If you have experience, knowledge and a great work ethic, you shouldn’t have much to worry about when it comes to nailing an interview, but how can you seal the deal? While your qualifications are important, first impressions are also up there on a hiring manager’s checklist. The state of your clothes, hygiene, hair and makeup can make or break your chances of landing the job, so preparation is crucial. Here’s how to primp yourself for an interview and hopefully snag that position!

Fashion
What you wear to an interview largely depends on the type of industry you’re hoping to enter. Some companies require super-formalwear, while others have a casual vibe and still more offer plenty of fashion creativity to its employees. If you visited the business before your interview, you probably saw what everyone was wearing, so try to copy their style. When in doubt, overdressing never hurts – it shows that you’re professional no matter what.

Make sure your clothes are clean and unwrinkled first and foremost. They should also fit properly – anything too baggy or too tight will look sloppy. Opt for a tailored pantsuit or a skirt and blouse, choosing colors and shapes that flatter your complexion and speak volumes about your personality. Keep jewelry and accessories to a minimum to avoid seeming too flashy.

Hair
The style you choose to rock for your interview can be whatever you think looks best on you, whether it’s a chignon, ponytail, blowout or a pixie cut. The most important thing is that the style looks polished, which means that there shouldn’t be any flyaways. You can tame those frizzies with a product like Leonor Greyl – Serum de Soie Sublimateur (Anti-frizz).

Nails
Most likely, you’ll be shaking the interviewer’s hand at some point, so he or she will get a good glimpse of the state of your nails. If you’re not one for nail polish, at least make sure that your tips are filed into a neat shape and that they’re as clean as possible. It might also be a good idea to use a hand cream like AHAVA – Deadsea Water Mineral Hand Cream Mandarin and Cedarwood so your hands are soft to the touch.

If you’re a gal who loves a good manicure, keep your polish choices simple. While bright colors and cool designs are trendy, they’re usually not appropriate for a job interview, especially for a position in a serious industry. Stick to nudes or pastel pinks from Lippmann Collection – Nail Lacquers, which will flatter and elongate your fingers.

Makeup
Even if you just discovered the perfect smoky eye palette or a bright new shade of lipstick, it’s best to keep your makeup understated for an interview. You want to complement your features, not overwhelm them. To ensure that you start off with a good base, get a good night’s sleep before the big day, which can minimize dark circles and puffiness under your eyes, as well as redness or dull skin.

Begin your makeup application with a great primer like BECCA Cosmetics – Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector, which will even out your complexion and make your look last throughout the day. Then apply a foundation that matches your skin tone perfectly.

Contour your cheekbones with a rosy blush and a natural-looking bronzer without shimmer, like bareMinerals – Get Started Complexion Kit. A dab of highlighter on your cheekbones will give you a healthy glow.

Use a black or brown eyeliner pencil to define the shape of your eyes and darken your lash lines, then follow up with a neutral eyeshadow combination – brown is a safe bet. Use a medium shade across your entire lid, a dark shade in the crease and along your lash lines and a light shade on your brow bones. Add a coat of a brown or black mascara like True Isaac Mizrahi – Crazy Lash Mascara Onyx.

Finish with a coat of a neutral pink lip gloss or lipstick, and you’re ready to rock that interview!