Job Search Etiquette

Cover Letters and Résumés

Cover Letter Etiquette

• Know your audience: Research the company and tailor your letter to it. Make every letter unique.
• Follow instructions: If you’re responding to an ad, provide exactly what’s requested. If an online ad requests no attachments, for instance, don’t send any.
• Use a formal tone: Make sure you come across as thoughtful, responsible, and employable.
• Use a traditional font and paper: Use a classic font, such as Times, on white or off-white 8.5"×11" paper.
• Keep it short: Your goal should be to make it easy for a prospective employer to read your cover letter. If you make it too long, employers might not read it all.
• Avoid personal information: Unless one of your hobbies relates to the job, don’t mention your private life, political views, or religion.
• Proofread: Proofread and spell-check your letter, then have someone else read it again.

Résumé Etiquette

• Be accurate: Each detail in your résumé must be factual. Potential employers may check up on you.
• Keep it brief: Your résumé should fit on one page unless you have extensive work experience, in which case it can be two pages at most.
• List skills, not just positions: Skills are as important as job titles. Describe your skills and accomplishments as specifically as possible, using strong, active verbs.
• Don’t forget the basics: Include your name, address, phone number, and email address.
• Show restraint: Don’t include information about your educational credentials (GPA, test scores, etc.) unless you’ve graduated in the past five years. Photos and detailed personal information are also unnecessary.
• Proofread: Grammatical or formatting mistakes on your résumé make you look careless.

Interviews

Top 10 Interview Etiquette Tips

1. Study: Bone up on the company before your interview. Review your résumé and be prepared to talk about every item on it.
2. Be prepared: Bring a pen, a notepad, and additional copies of your résumé.
3. Arrive early: Do whatever it takes to arrive at your interview five minutes early. Never arrive late.
4. Look professional: Dress neatly and conservatively (see Business Dress). Turn off your cell phone, and don’t chew gum, eat, or drink.
5. Be polite to everyone: Don’t save your charm for the interviewer—be courteous to everyone you encounter.
6. Show deference: Don’t sit down until you’ve been offered a seat.
7. Listen carefully: Pay careful attention to your interviewer’s questions and maintain eye contact. Answer straightforwardly and succinctly.
8. Follow up: If you don’t know an answer, be honest but promise to find out. Then do the necessary research and follow up with an answer after the interview.
9. Ask questions: Asking questions at the end of your interview gives you a chance to show off your smarts as well as your listening skills. Ask about the company or your job duties, but don’t ask about salary, benefits, or any information published on the company website.
10. Say thank you: At the end of the interview, shake hands with the interviewer and thank him or her. Mail or email a thank-you note within 24 hours.