Q: I have been told that if a woman interviews a man, she looks for different aspects of his appearance than if a man interviews a man. I am interviewing with both a woman (human resources) and a man (potential boss). What should I be on the lookout for with each? — Gender Looking for Tenure

A: If a woman interviews a man, the first thing she is likely to notice is grooming. A big turnoff to a woman is a man who has hair growing out of his ears and nose. The second thing a woman notices is a man’s hands. If they’re dirty or his nails are not manicured, she will be put off. If you don’t know how to manicure your hands, at least apply some lotion before the interview. The third thing a woman notices is your teeth and smile. A woman likes a man who smiles sincerely. Believe it or not, some women are turned off by teeth that are too white, as it does not look natural.

A man notices a man’s handshake first. Shake his hand with a moderate firmness. If you give him an overly macho grip, he will think you are trying to establish dominance. A man then looks at your clothes. Make sure your collar is properly in place and all your buttons are buttoned. Failure to do so indicates you are not thorough. Men also don’t like wrinkles in your clothes or stains. Both indicated sloppiness.

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Dr. George R. Abraham is a native of Vicksburg and a former longtime educator, business manager and consultant. He is an author who contributes weekly to The Vicksburg Post and hosts “The Dr. George Show” on 1490 AM at the Klondyke in Vicksburg from 9 until 10 a.m. each Tuesday. He can be reached at georgerabraham@aol.com.