| JOB SEARCH NO-NOs
1. GROOMING / APPEARANCE. This includes poor hygiene meaning body odor, bad breath, and such. As well as poor grooming, which would include things like dirty fingernails. And finally, sloppy or rumpled clothes, not being dressed appropriately for an interview.
2. COMMON COURTESY / POLITENESS. Non-no's here include being late for the interview, chewing gum during the interview, poor eye contact, wimpy handshake, and the like. A lack of manners and professionalism was also cited which includes behaviors such as adamantly insisting on immediate call backs, becoming irritated over phone tag, generally being impatient.
3. PROFESSIONALISM / HONESTY. This area includes not being prepared to answer interview questions or being evasive, not even knowing what job one is being interviewed for. Also, applying for positions for which they are unqualified, or, after an offer has been made, asking for a position or terms entirely different than what has been discussed.
4. ATTITUDE / DEMEANOR. Frequently applicants have a cocky attitude, are arrogant and defensive. Or, on the other extreme are too low key, mumble, providing very brief answers or even refusing to answer questions.
5. RESUMES. Providing poor copies of resumes with spelling and grammar errors (not just typos). Said one, "It's amazing the people applying for creative positions that have dull, boring resumes."
JOB SEARCH TO-DOs
1. GROOMING / APPEARANCE - Dress professionally in business attire when going to an interview. Take a shower, trim and clean your nails, put on deodorant, and use scents sparingly if at all. Stop in the bathroom just before going into the interview and check yourself--front and back, up and down--in the mirror. Be clean. Smell clean. Look clean.
2. COMMON COURTESY / POLITENESS. Be about 15 minutes early for the interview. Treat the receptionist, lobby security people, and everyone else you encounter with respect. As you leave the interview, thank the interviewer for his or her time. Immediately after the interview, write a thank you note and mail it the same day.
3. PROFESSIONALISM / HONESTY. Be knowledgeable about the company, research it a bit before you arrive. Look over an annual report or any other literature you find in the lobby while you're waiting. Ask the receptionist a few questions. Be interested in the company and show that interest!
Ask the interviewer some questions about the position and the company. Be prepared to talk about yourself and your qualifications. Answer questions succinctly, but completely and honestly. Take a moment to think before you respond or ask for clarification if you need it. Maintain respectable eye contact and smile. (Use cartoon overhead)
4. ATTITUDE / DEMEANOR. Be pleasant, courteous, and very polite. Shake hands firmly and confidently. Be enthusiastic and upbeat. Be confident, but not cocky. Listen carefully, follow instructions when asked to do something, ask when a decision might be made, but don't be pushy.
5. RESUMES. One, two, or three pages max. Use a nice white, light tan, or light gray paper. Tell the truth intelligently with a lot of good measurable results listed. List positions chronologically showing promotions and advancement. When you mail your resume, include a cover letter and an addressed, stamped postcard they can use to acknowledge receiving your resume. Bring copies of your resume to interviews.
Generally, when writing about yourself on a resume, or telling about yourself in an interview, you don't have to tell or want to tell everything about your past jobs. But, you always want to tell the truth. Put a positive spin on those unflattering truths, but don't lie.
Brag humbly. Don't be ashamed of your accomplishments, but don't shout about them. According to Bob Campbell a consultant at Hewitt Associates in Connecticut, what employers want to see in a candidate's past performance are adaptability, flexibility, and a knack for getting the work done and moving quickly on to the next project. "Go back through your previous experience," he states, "and find examples of times when you showed a particular skill at analyzing a problem, solving it, producing a tangible improvement, and then using what you learned to achieve something else. Emphasize the parts of your resume that show that you understand teamwork, innovation, and speed." (Fortune 3/30)
Courtesy of Best Access Systems.
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