Top 12 do’s and do not’s when Job Hunting

Mary Campbell-Cree, 7 January 2013

The top DO NOT’s:

1. Spelling mistakes in your CV, cover letter or email
2. Using inappropriate email addresses, eg sexgod/barbiedoll@...
3. Being dishonest about your background by inventing or badly downplaying your experience
4. Google yourself, ensure you can be found professionally (eg Linkedin) and not unprofessionally (eg Facebook/Youtube)
5. When going to an interview, don’t reek of cigarettes, after shave or perfume
6. Don’t dress inappropriately
7. For phone/skype interviews, make sure you have a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted
8. Never interrupt an interview to look at a text or take a call
9. Sharing too much personal information
10. Running down a former employer
11. Not doing your home work on the employer you are being interviewed for
12. Having unprofessional voice mail messages. While job hunting, change your fun/zany message!

These are the top DO’s:

1. For every role prepare / research carefully, both on yourself & the employer
2. Tailor your email, cover letter, CV for each role
3. Prepare for each interview - recruiter and employer
4. If you are inexperienced or rusty with interviews, then rehearse
5. Prepare real examples from your work history to answer interview questions
6. Pick your interview outfit to match the image required
7. Be positive about your past work experience
8. Prepare questions to ask the employer
9. Don’t be late, best to be a few minutes early
10. Be on your best behaviour, be genuine. If you have to pretend then it is not the job for you
11. If you’re asked a question you don’t know the answer to, tell the interviewer how you would find out!
12. If you are applying for a role, where you have more experience than is req’d for the role, yet you are genuinely interested, tell the interviewer why you are interested

Read more MCC Live! articles