The ability to pay attention to detail is a highly sought after employability skill that affects almost every other skill that a candidate may possess. On the other hand, its ubiquitousness in job descriptions lends it to being one of those things that job seekers simply parrot onto a resume, before they move on to seemingly more important things.

It might seem a bit harsh, but in today’s hyper competitive market, clients can afford to be super picky, and if somebody didn’t take the time to spell-check an email, it leaves a hiring manager wondering if they can be trusted to lead their new digital marketing campaign.

Our best tip to connect with a job interviewer is to show genuine interest in what they do, and who they are as a person. Take some time to research their profiles, for example on LinkedIn and social media, and then write a personalized note which shows you have done your homework. On the back end- don’t forget to show gratitude and thank them for their time. Be real! It always helps if you refer back to something specific from the interview that you really appreciated or found particularly thoughtful.

While it is indeed a myth that a resume should be no longer than one page, what is important is that a resume avoid, to the greatest extent possible, including extraneous information that is not relevant to the job description at hand. A focused and on-point resume demonstrates to recruiters that a candidate possesses the ability to separate the signal from the noise, which is an essential skill applicable to almost any job in the digital age.

An effective resume will clearly demonstrate that extra effort has been made to tailor specifics to the role that the applicant is applying for; the last thing a candidate wants to do is make the first impression that they are out there spamming every job posting with a generic one-size-fits-all resume. Online professional profiles, such as on LinkedIn, are considered by recruiters the proper place to have a lengthy employment history. Your resume should read more like a sell sheet than a biography.

While it is also true that a lack of experience, as indicated by a very short resume, can also be an impediment to hire, there is really no use in trying to “fluff” your resume with irrelevant content, as any seasoned recruiter will be able to see through the façade quite easily. Instead, fill up the extra space by writing an engaging “Objective” section that clearly states your professional aims, both short and long term. It can also be helpful to write a short paragraph under a specific job you held that explains in more detail why this experience would be valuable to the company you are applying with.

Finally, if there is a “gap” in your work experience, don’t ignore it and definitely don’t succumb to the temptation to “fudge” the terms of your employment. If discovered, lying about employment gaps on your resume could result in long-term or even permanent consequences regarding your future employability. Instead, take the opportunity to showcase your resourcefulness by pointing out some life skills you acquired from the time period during which you were unemployed.

E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information entered by an employer from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to records available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm employment eligibility.

Verification of Employment Eligibility

E-Verify operates with speed and accuracy. E-Verify is the only free, fast, online service of its kind that electronically confirms an employee’s information against millions of government records and provides results within as little as three to five seconds.

A background check is a process a person or company uses to verify that an individual is who they claim to be, and this provides an opportunity to check and confirm the validity of someone’s criminal record, education, employment history, and other activities from their past.

A pre-employment drug test is used to determine if a prospective hire uses illicit substances or abuses prescription medication. It may also be used for employees who are returning to work after an injury or absence, at which time it may be referred to as a pre-placement drug test.

Skills assessment tests are tests that allow you to evaluate and screen prospective job candidates on the skills needed to succeed in their role.