First ideas about applying for a job over Live Messenger:
- Do not put a sexy model as a display picture. Unless you are the sexy model.
- Turn off the emoticons. For Christ’s sake. Turn them off. Playboy bunnies flashing in all kinds of colors every time you type ‘yes’… ummm not a very good idea. Thumbs up when you type ‘ok’… mmmmmaybe. But really… off is better.
- Try not to have song titles displayed in your name. I’ve seen things like “You don’t mean a thing to me” or “F*ck you right back”… that’s not really going to bring you very far
- Cut back on the (b)(l)(b) and {_/’\_} decorations in the name. Please.
- Mind the background if you’re camming. Take down the centerfolds. Really. It helps.
- Try to leave your girlfriend out of this. Don’t put things like “I’d love to stay and chat, but you’re a total b*tch” or “Baby you’re my everything, I love you sooooooooooooooo much (l)(l)(l) in your nickname. Now’s NOT a good time.
- Be firm, quick to reply and present yourself correctly. Make an elevator pitch to promote you. Cut the crap, get to business.
- Have a curriculum ready to upload, it can only help to create a more professional impression of yourself
Messenger conversations are very often between friends, in some cases between colleagues and in a more limited scenario between a company representative and a client. To make the switch from personal Live Messenger to professional Live Messenger requires quite some thinking. Which words trigger emoticons? Can you turn them off fast? Just like in real-time job interviews, the first impression is very important. How professional are you willing to look?
