Job Search Etiquette
Your skills and experience get you in the room. Your professionalism and conduct determine whether you get the offer. These aren’t complicated rules — they’re the basics that consistently separate candidates who get hired from those who don’t.
Your Phone
The number on your resume should always be answered professionally — you never know who’s calling. If you’re in a noisy environment or can’t speak freely, let it go to voicemail and call back as soon as you can from a quiet place.
Make sure your voicemail greeting is professional and your inbox isn’t full. Return calls the same day where possible. In a competitive market, how quickly you respond signals how you’ll behave as an employee.
Use a professional email address — ideally, some version of your name. An address that made sense in college rarely makes sense in a job search.
When you apply by email, include a brief note in the body — not just an attachment. It doesn’t need to be long: who you are, what you’re applying for, and one sentence on why you’re a strong fit. Check spelling before you send. Every time.
Respond to emails promptly. Many companies and recruiters factor responsiveness into their assessment of candidates.
Stay Organized
Keep a running list of every position you’ve applied to — directly and through recruiters. This protects you from being submitted twice to the same company, which can eliminate you from consideration entirely. It also shows that you’re taking your search seriously.
The Small Things That Matter
- Arrive a few minutes early to interviews — or have your phone/video link tested and ready before the call starts.
- Be warm to everyone you encounter: receptionists, coordinators, other candidates. The way you treat people who aren’t the decision-maker often makes its way back to the decision-maker.
- After every interview, send a thank-you note. An email is fine and takes three minutes. Most candidates don’t bother — which means doing it already makes you stand out.
- Don’t speak negatively about former employers, in person or online. The professional world is smaller than it seems.
- Follow up thoughtfully — once or twice is persistence, three times a week is annoying. There’s a real difference.
A Note on Social Media
Hiring managers look people up. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is current and consistent with your resume. Review your other public profiles and ask yourself whether what’s visible reflects how you want to be seen professionally. When in doubt, make it private.
