One of the biggest changes military personnel face once they transition to the civilian world is getting dressed in the morning. What used to be an easy reach for the uniform of the day now comes fraught with endless color and style choices and the temptation to express the inner you. And therein lies the problem - most Corporate America is no more ready for the inner you than was the military. In fact, Corporate America has a uniform code of its own, though often unstated.

For most jobs, violating that code translates to lost opportunities for promotion and success. Even more important, failing to project the right image from the very first interview means you may not even be selected for a position that seems made for you. That's where Image Consultant Sandy Dumont comes in. As a personal branding and image development expert, Dumont has a great deal of excellent advice for transitioners entering the job market:

Men's business suits: Men, meet your new uniform - the classic business suit. She points her clients to classic navy blue, preferably with two buttons: "The two button suit falls more naturally with the shape of the human body." If you are on a budget, Dumont says you can wear that same navy blue suit for a month, just by changing shirts and ties. She champions navy blue because blue is the color of trust (she notes that's why police usually wear blue) and a navy blue suit also makes men look more powerful.

Men's shirt & ties: Dumont says that teaming a white shirt with a red tie is a very formal look, while "less formal, if you're applying for a job as a salesman, would be a blue shirt." As for ties - "They're usually the biggest mistakes that men make. Stick with stripes and small, repeating patterns. And you just can't go wrong with a good red, burgundy or yellow tie with a blue suit."

Women's business suits: "Dresses are not as powerful as jackets," says Dumont, "so if you have a black skirt (well-fitting only, please), you can find a black jacket, a red jacket or a burgundy jacket. Fuchsia and magenta look nice, but not from head to toe- just the jacket." She also highly recommends a navy blue suit. "Don't wear pastels to an interview, and if you've got anything with a floral print, it's the kiss of death."

Women's blouses & accessories: As with men, women can stretch a business suit and add pizzazz by careful selection of the right blouses and accessories. "Women can buy, for example, a fuchsia blouse so you see a little bit of dash," outlines Dumont, "or a yellow top in spring. A red top is also nice. But I caution against a white shirt. Everyone does it, so you'll look like a robot person."

Dumont also discourages necklaces or pearl stud earrings, inside urging women to consider a brooch and, her favorite accessory, a pair of fairly bold earrings.

Nails and shoes: Failing to take note of the condition of your nails and shoes can stamp and immediate no on your resume before you even say a word. "I've had several Human Resources people tell me that fingernails and shoes have cost many a persons a job," Dumont shares. For shoes, "Simple is good. For men, a plain, black shoe will go with a navy suit." And for women? "The simplest, plain pump. Don't go too high."

Hair: If ties are a man's biggest downfall, Dumont points to hair for a woman. "It's the one thing that stands out like a sore thumb. If you have long hair, pull it back into an unobtrusive look. A ponytail hanging at the nap of the neck is perfectly ok. But long hair sometimes looks like teenage hair and you lose credibility."

So what does Dumont suggest? "Understated hairstyles with a good precision hair cut about a the shoulder or a little shorter." Men's hair fashion right now calls for short, but not quite as short as a military cut, so Dumont suggests that men grow their hair out just a bit.