I have talked to people in recent years who are in positions to hire and many have expressed amazement–and that is being kind–on how many job applicants, mostly in their earl 20s,actually come to interviews wearing flip-flops.

Now,you may think this is no big deal, but,rest assured, it is a VERY big deal. As these potential employers will tell you, wearing flip-flops, those thong clinging beach shoes,to a job interview sends a very strong signal that that person is not yet mature enough to hold down the position being sought. You may not think this fair, but that is the way it is.

It is true that dress standards for things such as job interviews and such have grown far more lax in recent years. A neat pair of jeans and a blazer may,depending upon the position being sought and the part of the country you are seeking it in,be acceptable to a would-be employer, though they are still very much in the minority.

But,flips flops, these company hiring officials will tell you, are crossing a line and going way too far. Maybe someday it won’t matter;but,not today.