There are several pieces of advice that used to be the Ten Commandments for career advice. However, there are new sacraments these days, so here are the archaic pieces of advice that should be ignored at all costs.

Prim and proper language should be utilized on a resume:
Resumes that contain genuine language stand out the most to potential employers. A professional tone should still be applied, but the style should sound personalized.

Answer the biggest weakness question with a positive:
This piece of advice has been so widely spread that prospective employers know all the most popular answers by heart. Surprise the interviewer by answering with an actual weakness and how you plan to compensate for this flaw.

Write “references can be provided if necessary” on the bottom of your resume:
Nowadays, employers expect references to be provided on every application. Resumes that do not contain references are often ignored.

Good resume paper equals a good resume:
Resume paper has become obsolete as resumes are submitted online for the most part.

Send your resume by overnight mail to impress potential employers:
Receiving a resume by overnight mail will catch attention; however, not the attention you wish to receive. As shown in number 4, resumes are usually submitted online.

Incorporate an objective:
Hiring managers simply are not interested in objectives these days. Usually, they are not relevant to the position being offered and are often ignored.

Landlines are absolutely necessary for phone interviews:
Landlines are slowly going extinct, so it might be impossible for some people to follow this advice. Absolute quiet and clear reception are a must if using a cell phone for an interview.

Resumes should not go over one page in length:
This is fine if you have little experience, but sometimes there is not enough room on one little page. It is more common to see two page resumes as of late.

Every former job goes on the resume:
A resume is supposed to show you in the best possible light, so only jobs that show that should be included.

After sending in a resume, call to schedule an interview:
Countless people are fighting for the same jobs every day, and it is overly confident to assume that you will always get an interview. Calling for an interview will turn prospective employers off, and the expected interview will never come.

Nobody runs background checks in my field:
That may have been the case when you got into the field, but background checks have grown in popularity at an amazing rate over the past decade. Businesses of all sizes now run background checks on many of their employees. It might be helpful to see what’s in your background before your potential employer does. Running a background check on yourself ahead of time can help you to be prepare for any questions an interviewer may ask and to fix any mistakes that show up.

You can find even more tips to assist you in finding your new job by downloading our free Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide from http://www.MyBackgroundCheck.com/JobSeekerGuide. The Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide is packed with help from cover letters to growing you professional network. It’s a great tool for job seekers in any field.

A cover letter should be included with a resume when applying for a job. Cover letters let you communicate your skills and assets directly to the hiring manager, while making your application and resume look more professional. It also allows you to tell the hiring manager why you are the best person for the position. A cover letter should be no longer than one page long, and, ideally, should be between three and four paragraphs.

Here are seven tips to help you write a great cover letter:

1. Write the letter using a business letter format. Include your name, address and email address at the top of the letter. Use the same font you used for your resume for the cover letter. Use common, easy to read fonts like Times New Roman, Tahoma or Arial.
2. If possible, address the letter to the person in charge of hiring. If the person's name is not included with the job listing, call the company directly to find out the hiring manager's name.
3. The letter should include the reason you are writing the letter. Include where you found the job listing and include the job title and any reference number, if applicable. Mention any referrals from colleagues in the first paragraph.
4. Include your knowledge of the industry to show your competency. This also helps makes a connection that builds trust and can give you leverage over other candidates.
5. Discuss what skills you possess that relate to job requirements. Try to match as many job requirements with your skills as possible. One way to do this is to make a two columns with job requirements on one side and your skills in the second column to compare.
6. Specifically ask for an interview. Give a call to action and let them know you will follow up to further discuss an interview.
7. Always proofread your letter before sending it. A typo on your cover letter or resume will reflect poorly on you, and may harm your chances at getting an interview. Proofread your letter after you write it, and again hours later or the next day. If possible, ask someone else to read it and proofread it before sending it.

You can find even more tips to assist you in finding your new job by downloading our free Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide from http://www.mybackgroundcheck.com/jobseekerguide/. The Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide is packed with help from cover letters to growing you professional network. It’s a great tool for job seekers in any field.

