It’s interview season, and you’ve got the wardrobe of a seventh grader getting ready for his choir concert. That’s fine. We’ve all been there. Still, I saw some bold interpretations of business-casual at this semester’s career fair. Let me help you try to put together a little more professional appearance.

The first thing you’ll want to do is actually dress up. Not that anyone showed up naked (which would at least leave an impression), but I definitely saw people in jeans. I’m going to make this as clear as possible in case you were someone wearing jeans to the career fair. Do NOT wear jeans to the career fair. It sends a strong message that you don’t try.

“Well, why do I need to dress up? They won’t care if I wear this to work.” Bless your heart. 

Some of you might be going, “Well, why do I need to dress up? They won’t care if I wear this to work.” Bless your heart. Realize that this is not a day on the job. They expect your best. On top of that, most of the people there aren’t members of your field. They’re human resources, and let me tell you this isn’t their first rodeo. They know that how you want to be presented shows how much you want the position. Don’t waste those fine looking points.

You’ll also want to do yourself a favor and not meander too obviously. If you look like you don’t know what you’re doing, employers will think you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s not the impression you want to make before you’ve even made eye contact.

You’re not a confused college student. You’re a hunter. You’re in the brush. 

Move with purpose. You’re not a confused college student. You’re a hunter. You’re in the brush. You’re on the hunt. The job hunt. You aren’t just stumbling onto an opportunity. You’re tracking it, through thick and thin and dirt and s—. Get all primal on those guys. You’ve got value, and they’re going to see it. You’ve just got to jam it down their throats.

There is one tip I can give you that is more important than the rest, one that will keep you from tanking a potential job offer. If you are going to put your position with your school’s newspaper on your resume, do not, under ANY circumstances, swear in an article.