This Is How to Get Your Next Job

#10: Don’t Act Desperate

My dog has perfected the desperate look. He flattens his ears and hunches over slightly with his head lowered and pitched forward. His pleading eyes meet mine. It always works. I give him whatever he wants. But for you—in a job hunt—desperation is not a good thing. It will have the opposite effect and scare employers away.

It’s a bad sign “when people start talking about why they need this job so bad,” says Dianne Durkin.

“They’ll say, ‘I’ve got a sick mother. We don’t have medical coverage,’ or ‘I’ve got two new kids.’ Or ‘My husband lost his job and isn’t making enough money like he used to,’ or ‘We’re trying to put our kids through college.’”

What does it tell her? “These people are not really looking for a career ...