Business is business and if you are looking to land an office job, dress codes can be serious business. While many work places are becoming much more relaxed, for a lot of companies professional appearance is of utmost importance. And the way you present yourself on the day of your interview may speak volumes to your potential employer. Here are a few suggestions on shoes not to wear to a job interview.

Sneakers
Many offices have a more laid back attitude about work attire, it is easy for us to forget that a job interview is still a formal affair. While a pair of cute sneakers might show your artsy side, and may be the most comfortable, to make your best first impression, do not wear sneakers to an interview for an office or retail job.

Sandals and open toed shoes
We all know that flip flops are not an appropriate choice for a job interview, but for many office jobs even dressier and heeled sandals should be avoided. Some offices and retail outlets have a policy against open toe shoes. It is best to play it safe and find out the dress codes after you land the job, rather than to risk it on the interview.

Metallic or overly embellished shoes
There is a time when it is inappropriate to be flashy but not at a job interview. Even after you have landed the job it is more professional and appropriate to save the metallic, crystals, and studs for evening wear.

Extremely high heels
In addition to the fact that they are difficult to walk in you do not want to miss the interview because you sprained your ankle. Shoes with extremely high heels can actually call too much attention to your footwear. The emphasis should be on you and your skills, and not on your shoes.

Shoes that are dirty or worn
While many of us obsess over our shoes for many, they are a means of covering and protecting the feet, therefore not a lot of attention is given to how they look. But to make a great first impression, you should pay attention to the details. Your shoes should be shined or buffed, scuff and dirt free, and should not have any visible strains, rips or tears. While new shoes should remove all of those concerns, you need to be careful that they are comfortable and easy to walk in before the actual interview day. The last thing you need is to add foot pain to your list of worries on interview day.

The right shoes for an office job interview
The appropriate shoes for office job interviews will be dress shoes, flats or heels of around 3 inch heel or less. With closed toes, clean, and will complement your outfit, but will not overpower it. The ideal shoes will be free of metallic finishes, overdone embellishments, and excessively high heels. Having said all of that, it seems like you have few choices, but that is really not the case.

Stylish shoe choices for your job interview
When choosing your shoes let the company and the position you are applying for dictate how creative your footwear choices can be. For example, if you are going for a position at a fashion magazine, you will definitely want your personality and sense of style to come through. Choose classic but stylish shoes with a subtle or chic print, or a large buckle. While you do not want to risk going over the top, you definitely do not want to seem boring or staid.

On the other hand, if it is a banking or investment job you are after, it is best to stay on the conservative side of footwear. You can not go wrong with a basic pump in a color that complements your suit. A bit of classic hardware, like a simple buckle will appear chic and stylish without crossing the line into trendy.