The last year and a half I was at BPI I was pretty much in charge of our department's hiring process. The task was not department-wide -- because, for example, what do I know about advertising sales personnel? -- but most anything involving assistants, designers, production staff, and interns made its way past me.

I already had a decent idea of the do's and don'ts of the job-interview process, but after a year of dealing with it on the other side of the desk, I have gotten to know all the terrible habits and shortcomings people have as they look for a job. I'm a bit of a stickler when it comes to personnel, and I am most impressed by the traditionalists who work by the book. Yet it amazes me how poorly most people treat their opportunities.

Personally, I am not as hard-core as my own ideal candidate: I never wear a suit, even to a first interview, and I don't carry my resume with me. (If I were interviewing me, I'd drive myself nuts.) But whatever I'm doing, it works -- I went on just one interview for the job I started in January. I staffed my old employer with three new hires in two weeks to keep my team running as I left, and several of my former hires have moved onto lucrative jobs elsewhere in the web industry.

So if you're looking for a job, pay attention, since a little due diligence could greatly improve your chances. While while I write this from a new-media perspective, I have a decidedly old-world attitude about the job hunt, so my tips may help people in almost any field.

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The Resume
The Cover Letter
The Interview
Two Things You Can't Do Wrong, No Matter How Poorly You Do Them
Final Tips