Maintaining a professional appearance is important not only for interviews but for your career as a whole. The way you dress reflects how seriously you take your work and how your colleagues see you in this environment.

To help you make this right, we gathered 5 tips that you can use to show a professional appearance:

•    Understand what is appropriate in your industry: Of course your outfit is not going to be the same if you are working in a kitchen or in an office. But wherever you are, you should always consider the culture of the company. Try to observe what type of attire your colleagues are wearing and if the company has a dress code, make sure to follow it.

•    Avoid neon colours and overly flashy clothes: Both men and women should be careful with really bright colours. It can be distracting and unprofessional when used in the wrong way. Knowing your industry and considering what is acceptable in your work environment could help you understand how to dress stylishly and professionally. Another way is finding the colours that best suit your skin tone. If you think this is too hard, just play safe and use neutral colours.

•   Take care of your hair (and the beard): Yes, nowadays wearing a beard or different hair colours is already accepted in most work environments; however, it doesn’t mean it is okay to have a big wild bear covering your entire face! And that’s the same with your hair: get a clean haircut and a professional hairstyle. Make sure that your hair is dry and brushed before arriving at your workplace.

•    Pay attention to details: It can be really strong perfume, noisy jewellery, unclean shoes; ankle socks with slacks, a messy handbag, or an old manicure. These little details matter and can make you and the company you work for look unprofessional.

•    Smile and make eye contact: This is the best tip we can give you; you will look friendlier and more professional. Smiling and making eye contact are other elements of your outfit that will help you stand out. It will give the impression you really care about what others have to say and consequently enhance the perception people have about you.

Find out more content like this in our section Career Advice.