In this 3-part series you’ll find an invaluable collection of grounded, practical advice. Some of the entries are simple entreaties, some portray intriguing vignettes, and others outline lists of guiding principles; all are illuminating, instructive, and insightful. Learning about the mistakes others have made will help keep you out of trouble – so take notes, take thought, and above all take action.

Lesson #1: First impressions are critical. I constantly warn job seekers against using cell phone numbers on resumes because people tend to answer casually. Cell phones can have poor reception and most recruiters loath calling them. Why? If a person is picking up her children, shopping or driving in heavy traffic, how can you really discuss in detail how her background meets the client specifications for the job?

Lesson #2: Courtesy counts in your job search. It amazes me how rude people don’t understand this. The job search process is about understanding and following the rules. Most people don’t accept that fact. They often excuse themselves for breaking the rules because ‘they didn’t know the rules.’ I have harsh words for those who don’t make an effort. There are enough resources out there to tell you what the rules are and if you aren’t dedicated enough to go out and look for the rules during the job search process, you’re not going to do it in your job when you’re an employee. Thus, the companies don’t want you.

Courtesy cuts both ways. What employers may forget is that nameless, faceless applicants also buy their products and their services. One day these applicants may even be in positions at other companies where they have to decide whether or not to buy the products or services of the companies that didn’t hire them and treated them without respect. Job seekers are a growing constituency, and while it’s easy to cast them away now, employers should be cautious in how they do so. Obviously, rejecting applicants is expected, but candidates who felt humiliated or tortured in the process will remember the experience.

Lesson #3: Follow the pledge Microsoft has adopted: Trust, but verify. As much as possible, deal only with good and honorable people and reputable companies. If you deal with good people, you won’t need an employment contract, and if you are dealing with bad people, no contract can protect you.

Lesson #4: I’ve come to realize that there are numerous push and pull factors that you will encounter during your working life. Pull factors are magnets, things that would attract you out of what you are doing today to pursue a really great opportunity. Push factors are the things that are nudging at you on a day-to-day basis – frustration with your boss, no promotion opportunities, traveling five days a week. If there are enough push, I think it’s time to at least evaluate your options.

Lesson #5: Whether you’re looking to move up or move on, reading business and trade publications lets you move right into the job of your dreams. These publications keep you sharp, well-informed, articulate, and in demand. It’s no secret that keeping up with the news and trends of your industry or profession (as well as that of your clients) will give you the competitive edge you need.

Here’s advice that holds true for all young workers just starting out in their careers. When someone offers you a new job opportunity, don’t ask how much money you will make or what your title will be. Ask these two questions instead:

1. Who will I report to and what can he or she teach me?
2. Regarding that individual, how is he or she perceived within the organization? (Osmosis is always at play. If she is viewed as a leader and winner, it will rub off on you. If she is viewed as an ineffective leader, that too will rub off).

Lesson #6: Interview companies for your job – don’t let them interview you. In the final analysis, you don’t “get” a job, you “pick” one. For most job seekers this is an important attitudinal distinction. Many of us forget that the decision to accept a position is far more critical for us than it is for the employer. If a corporation finds that it has made a mistake, they just have to go through the recruiting process again. For the individual, you have just invested “x” amount of your professional lifetime that is gone forever. When you look at it from this vantage point, the “selection” you make begins to take on a totally different perspective.

Lesson #7: Employees must now consider more than just getting a job and keeping it. Instead, they need to be mindful about the longevity of their career paths; they must research trends and project the sustainability and growth of their chosen profession in order to survive. With more than 9 million people unemployed in the United States, the competition for jobs is fierce. Among the unemployed, the BLS reports that “many are expected to face lower pay in their next jobs.” Taking these factors into consideration, workers simply can’t afford not to manage their careers.

Joe Hodowanes, a career strategy adviser in Tampa, Florida, offers a free resume and career analysis. Fax your resume to (813) 936-0201 or email it to jmwanes@jmwanes.com For questions, call Joe at (813) 936-0091 or visit www.jmwanes.com on the Web. All Job Search Advisor articles on this website are the property of www.jmwanes.com (J.M. Wanes & Associates). You may download
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© 2005 J.M. Wanes & Associates.