A new suit can make you feel like a new man, but only if it fits well. It needs to accentuate and emphasize certain features while complementing others, and a suit off the rack won’t always do that.

If you’re planning on looking your best at your next interview, a fitted suit is your best option. Of course, you don’t need a big budget to get a fitted look. Use these tips to speed up the tailoring process.

1. Hem Your Trousers

When you walk into a room, people will notice your tie and suit jacket. They should admire the contrasting patterns or colors you chose, not how your trousers bunch up above your dress shoes. The extra length isn’t necessary and adds wrinkles to your polished look.

Get a tailor to measure and hem your trousers. The bottom of the hem should barely touch the top of your shoes, so bring those to your measuring appointment to get the exact fit you need.

2. Check the Shoulder Fit

A suit jacket with tight shoulders limits your movement, but too much room makes you look saggy. The right fit is a perfect compromise of the two.

If you try on more than one that seems to fit, pick the oversized jacket. Tailors can tighten the shoulders so it doesn’t break across the upper sleeve, but they can’t add room to a jacket that’s too small.

3. Adjust the Sleeve Length

Nothing’s more annoying than reaching out for a handshake and having your sleeve slide a few inches up your arm. Sleeve length is an essential aspect of a fitted suit, so adjust them to a half-inch margin past the jacket cuff.

After a correct fitting, your jacket should never reveal your shirt sleeve cuff. Wear your intended shirt to your fitting to get the exact measurements required for your jacket.

4. Assess the Collar Gap

When someone sits or stands behind you, they shouldn’t be able to see down a gap between your collar and your neck. Get this part of your suit jacket fitted close to when you’ll wear it.

Fluctuating weight can bulk up your neck or slim it down, resulting in an improper fit after going to the tailor. A correctly sized gap will give you room to twist your head without the collar tugging at your skin.

5. Alter the Waistline

Most suit jackets are cut in a way that creates a boxy silhouette. Thankfully, it’s easy to tailor this shape to accentuate your waist. It’s more flattering than showing up to an event or work in an oversized jacket.

Make sure it isn’t too tight while a tailor takes your measurements. You should still be able to move with the jacket buttoned, and the edges shouldn’t flare below your waist.

6. Test the Seat

When you buy a new pair of suit pants, test the seat by walking and sitting. If it’s too tight, you’ll risk splitting the seams and losing years of use from your investment. Make sure it fits smoothly without squeezing any part of your seat. Bunching or stretching indicates that you need to move up a size.

Sagging fabric isn’t advised either, but it only requires a simple fix at the tailor’s shop. They’ll also take a look at your pockets, so their lining doesn’t appear after making your pants fit correctly.

While you’re shopping around, keep an eye out for pants without belt loops. Deciding whether you should wear a belt with your suit depends on the event. Formal events aren’t the place for belts, but they’re acceptable in the workplace. It depends on what kind of formality your appearance needs in the required dress code.

7. Measure the Jacket Length

A fitted suit would look strange if the person wearing it had a jacket that stretched down to their knees. Measure the length of your jacket so it hangs just over the top of your seat while your arms hang comfortably. It’s easier to get this measurement while standing still for a friend or tailor.

Create a Fitted Suit

These are seven aspects of a fitted suit and how you can get them right without making multiple trips to a tailor’s shop. When in doubt, buy a size bigger than you need. You can always take things in and adjust the hems to get a perfect fit.

In the end, you’ll have something that will impress the interviewer and snag you that dream job.