Whether you are a new graduate or recently unemployed, competition remains fierce in the current job market. Things you may never guess could be eliminating you as a candidate.

In fact, your first impression may be eliminating you as a candidate before you even get started.

To put your best foot forward, avoid these critical mistakes:

Mistake: Unprofessional online presence

In today¹s modern world where sharing personal information happens 24/7/365 on the Internet, it¹s very important to monitor your online presence when applying for jobs. That means even before you submit a résumé, you should do an Internet search on your name to see the results, update your social media pages, and make sure your activity on photo and video sites is appropriate.

In a tough job market, employers want responsible, trustworthy employees, or at the very least, someone who can keep their personal life out of the public domain.

Mistake: Not smiling and crooked teeth

Nearly one-third of Americans say the first aspect of someone¹s face they typically notice is his or her teeth, according to a recent Kelton study.

The study found that, when looking at images, Americans perceive those with straight teeth to be 45 percent more likely than those with crooked teeth to get a job when competing against someone with a similar skill set and experience.

Mistake: Bad posture and body language

Within the first few minutes of an interview, your body language provides many different cues to the hiring manager. Every interview is stressful, but how you respond to this stress gives the interviewer a taste of how you perform under pressure and how you may conduct yourself as a future employee.

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