By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

You spellchecked your resume, included key words from the job description in your cover letter and double-checked all of the application requirements­­­—you’ve thought of everything, right? Wrong! Your application is not complete until you have given your favorite technology a professional makeover. From my experience working in my university’s admissions office and completing interviews and reference checks for potential candidates at JVA, I have learned that your digital appearance is just as important as the materials you submit. This week, I offer you some tips on how create an all around professional appearance when job hunting.

Record a simple voicemail greeting

If you are expecting calls from potential employers, your cellphone voicemail message should never include jokes, nicknames or simply your phone number. Record a simple greeting such as “You have reached Amber Alarid. I’m sorry I can’t take your call right now, but if you leave your name and number I will get back to you as soon as possible.” This lets the caller know that they got the right person and it does not leave them confused or offended. Recordings such as “Hello….Hello…Is anyone there? Just kidding…leave a message,” test the patience of the caller and leave them wondering if they reached the right person (yes, I have really heard this recording before).

Create an email signature

Email signatures are not just for work email accounts anymore. If you are contacting potential employers, a signature that includes your full name and contact information can make a great impression. The font should be plain and legible (no script fonts for your name and no bright colors that are hard on the eyes) and the signature should be short. Including a phone number and link to online profiles or social media sites can make it easy for recruiters to find your information and contact you quickly, and if you’re applying for a job that requires technological or design savvy, showing off your work online can be a big plus.

Remove/edit ringback tones

If you are incredibly attached to the idea of having a “ringback tone,” (a song that plays while someone is waiting for you to answer your cell phone, rather than the traditional ring) make sure that it is a song that is clean. Clean does not mean an obscene song that has the most offensive words removed, it means a song that never included any profanity or offensive material that needed to be edited in the first place. Unfortunately, this is a problem I have encountered with potential job candidates, and it did not make a great impression. In general, it is best to avoid ringback tones all together. While they can be a lot of fun, you never who is listening on the other line and could be offended or may just not enjoy being forced to listen to a song while they wait for you.

Flesh out and scrub down your social media profiles

Facebook, Twitter and the like are not the root of all evil—they can, in fact, make a great impression on potential employers, but these social media sites sometimes get a bad reputation because online etiquette breaches are common. If you have any photos or posts that are even remotely questionable, remove them immediately—it’s better to be safe than sorry. However, more information on your social media accounts is not always a bad thing. Flesh out information about your interests, volunteer work, previous work experience and travel. Employers do want to see your unique personality and know what you are truly passionate about, so don’t be afraid to display your interests. Many employers now research applicants online, so shape what the employer sees and put your best foot forward.

What tips do you have for improving your digital image? Share your thoughts and tips for job hunters in the comments section below.