How to Tie a Tie: 3 Tips to Enhance Your Job Interview Attire

If someone asks you "what's the most important part of your job interview attire?", what would you answer? The suit? The shirt? The shoes? Perhaps. But did you know that the tie, to your outfit, is what the focal point is to a picture?

The shirt is the canvas and the suit is the frame. Change the frame on a picture and no one notices, change the picture in a frame and you can change the look of an entire room. That's why it's important for your tie to enhance your look, not detract from it.

Buying The Right Tie

To begin with, you first need a quality tie made of 100% pure silk to accomplish that job. As a male, you are generally expected to wear a plain colored, non-distracting tie with your interview suit, e.g. in a dark red or dark blue color.

However, simply buying the most expensive tie you can find in town won�t just leave that �most-favorable� impression you are looking for. People judge your capabilities by how you look. A crooked tie projects a sloppy look and says the same about your skills and abilities. Therefore, it�s important to focus on the tie knot as well.

Tying the Four in Hand Knot

The most useful tie knot to know for starters is the Four in Hand. It's somewhat narrow and slightly asymmetrical in form and looks just about perfect with any standard button-down shirt.

To tie it, you would stand in front of a mirror with your tie hanging loosely around your neck. Now, there are two ends to a tie: One that's wide that we're going to call "A" and a rather narrow one that we're going to call "B". The wide end "A" should extend about 12 inches below narrow end "B".

To begin, cross the wide end "A" over narrow the end "B". Then turn the wide end "A" back underneath the narrow end "B". Continue by bringing the wide end "A" back over in front of the narrow end "B" again. Afterwards, pull the wide end "A" up and through the loop around your neck.

Next, hold the front of the knot loosely with your index finger and bring the wide end "A" down through the front loop. Finally, remove your finger and tighten the knot carefully to your dress shirt�s collar by holding on to the narrow end "B" and sliding the knot up.

If you're feeling overwhelmed right now, don�t worry! Rather check out the colored diagrams which might be quite helpful to you!

Once you�ve tied the knot make sure that the widest part of your tie hangs roughly at the same height as the upper edge of your leather belt. And the belt, of course, should match the color of your shoes!

The Benefits of Tie Accessories

Another item you should consider buying besides your tie is something called a tie accessory. Tie accessories come in the form of tie bars, clips, tacks and chains. Their main purpose is to hold your tie in place at all times and prevent it from getting in your way when you eat, work or play. From my personal experience, I would recommend a classic silver tie bar.

During a job interview a tie accessory comes in especially handy. That's because without one, your tie would move around as you greet your interviewer or when you shift in your seat. Subconsciously, you would reach down to adjust your tie and straighten it out but such little things would make you feel even more nervous than you already are.

Conclusion

So, here's a quick summary of what I recommend you do before going to your next job interview:

#1: Buy a quality, conservative, 100% pure silk tie.

#2: Practice how to tie the Four in Hand tie knot and make sure that the tie�s widest end is roughly at the upper edge of your belt.

#3: Use a tie bar to attach your tie to your dress shirt.

Remember � wearing a quality silk tie, properly tied and fastened, is probably the fastest way there is to improving your overall job interview appearance and doubling your chances of leaving a favorable impression. Enjoy the interview!

A guide to Summer work attire

For those of you who work in a fairly formal office environment the arrival of warm summer weather often creates a style conundrum. Although it may be 30°c outside, wearing shorts and flip flops will not really endear you to your boss or help you on the career ladder. So what’s the best way to keep cool whilst still looking businesslike?

For her
Many women spend the winter months in the corporate uniform of a black suit. Lighten up for summer by switching to suits in light grey, pewter, stone or camel instead. If you have to wear a jacket for work then one with bracelet sleeves is a cooler alternative and looks current. When temperatures soar, be aware of the fabrics of your clothes and how they are cut. Cottons and linens are great options for staying cool but you do need to be prepared to look after them with regular pressing and trips to the dry cleaners to ensure you look pristine. If you’re off to an important presentation or interview and want to make the perfect first impression then consider wearing a light-weight wool suit; it won’t show the creases and will keep its shape all day. Tight fitting clothes will crease more easily in the heat whilst loose-fitted clothes will be more comfortable and elegant.

If you’re not wearing a jacket then your top should always have a sleeve. They can vary in length from cap to ¾ length, but the cardinal rule is that they should never finish at the widest part of your arm. Under no circumstances should you show any hint of your cleavage or midriff. Tights really do look better than bare legs; go for a natural shade in as low a denier as you can afford. If it’s a very hot day and you can’t face tights, then a pair of cotton or linen trousers will help to keep you feeling cool.

Finishing touches will make or break your working wardrobe. Slingbacks, peep-toe and woven leather shoes will offer some ventilation and help to keep your feet cool. A heel, whether it’s a comfortable wedge or stack will also help to lengthen your leg.

For him
When it comes to a summer working wardrobe, men often feel that they get a raw deal. Dark grey, navy and charcoal suits are perfect in the winter but are too heavy for the summer, opt instead for ones in medium grey, pewter or taupe. At all costs avoid the temptation to go for a cream linen suit unless you want to be mistaken for the ‘Man from Del Monte’. When you do make the transition from your winter to summer suits remember to have the ones you’ve been wearing for the past few months dry cleaned (and don’t leave them hanging in the plastic bag).

Under no circumstances should you ever wear a short sleeved shirt under a suit jacket. Roll up your sleeves to just under the elbow instead. Woollen socks should be swapped for cotton ones in the same colour as your trousers or shoes; they should be long enough to ensure that no flesh is on show when you cross your legs.

Of course what you wear will be dictated by where you work. It will also depend on whether you work in a client facing position or if you’re tucked away in an office. If in doubt it’s always best to be slightly over rather than under dressed and don’t be afraid to ask for guidance from your manager either.

For everyone
Consider leaving a small wardrobe of appropriate clothes in the office, while you travel to and from work in a more relaxed style. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck on a broken down bus or train and then having to rush into a meeting when you’re feeling less than pristine. This is also a great way to cope with the summer heat if you work in an air conditioned office where it can be really chilly.