Hitting the Pavement? Make Sure Your Feet (And Your Shoes) Are Ready.

CHICAGO, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- With so many looking for work, many of us find ourselves literally hitting the pavement more often in the hunt for a new job! The last thing job applicants want on their mind - or showing on their face - during an interview is foot pain. "Plenty of dress shoes are hard on the feet," says Dr. George Tsatsos, of AnkleNFootCenter.com . "And dress shoes are the worst, particularly for women," adds Dr. Svetlana Zats, Dr. Tsatsos' associate. Dr. Zats is no stranger to the sometimes torturous footwear high fashion can ask of working women. "Higher heels are in once again in the office - but that can be hard on our feet, and no matter what, don't wear shoes you've never worn before to an interview!" warns Dr. Zats. "The last place to discover you can't walk in your new heels comfortably is when you walk across the room to shake hands with your prospective new boss," adds Dr. Tsatsos.

Interviews often involve long walks from parking or transportation - and several interviews in one day can mean all the more walking. Ditto the callback interviews that have you trekking from one office to another to meet and greet. Wear comfortable, worn shoes or gym shoes and change before you walk in. If you already suffer from painful foot conditions like corns, calluses or bunions, make sure to at least use over-the-counter inserts or pads for these problems the day of the interview - but for a temporary fix only. Chronic or progressive sufferers should at least get a consult with a visit to their friendly podiatrist - to prevent future problems. "The sad thing is a lot of painful foot problems can be treated effectively in the office or outpatient setting," laments Dr Tsatsos.

Check list

Wear comfortable, worn shoes in transit

Change shoes at the last moment

Use over-the-counter pads or inserts for minor problems

See a foot care pro in advance for chronic problems

SOURCE AnkleNFootCenter.com