Facebook doesn’t necessarily have a great reputation for business networking, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use it to your full advantage. In many respects it possesses some of the same perks as LinkedIn, at least insofar as it allows you to display all of the qualifications, skills, and experiences that might make you a promising job candidate. The communication options afforded by Facebook are much more casual and relaxed, though, so be sure to read through all of these job tips and pointers:

• Keep in mind that, with Facebook, you have the option of basically telling the whole world everything that happens to you throughout the day—but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Be discerning, especially if you intend to use Facebook for business networking. (Facebook, in particular, is a social media platform that invites having separate business and personal accounts.) At the very least, check out your privacy settings and make sure that any embarrassing or incriminating photos are set to “None of my Networks” visibility.
• Just like with LikedIn, make sure your Facebook information is accurate and up to date. Also make sure to use keywords that recruiters might be searching for. Again, it’s all about maximizing your odds of being found via search.
• Be careful about the settings on your Wall. This is a great tool for casual communication with friends and business associates alike, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the things people write on your Wall need to be seen by prospective employers. Be careful about who you permit to write on and read your Wall.
• Take the time to set up different networks for personal and professional contacts—and after that, it will be easy to add all new Facebook friends to the appropriate network.
• Not all recruiters are going to use Facebook’s internal search capacities—some of them might search Facebook by using outside search engines, like Google. To ensure that they can find your page, make sure you check “Public Search Listing” under your privacy settings.

Download the Social Media Guide free to find even more tips to help you know what a potential employer is discovering about you—both online and off. The Social Media Guide is packed with useful advice and helpful hints to create the most effective and employer-friendly online profiles possible.

The application process isn’t finished once you’ve submitted your cover letter and resume—you should always follow up on an application by making a friendly, professional inquiry. This demonstrates to employers that you are serious about the position and that you are enthusiastic and motivated—and that’s exactly the kind of message you want to send.

You can manage your follow-up in a variety of ways—choose the option that seems to best suit your personality and situation:

Follow up by phone— This is one of the most traditional ways to inquire about a previous application. A quick phone call to the appropriate manager to check on the status of your application—and to thank him or her for the consideration—will reflect positively and could give you an edge over the competition.

Write a thank-you note— While often reserved for post-interview follow-ups, a thank-you note is still a good option for following up on an application. Make sure just a quick note that expresses your interest in the position and your appreciation for the opportunity. Visit in person—for local job opportunities, there’s nothing wrong with stopping by to check on the status of application. A friendly smile can go a long way!

Send an email—much less formal than a phone call thank-you note, an email may still be appropriate in some situations. An advantage to this option is that it makes it very easy for an employer to respond to your inquiry. However, this should be reserved for situations which you have not personally spoken with the person in charge of interviewing and hiring (in those circumstances, a phone call, thank-you note or in person visit is best).

Wait to follow up— Wait 1-2 days before following up on an application. You want to give the hiring manager enough time to review your application, but you don’t want to wait too long and miss an opportunity!

You can find even more tips to assist you in finding your new job by downloading our free Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide from http://www.MyBackgroundCheck.com/JobSeekerGuide. The Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide is packed with help from cover letters to growing you professional network. It’s a great tool for job seekers in any field.

Unless an employer specifically directs you not to include a cover letter, you should never miss an opportunity to include this highly effective tool. A good cover letter is the perfect complement to your resume, and it allows you to share a bit of your personality and to promote yourself in a professional way.

While your resume is a practical reflection of your work history, your cover letter gives you the opportunity to truly speak directly to your prospective employer, to convey your enthusiasm about the position and to express your appreciation for his or her consideration.

When writing your cover letter, try to follow these guidelines:

• Write concisely—be direct and to the point, and try to avoid overly descriptive language.
• Address your letter—be sure to address the recipient directly if at all possible.
• Show your personality—be professional, but don’t be afraid to be yourself!
• Promote yourself—tell the employer exactly what skills make you perfect for the position and reference specific points in your job history. Focus on communicating why you will be a good addition to the team and what you can do for the company—don’t simply list your strengths as an employee.
• Keep it fresh—don’t use a boring form letter. Tailor your letter to address the employer’s needs and respond specifically to the job posting if applicable.
• Review, review, review—check your letter thoroughly for errors!
• Be consistant—Match the style and font of your cover letter to your resume to make a strong visual impression.

You can find even more tips to assist you in finding your new job by downloading our free Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide from http://www.mybackgroundcheck.com/jobseekerguide/. The Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide is packed with help from cover letters to growing you professional network. It’s a great tool for job seekers in any field.