Is fretting over the minutest details of your appearance before going on a job interview obsessive and egotistical?

Well, it depends on how long you spend looking at your own face in a mirror. But I will say that, in this dilapidated jobs market, can you afford not to be vain?

Everyone knows that clothes and your appearance are a large part of the first impression you make on a boss. From that, most guys think they can throw on their high school suit and one of Dad’s ties and call it a day. No, men, that is not how one leaves an impression.

Wearing a suit might mean you clear the bare minimum appearance requirement for the position you desire, but it won’t set you apart from the next applicant. With this attention to detail, your attire could actually make up for the fact that your resume has no extracurriculars besides “Irish Illini member.”

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*Suit:* The color and style of the suit should correlate to the profession you look to enter. If your degree is in finance, your suit should be boardroom ready. Think dark colors like blue, perhaps with a subtle pinstripe. If you are entering a more creative, free-thinking profession, the field is a little more open. Try a grey, perhaps with a simple pattern. And, regardless of the field of work your entering, never wear a jacket with more than three buttons.

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*Shirt:* Men like to use the shirt as the place to add some flair to a rigid suit. There is a time and a place for that type of creativity, and it is certainly not in the job interview. Your priority should be to match, to look put-together. But that is not to say you should look bland. Again, this is case sensitive (and also seasonal), but if your suit is a dark color or made of heavy material, try a flannel pattern or symmetrically stripped shirt.

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*Tie:* A tie must, above all else, complement the shirt. It makes or breaks an ensemble, and, therefore, dress shirts should always be purchased with a matching tie. Leave the Jerry Garcia tie your dad lent you for junior prom in the closet. Or burn it. Your safest bet is a “repp tie”:http://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201010/repp-striped-ties-fall-2010#slide=1 that shows off your college sensibilities and adds some color and attitude without going being flashy. A solid gold bar tie could just put you over the edge with your perspective employer.

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*Shoes:* No loafers. And no pointed toes, either. Classic brown or black or, if you have the swag to match, a flashy pair of wingtips will send the message that you take time on your outfit, that you dress to impress. Don’t ruin the impression by not matching your belt to your shoes.

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*Accessories:* If your potential boss wasn’t impressed with your tie bar, pay extra attention to these details to sell yourself further. A plain, white pocket square, when folded neatly and peeking out of your breast pocket a quarter inch, gives you that Mad Men-era vibe. Anybody would be happy to have a Don Draper on their staff.

_Joe is a senior in Media._