There is an old saying: "The devil is in the details." This is certainly true in your job search. Of course you want to present the "big picture," focusing on your ability to produce results, breadth and depth of experience, accomplishment track record, and education. But, at the same time, you may be overlooking the subtle details that drive decision-makers crazy.

Guaranteed, you will never get feedback telling you these factors are why you lost the job-but these "pet peeves" may be the factors that made the hiring managers look elsewhere.

Let’s take a look at some of these gaffs and goofs that can sink your ship:

1. Do NOT conduct a phone interview using a cell phone. When you are out and about and you receive a call from a recruiter or hiring manager who would like to ask a few questions, don’t take that call! Indicate you are in a meeting or with friends. Ask for his/her name, phone number and the best time to call back. You can then get organized and prepared for the phone interview; participate in this interview from a private, quiet office.

2. Do NOT list more than one phone number on your resume. It should be your private land line. If you are not there to answer it, there should be a professional voice message greeting requesting he or she leave contact information. If you feel compelled to use your cell phone because you will go through withdrawal if you don’t answer every call, then list your cell, but follow tip number one.

3. Do NOT have a voice message that has been recorded by your children. It lacks professionalism, and the caller is frequently concerned that you will not receive the message. If possible, have a dedicated phone for your job search. It is amazing how many times family members do NOT tell the job seeker that they received an important call.

4. When using email communications, always have a signature file at the bottom of your email message with name, phone number, and email address. If you have an online resume or portfolio, include your resume URL. Use an email address that is professional, rather than cute personal email addresses. Here is an actual email address used by a job seeker (domain disguised): hotguyforyou@abc.com.

5. The primary reason job seekers fail in the job search is that they are too focused on what they want (job title, compensation, location, status, and the keys to the executive washroom). You should be focused on the needs of the organization and the needs of the people within that organization.

6. Do NOT develop a "30-second" commercial. Too often, that commercial sounds scripted and boring. Rather, think more about the hiring manager, what his or her needs are, and how you can be of benefit to the organization.

7. Do NOT worry about how to answer the tough questions. If you are prepared, you will do well. More importantly, think about what kind of tough questions you can ask. The best communicators ask the best questions.

8. When interviewing, tell stories that illustrate your point. Answering a question with facts and figures touches the interviewer’s mind. If you answer with a great story, you will touch his or her heart. Once you touch someone’s heart, you have that person "in your pocket."

9. Good grooming, positive body language, energy, and enthusiasm speak volumes about a person’s motivation, commitment and performance. I could write an article exclusively on the horror stories I have heard about job seeker mistakes in personal appearance and social graces.

10. You have heard it a million times, but it doesn’t hurt to hear it one more time. Proofread, proofread, and proofread your resume. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t see terrible grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes. If you are not a good writer, use a professional resume writer. Yes, it is easy to miss the typos. We all make mistakes—including me—but you should make every effort to get your documentation perfect. No one will tell you that you didn’t get the job because of your resume errors.

11. Just to tickle your funny bone, here are a few actual sentences taken from resumes:
"Wholly responsible for two failed financial institutions."
"Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year."
"Failed bar exam with relatively high marks."
"It’s best for employers that I not work with people."
"The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers."
"Objective: My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I possess no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage."

I have only scratched the surface. All of us can think of gaffs and goofs we have seen in others as well as in ourselves. You should make every effort to take care of all the details in your job search in order to become the candidate of choice.

Don Straits, CEO and Dragon Slayer, Corporate Warriors.com is recognized as a nationwide authority on contemporary job search strategies. His organization provides world-class outplacement and individual marketing services to senior-level executives. Corporate Warriors has earned industry acclaim for its world-class multimedia resume portfolios. Don can be contacted at don@corporatewarriors.com or (916) 783-0860. Website: www.corporatewarriors.com.