What NOT to do...

Dear Job-Hunters of the world:

The list of things you should not do while looking for a job is probably just as long as the list of things you should be doing. If the blunders below do not phase you, you need to keep reading my blog!

1. DON'T show up looking like you just got out of bed. Countless times I have seen people walk through the front door wearing what looks like their pajamas. Also, I've seen a lot of men with dirty ripped clothes ask to fill out an application. When I inquired about their appearance, most of them said they were in the middle of doing something and just stopped in quick on their break to fill out an application. Ok really...if you can't take the time to clean up and put nice CLEAN SMELLING clothes on and take this seriously, why should I take YOU seriously? You only have one chance to make a first impression.

2. DON'T ever, EVER flirt with the person who takes your application or conducts the interview. You are there in the hopes of getting a job, not a date. Creeping out a potential employer will most likely not get you a call back. Also, the "unemployed" part of your application is a deal breaker!

3. DON'T call and check in if they tell you not to. There are a lot of steps to the hiring process. The employer must first screen all applications to see if they even meet the qualifications. Once they've picked the ones they are interested in, they must begin running a background check and verifying references. These two steps alone can take several days. Nothing is more annoying than having to tell someone who only applied 3 days ago that their application is under review and that WE will be doing call backs when we are ready to interview. Trust me, I know how it feels to put in an application and then wait. Time seems to go slower. But you do not want to annoy the people that you hope to work for one day. If you are too antsy to wait for a call back, there are other things you can try instead of calling. For example, if the position was posted on a labor board or website, keep a constant check on it. When you don't see it listed anymore, it has more than likely been filled.

Friends, these are just a few of the things I've encountered recently. Most interviewers will not tell you these things; they will simply skip over your application and never think about you again. I want to help you by giving you a look inside the interviewers mind. Consider this "tough love".

Until next time!