Today’s job market is very competitive. Many times it’s the attention to details that separates one applicant from another.

Your online profile: Take your time when filling out your EAN profile and update it often. There are many profiles seen on EAN daily with “Afghanistan” as the country because the job seeker did not take the time to scroll down and click on United States. Many employers eliminate these candidates from consideration automatically, as they are not accepting international applicants and, to quote another employer, “If they can’t take the time to pay attention to their own information, I can’t depend on them to pay attention to our students.”

There are also many “skeleton” profiles without resumes or with very limited resumes. Employers’ feedback includes “I’ve seen a couple people on EAN that look interesting, but there is just not enough information to justify contacting them.” Make your profile as complete as possible. Upload a copy of your complete resume, transcripts, reference letters, certifications, etc. The more you put in your profile the better your chance of getting an interview.

And keep it updated. Even if you don’t make any changes, go in and update your profile/resume at least every 4 – 8 weeks. Many employers only look at profiles/resumes that are less than 2 months old. An HR Director, “If their resume is over 2 months old I assume they’ve either already been hired, or are not the kind of high quality teacher we are looking for.”

The interview: You did a good profile and got called in for an interview. Don’t overlook the details in the interview. Take a copy of your resume, transcripts, certifications, lesson plans/projects you have done, etc. to the interview with you. Yes, the employer should already have copies of everything you sent or that was in your profile, but they may have misplaced something or left it with another staff member to review. This is your chance to demonstrate your preparedness and attention to detail.

Be on time. Most interview coaches say arrive 5 – 10 minutes early so you have time to freshen up, relax, and organize your thoughts before the interview. Don’t arrive more than 15 minutes early because this can make the interviewer feel rushed or pressured. If traffic was better than you expected and you arrive more than 15 minutes early, check out the neighborhood or find a park bench where you can sit and mentally rehearse the points you want to bring out in the interview.

Pay attention to your clothes. You might like to teach in jeans and sneakers, but don’t wear them to the interview. Wild prints, plunging necklines, sagging pants, and short skirts should be avoided. The interview is not exactly a formal occasion, so tuxedos and evening gowns are a bit much, but dress nicely.

And pay attention to your shoes and accessories. Scuffed up shoes, excessive piercings/makeup, wild hairdos, and flashy jewelry can sometimes send the interviewer the wrong message. Remember, you are asking the interviewer to entrust children to your care for several hours a day.

Whether you just graduated from college or have 20 years experience, it doesn’t matter how great you are in the classroom if employers eliminate you from consideration before or during the interview because of a lack of attention to details. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.