Applying for jobs can be a stressful experience, and after the short-listing process is out of the way and you've been called back for that all-important interview, it's worth remembering that a chat with your possible future employer is your chance to really shine and show-off your skills.

Even if you've gone over your CV with a fine-toothed comb, researched the company and have prepared some sure-fire answers; don't let yourself down unnecessarily by dressing inappropriately at the interview. Sure, no employer has a right to offer you a job on account of your good looks, but they may take a dramatic pause if you look untidy or disorganised.

Here are a few ways you can dress to impress:

Even if the job is pretty casual or has creative sensibilities; it's probably best that you treat the job as a formality and look sharp and well put together. You don't have to look stuffy, but if you are going to wear jeans, make sure they're not fraying, or stained, or skinny or flared: it isn't a catwalk. Stick with a shirt and probably stay safely away from trainers.

For boys, it's advisable that you keep your facial hair to a minimum, and don't wear beanies or hooded sweatshirts (unless everybody in that workplace dresses like that). The key thing to remember is that you don't want to draw too much attention to yourself. You're bringing your skills to the office, not outfits. Stay clear of ‘wacky' ties, distracting brooches and overdone or statement makeup.

If in doubt, keep it simple. For girls, you can't go wrong with a smart pair of black trousers, and a shirt, which is a template boys can use too for no-fuss, straightforward interview attire.

If you aren't yet on the last rung of the interview process and are still scouring jobs ads and specs, you can make your searching efficient and easy by registering with an online job site. Reed.co.uk has a wide and varied list of jobs across the UK, ranging from editorial roles to secretarial and marketing positions. You might also want to survey various Executive Education courses if you're targeting the managerial and executive end of the career ladder; an MBA in particular can give a professional edge to your CV or resume and raise your profile against other candidates.