashy jewellery or standout makeup. And, ensure you nails are clean and your hair is neat.

Smells are another consideration. Cigarette smoke is easily detectable and can be overpowering. Even if your interviewer smokes, having the smell of your cigarettes announce your arrival at the interview is not a sophisticated touch. Strong perfume can be just as off-putting. In fact, the power of smell is so great that you may inadvertently trigger the wrong effect, spurring your interviewer to want you out of the room as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, in that instance all the new clothes and interview skills in the world won’t make a scrap of difference.