Without a hedge fund to shelter them, or a Blackberry to issue instructions, former masters of the universe can be as vulnerable as Superman in a green kryptonite factory. As the economic downturn intensifies, more and more people will find themselves looking for work and in need of brushing up their interview skills. Even before that, say experts, many could do with paying a little extra attention to their appearance and how they come across at first glance.

Laurel Herman, who runs Positive Presence, an image consultancy whose clients include Barclays, Citi-group, Deloitte and Ernst & Young, said City high-flyers might be their own worst enemies when facing an interview panel. “If they’re not careful they may come across as arrogant or desperate,” she said. Appearance and style were key, she warned, not because appearances mattered more than qualifications, but because how people dressed and carried themselves was the quickest and truest measure of their attitudes, commitment and values.

Her views are confirmed by City headhunter Phil Sharp, managing director of Executive Headhunters in London, who said competition for jobs in the banking industry was as tough as he had ever known, and former City high-flyers were often not equipped for the grilling they would undoubtedly get should they manage to secure a job interview.

Not only would some of the former City workers not have had to face an interview since their university days, he said, many of them would be applying for jobs with salaries way below what they were used to.

“They need to be prepared to answer some difficult questions,” he said. “Interviewers these days are very skilled and will have no trouble in getting to the bottom of things in two or three very probing questions.”

Candidates needed to be prepared to answer questions such as “Why are you applying for a job that pays £50,000 a year when you used to be on £500,000 with a possible bonus of £1m?”

Simple questions such as “How do you plan to pay your mortgage on that?” or “What happens when things pick up - won’t you be straight out of the door?” could leave the best-qualified candidates floundering, said Sharp.

Glittering reputations were less important than good first impressions, he added.

“Appearances do count. Peter Jones from Dragons’ Den said that one of the first things he looks at when he is considering who to invest in is appearance - if you look scruffy and you haven’t bothered to iron your shirt, what does that say about your attitude to business? It’s the same when you’re looking for a job. If you’re scruffy and haven’t made the effort to comb your hair or shave properly it just gives completely the wrong impression.”

Herman, whose company works with staff within companies preparing for new roles or needing to brush up on business skills, as well as people looking for new or better jobs, said that once the hurdles of qualifications and experience had been cleared, the only thing that stood between a candidate and a job was style, personality and presentation.

“Remember that if you have managed to secure an interview in this tough climate then you probably have the right qualifications and experience for the job,” Herman said. “What you have to work on at the interview is your interpersonal skills what they want to know is what kind of a person you are. And that decision can be made instantly, especially if the person is untidy, badly or inappropriately dressed, ungroomed and in any way overwhelming. They want someone who is confident, but not cocky, intelligent, approachable, composed and calm.”

The secret was to convince people you had those qualities in as quick and easy a way as possible, she said.

And she stressed that, like it or not, appearance still mattered. “That means tidy hair, make-up for a woman, good nails and no jangly jewellery because that can drive people nuts. These are the things that people notice.”

Herman’s other advice included dressing up rather than down, with suits being almost always a good idea. Women should avoid low tops, which were “always disastrous”, whether the interviewer was a man or a woman, she said. Candidates should look groomed, but not over the top.

Once you had safely navigated the office threshold, Herman said, think about how you will present yourself.

“Be honest. If you’re applying for a job that commands a salary much lower than you have been used to, don’t be afraid to bring it up it will come up anyway, so it’s better if you address it yourself and get it out of the way,” she said. “Explain that, yes, you have bills to pay and that you have a work ethic and believe it’s much better to be in the world of work than out of it. But also make the point that all new experiences present a challenge. If you say that you know you have to prove your worth, but that you are ambitious and hope to progress through the company, then you have dealt with the inevitable question of what happens when the economy picks up - you’ve shown you won’t necessarily leave at the first opportunity.”

Herman’s advice is to make sure you sell yourself by getting across at least three positive things about yourself. Think like a politician: you know how they ensure that they say what they want to, no matter what they are asked?

Her final tip was not to be too fearful. “If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t panic, just say so. It’s only an interview. Don’t be too nervous. The person on the other side of the desk isn’t God and he or she may have been going through a similar interview three months ago.”

GETTING BACK INTO THE SWING OF INTERVIEWS

What to do

Find a cloakroom with a mirror so you can check your appearance before you enter the interview room. Anything could have happened during your journey. There could be lipstick on your teeth and crumbs on your jacket.

Carry just one bag and have your CV right at the top before you go in. Women often lose points for faffing about looking for bits of paper.

Prepare yourself for the awkward questions, especially if you are overqualified or going for a job that has a lower salary than your previous one.

Remember the basics: well-cared-for hair, shoes, clothes, make-up and nails.

Smile - it conveys confidence and warmth.

What not to do

Don’t overwhelm the interviewer. Even if you are late, take a moment to get composed. Rushing in with effusive apologies only makes things worse and makes you look even more chaotic.

Don’t wear jangly jewellery or overdo the designer labels and status symbols.

Don’t underestimate the power of a calm, friendly exterior. Remember, if you have the qualifications you are halfway there - firms are looking for someone ‘easy’ who won’t dominate, cause trouble or distract.

Don’t rewrite your past. In this climate of business drying up and companies going bust, being made redundant is no stigma, so you will lose nothing by being honest.

Don’t panic. It will come across as desperation or arrogance. Preparation and practice will help you to find things to say to cover those inevitable awkward moments.

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