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What is the worst outfit ever worn to a job interview? For a career services director at the University of Chicago, it was the applicant who sported a Madras tie as a belt and a patterned cotton hat. Other contenders, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey of hiring managers, include candidates with dirty fingernails, micro-miniskirts, t-shirts with offensive slogans and even bare feet!
   No one needs ‘Queer Eye’s’ Carson Kressley to tell them that wearing shoes to an interview is a good idea, but could you be guilty of one of these top 20 fashion faux pas?
   
   1. Carrying a backpack or fanny-pack instead of a briefcase or portfolio: Some image consultants suggest women ditch their purse, too!
   2. Sunglasses on top of your head or headphones around your neck: Be sure to remove all your ‘transit gear’ and tuck it in your briefcase before entering the lobby.
   3. Too-short skirts: Forget what some of those gals on ‘The Apprentice’ are wearing. Your skirt should cover your thighs when you are seated.
   4. The wrong tie: Ties should be made of silk, no less than three and a quarter inches wide with a conservative pattern. Image consultants say the best colours are red or burgundy.
   5. Overly bright or large-patterned clothing: With the possible exception of creative fields like advertising or computer programming, it's best to stick with navy, black or grey.
   6. Heavy makeup on women (or any makeup on a man).
   7. Earrings on men: In fact, men should avoid wearing any jewellery unless it is a wedding ring, class ring or metal watch.
   8. More than one set of earrings on women.
   9. Facial piercing, tongue jewellery or visible tattoos.
   10. Ill-fitting clothes. Few people can wear things straight off the rack. Spending a little extra to have your garments tailored is a worthwhile investment.
   11. Long fingernails, especially with bright or specialty polishes. Nails should look clean and be trimmed to a length that doesn't leave an observer wondering how you keep from stabbing yourself.
   12. Unnatural hair colours or styles. Remember, Donald Trump was a billionaire well before he began wearing a comb-over. If you're balding, try a close-cropped cut like Bruce Willis or Matt Lauer.
   13. Short-sleeved shirts, even worse when worn with a tie.
   14. Fishnets, patterned hosiery or bare legs (no matter how tan you are). Women should stick with neutral colour hosiery that complements their suit.
   15. Men whose socks don't match their shoes, or whose socks are too short and leave a gap of flesh when they are seated.
   16. Rumpled or stained clothing: If interviewing late in the day, try to change to a fresh suit beforehand.
   17. Scuffed or inappropriate footwear, including sneakers, stilettos, open-toed shoes and sandals.
   18. Strong aftershaves, perfumes or colognes: Many people are allergic to certain scents. For a subtle fragrance, use good quality bath soap.
   19. Belts and shoes that don't match: Shoes and belts should be made of leather or leather-like materials and the best colours for men are black or cordovan.
   20. Telltale signs that you’re wearing a new suit. Remove all tags and extra buttons -- and remember to cut off the zigzag thread that keeps pockets and slits closed!
   
   Don’t be a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. Plan and lay out what you're going to wear several days before the interview, so you'll have time to shop or get garments pressed and cleaned.
   Save ‘innovative’ or revealing garb for the club (or your couch) and strive for crisp, clean and professional. Remember, you want the interviewer to be listening to what you're saying, not critiquing what you’re wearing.
   www.careerbuilder.com

Venue: Bets Center (newly Baitul Iqra), House# 55, Road# 4A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
   Trainer: Gopal Sehjpal, Management Consultant, Oracle Management Services, Mumbai, India
   Workshop date: Friday, May 19, 2006
   Time: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
   Workshop fees: Tk 1,500 per participant (Lunch included)
   Maximum participants: 40 (Certificates to be awarded)
   Registration: Call at 02-9140345, 02-8124366, 01714096154, 011-99-057746 or e-mail at training@bdjobs.com or baqi@bdjobs.com. Online registration at bdjobs.com
   Last date of registration: May 17, 2006
   About the Workshop
   Session 1: Leadership
   Using ‘LEADERSHIP’ as acronym, the participants develop a deep understanding of the meaning, concerns and challenges of leaders.
   Session 2: Leadership competencies & styles
   This session focuses on the various leadership styles and their related competencies to enable the participants to understand their own style. An exercise is used to determine that. The session also devotes time to understand the various roles of a leader in building his/her team.
   Session 3: Motive and motivation
   To provide direction to the teams, in his/her team building efforts, a leader has to effectively communicate the motive (objective) of the team and then provide appropriate motivation for the achievement of the objective. The focus of this session revolves around the various motivational techniques which managers have used in the past with explanations about their workability.
   Session 4: The role of communication in leading and motivating
   The primary tool any leader has to manage his/her team is communication. How to use this tool in the areas of leading and motivating is explained in this session.
   The workshop will conclude with an Action Plan drawn up by the participants. This should be discussed by them with their superiors and finalized for the mutual growth of the participants and their organisation.

Send your queries on career related issues, questions regarding job search and any comments on the Careers page to us through mail or fax or email us at newagecareers@gmail.com Kindly mark the letter Careers Q & A.