Job Search Etiquette Everyone Should Know and Follow

Job Search Etiquette Everyone Should Know and Follow Job Search Etiquette Everyone Should Know and Follow 6 To make a positive first (and lasting!) impression on the hiring manager and everyone else involved in the process, youll want to put your best foot forward and present yourself as a highly professional candidate. To do that, youll need to practice these basic job search etiquette rules: 1. Notify references. Be both polite and smart by asking people to serve as references rather than assuming they’d be happy to do so. Such contact provides the opportunity to mention any specifics relevant to the position you’re seeking and to judge the person’s attitude toward helping out (enthusiastic references strengthen your candidacy). 2. Mind the time. Being there for your scheduled appointment should be a no-brainer, but things like traffic, illness, and other unexpected events do happen on occasion. Notify the potential employer immediately in such instances. Also, watch the other end of the spectrum. Arriving more than 10 minutes early can throw your interviewers off track or force an unprepared staff member to uncomfortably “babysit” you until everyone’s ready. 3. Turn off your phone. This pointer should be obvious, too, but employers still report applicants checking messages. Shutting the device and putting it out of sight shows the importance of this meeting and your willingness to give it your full attention. 4. Be nice to everyone. Don’t limit your best behavior to those who you think “matter.” Especially in environments that value teamwork, how you treat the receptionist reflects on you just as much as how courteous you are to the head manager. Smile, shake hands, chat amicably, and use “please” and “thank you” all the time. If the interview itself has multiple participants, treat them all as equals by addressing everyone in the room and making eye contact. 5. Avoid getting personal. Even if you develop a great connection with the interviewer, don’t mistake her for your new best friend or your therapist. Stay focused on the position at hand rather than venturing into how much you hated your last boss or why you divorced. Employers want upbeat applicants who are aware of what shouldn’t be discussed (and what could even be illegal for employers to know). 6. Resist becoming a pest. It’s perfectly polite to inquire about the next steps and when you can expect to hear back, but don’t start hounding someone on Tuesday when he told you the earliest decision would be Friday. Stick to the agreed-upon time frame. When you do call, ask if it is a good time to speak. And if you get voicemail, be ready to leave a message (preferably one you’ve written out beforehand) rather than hang up. 7. Send a thank-you note (to everyone!). Keep your name top-of-mind and demonstrate genuine appreciation by writing thank-you notes to the individuals with whom you interviewed. If applicable, also send thanks to anyone who helped you get your foot in the door with a lead about the opening or perhaps an introduction. Your connections will feel good about being helpful, and you build a stronger network that will be there for you wherever your career path leads. Ready to put your job search etiquette skills to good use? Start your search for a flexible job and land your next interview.