Poor body language can be a distraction. Effective forms of body language: smiling, eye contact, solid posture, active listening, and nodding. Detrimental forms of body language: slouching, looking off in the distance, playing with a pen, fidgeting in a chair, brushing back hair, touching the face, chewing gum, and mumbling.

It is important to remember that a position is open because the company has a business need that needs to be met. Please be considerate and realistic when negotiating a start date. Yes, I think it is important to take some time off between career moves. The ideal scenario is to give your employer 2 weeks' notice and then take 1 week for yourself.

If you are seeking employment, update your LinkedIn profile with your personal e-mail and cell phone number. The most appropriate place to add this information is at the end of your profile. This ensures that recruiters can contact you directly and not go through your place of employment.

If you are privately searching for new career opportunities, remember to turn off your LinkedIn 'Notify Your Network' when you edit your profile. If you are connected to your boss and/or colleagues, they may get suspicious about your frequent changes.

Over 80% of companies use social media to recruit and many people are disqualified based on information found online. It is a good idea to periodically review your online presence and think twice about the pictures and information you are posting. For a different perspective, ask a friend to do a search as well.

As a candidate, keep all lines of communication open with your recruiter and the hiring manager. Be honest and open about your career goals. Be realistic about your salary expectations and know exactly what you are looking for to make a career move.

When searching for your next position, read the job description carefully and apply for those positions that only align with your skill set. As recruiters, we have applicants who apply to positions posted on our website that don't come close to what the client is seeking. Time is precious so it is best that you apply for positions that match your skill set.

Do not speak negatively of a past employer or former colleague. Make sure you shed light on what you gained from past employers or colleagues during the interview process. Always turn a negative into a positive.

In an SHRM magazine article called Metrics for Better Hires, author Lou Adler Lou states:
"Interviews per hire. If a manager needs to see more than four candidates to make a hiring decision, you have a major problem somewhere in your process. Most often the problem is that the recruiter and manager are not clear on the real job needs."

Please never feel you cannot pick up the phone or send an email to a recruiter at a respected Agency. Our firm, in particular, welcomes the opportunity to connect with and assist job seekers. We recently received an email that started with "Apologies for a "Cold email", I hope that you will be able to help me. I am currently actively looking for a new job".... There is no need for an apology.

When interviewing, do not act like an expert in everything. Everyone has strengths and you want to make sure you can provide good examples that demonstrate your strengths. When you act like you are an expert in many areas it takes away from the areas you are truly an expert in.

Prepare for a phone interview the same way you would for an in-person interview. Choose a location that is free from distraction. Check your phone reception or internet connection before the interview. Lastly, dress the part! Even though the employer cannot see you over the phone, dressing in a professional manner may help you feel more confident and prepared.

LinkedIn plays a big part for candidates who are actively seeking new career opportunities. This allows candidates to have a professional presence on the job market and to network with others in their field. The keywords on the candidate’s profile are very important and can help recruiters and hiring managers identify the proper skill sets. Recommendations and thorough career history are also important.

Professional courtesy goes a long way in the Recruiting Industry. The Bandish Group has always prided itself on communicating with both its clients and candidates alike.

Although this video is humorous please understand the message; behind each CV there is a person!

We are all taught that there isn't an I in team, but when it comes to interviewing it is important for the hiring manager/team to understand what you have accomplished on your own or what your role/responsibilities were on a group project. When candidates talk in "we" it is assumed they are not able to perform on their own and they need support from team members. When providing examples where you worked on a team, it is best to say "as a team we completed the project on-time and within budget and I was responsible for managing and staying on top of our chosen vendor".

Keep it simple; avoid fancy font and other special effects. Stick to Times New Roman. Prepare in a simple Word format so it can be read easily from any computer. No photos. Always use reverse chronological order, listing your present employer first. Begin with verbs and be prepared to speak to those verbs during the interview.

When looking for a job, keep an Excel spreadsheet listing the companies you have applied to, the title of the position, the date you applied, and if you applied directly to the company or through a recruiter. If you are working with a recruiter, list the company name and the name of the recruiter. This system allows you to easily access and track your search.

When interviewing, always have a brief list of questions that you would like to ask of your potential employer. Being prepared will go a long way in expressing your genuine interest in the position and the company. Remember, while questions about salary and benefits are important; do not bring up these in the initial interview.

When working with a recruiter, forward your CV in a Word document. We need to put our company stamp on the CV when we forward it to the client and a Word document allows us to do that.

The value you bring to a company is a very important aspect as to why you might be hired. Understanding this value that you bring to the table can make all the difference in getting the position, rather than someone else. Be prepared to articulate why the employer should consider you for this role.