“Top 10 Unbelievable Interview Blunders,” an article on CareerBuilder.com, tells some really funny stories about blunders that job-seekers have committed in interviews. There was the man who asked his interviewer to leave her own office so he could have a “private” conversation on his cell phone. And the candidate who asked his interviewer for a ride home after the interview. And the man who told his interviewer that he was “a people person, not a numbers person” – even though he was applying for an accounting job.

Job-seekers with common sense would never make mistakes like those. But the problem is, even smart people can make small blunders that tarnish their images. The most common mistakes seem to be scuffed shoes, stained ties and excessive jewelry. But other problems can be overlooked by smart job-seekers too. Here are some basic points to cover, adapted from “Dressing for Success”, an article by Alison Doyle on About.com.

Women’s Interview Attire . . .

• Moderate shoes
• Limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Tan or light hosiery
• Sparse make-up and perfume
• Manicured nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

Men’s Interview Attire . . .

• Dark socks, professional shoes
• Very limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Go easy on the aftershave
• Neatly trimmed nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

Have you made mistakes in interview that you would like to help other job-seekers avoid? If so, please take a moment to tell us about them on this blog.

Note: This post was originally published on Medical Billing and Coding Blog.