Job seekers, let’s use some common sense. Your career aspirations don’t match your behavior. Little quirks can derail your goals.  That’s the reason for this short conversations. To those who this doesn’t apply, there are many other useful articles on this blog.

Yeah, I stole the title from a child’s book. I read it a few times for 1st graders, who immensely enjoyed the book every time. People I talk to are continually committing the below list of job seeking crimes repeatedly, and regretting it much later. 10 subtle detrimental attributes that are not sin, and casts a negative dye on how interviewers perceive you as job seekers.

1. Don’t return phone calls, nor return email quickly.

2. You rarely smile, laugh, or act friendly.

3. Never ask for advice.

4. The lack of respect for the rules of engagement.

5. Late. All of the time.

6. Exude suspicious and lack integral behavior.

7. Forgetful is a way of life, and the excuse for everything.

8. Lack of humility. Lack of confidence.

9. Don’t know how to sell self.

10. Too soft spoken or too loud.

Since there is no need to pontificate on any of these characteristics, I do need to fulfill the expectation of all or any of these professional attributes say about the person that possess these characteristics:

May be likeable, but does not understand business.

Smile, friendly, at times too friendly causes suspicion.

Confident, prideful, will not listen to advice.

Lack of respect, well, is a lack of respect. The biggest job crime and is the inability to sell self. When the jobseeker allows shortcomings to inhibit the question, “Can I have the job?” then the work-in-progress evolution stifles.

Career growth stunted. You don’t grow. Ask Grandma if she asked for the job. Ask Mom (before she head slaps you) if she asked for the job.There are 10 attributes that can derail your success, but one that you could consciously control, you don’t. Or—you won’t.

If  job seekers are unable to sell themselves, eloquently impress upon the interviewer his or her value in writing or verbally, then failure to get what the heart desires is eminent. Then like a banana, hope easily perishes, and tossed  without appeal.