Most of you are probably thinking, ''I don't need no youth journalist to tell me how to dress to impress!''

Well, you're probably right. Most of you guys have your own unique style, and you don't need us to tell you what to wear and how to wear it.

But (you all knew it was coming), when it comes to dressing to impress your future employer, it's a totally different ball game altogether.

Dressing up for an interview: how do you get a professional image like this?

There are countless things that an employer would look for in a prospective employee, but few are as important as that first impression.

And it doesn't matter how much of a sweet talker you are, because first impressions are made when the interviewers first set their eyes on you, before you even get to say a word. Unless of course, you go charging into that room firing away. That wouldn't leave too good an impression anyway.

So if you're looking to get an edge in the job market when you graduate, you might want to read the rest of this article, as we talk to professional image consultant Wendy Lee for some tips on making sure you instantly come off as a professional with true potential.

And God knows how competitive the job market is these days. Wendy's nuggets of wisdom might just make the difference for you.

You are what you wear

Many of you would like to think that employers these days wouldn't be as shallow as to not look beyond the clothes and into the person within.

You'd probably be right.

Bosses aren't stupid; they know that beneath some shaggy, shabby looking dude, there might be the potential to unearth a true genius.

But the thing is, the job market is so crowded these days, who's to say that the same kind of genius can't be uncovered from someone who at least put the effort to dress up?

Wendy says a white shirt and simple tie like this is the safest choice for a corporate job interview.

''Having given seminars to college and university students, I've come to realise that most students these days aren't really aware of professional dress codes.

''For example, the trend these days is to wear dark colours with stripes matched with a really 'loud' necktie. There are students who actually think that's good enough to pass off as professional,'' she said.

Actually, what students should be doing generally, according to Wendy, is to do the opposite and stay clear of the dark side.

''For most corporate jobs, you need to keep it simple " a white or dark blue shirt would do just fine, and match that with a simple necktie.

''But I mentioned only for corporate jobs, because it all depends on the industry, really. Media companies for example, often allow more casual dressing. The key is to dress like how the people there would dress,'' she added.

The little things

Having conducted job interviews herself when she was in the corporate world, Wendy says that it's the little things that count in managing your first impression, and it's not just about the clothes.

''I remember we received a very impressive resume, a girl who was a straight A student applying for a marketing job. She was our first candidate, and from afar, she looked well dressed and we thought it would go well.

''But as she came closer, me and the other interviewers noticed that she didn't dry her hair, and water was dripping all over her blouse. That was enough to kill her chances. She didn't get the job,'' said Wendy.

She adds that many of these small details affects interviewers.

''It did affect us,'' Wendy said of the girl. ''Humans are peculiar. It's just something that subconsciously affects our impression of the girl.

''After a first impression like that, interviewers would tend to just look for mistakes. For someone who initially comes off as being professional, interviewers might find excuses for some of their shortcomings.''

Wendy believes that these small things, like wearing a proper sized shirt or taking the effort to style your hair or put on make-up, reflect one's character.

Wendy says it's the small things like drying your hair properly that matter.

And these little things could also help balance out some of your shortcomings. Wendy says if you're meticulous enough, you might just pull off a killer first impression that will cover up certain weaknesses you have.

''Most of us doing corporate training know that employers are looking for the whole package. That breaks down into a lot of small details. For example, one of the things we look for with girls is their eye-brows. A girl who knows how to look after their appearance would groom their eye-brows.

''So you need to get all these small things right to contribute to the whole impression you're giving out.''

Body language

As many fashion designers and models trying to be deep have said before, you have to wear the dress, not let the dress wear you.

It's all about how you carry yourself. It doesn't really matter if you have a killer resume if you can't convince the interviewers you have the chops to make it in the industry.

''In terms of the intangibles, confidence is the most important ingredient. That's one of the ways people like us can tell if someone is trained locally or overseas. There's a big difference in the way they talk and their body language,'' said Wendy.

When it comes to tips on how to better present yourself, again, it's the small things that matter.

''It's things like standing straight, having positive body language (appear energetic), looking people in the eyes when you talk to them, and smiling as well.

''Something students need to work on is carrying a conversation. You have to learn to talk eloquently, and not be shy. Train yourself to talk confidently and to converse naturally, and that would leave a big impression,'' she added.

To achieve that, Wendy believes most young people today need to learn just one particular attribute.

''You have to be humble. Many students these days going for their first interviews tend to appear aloof, especially those from more fortunate backgrounds. They must understand that interviewers often are seniors in the company, and they deserve respect.''