For many, graduating from college or university is like lining up at the start of a 100 metre sprint. The get ready, get set is a bit like handing in your final in last-year, while graduation is like hearing the starting pistol fire behind your head, prompting you to frantically dash to the finish line. But like finding a job, if you don't know what you're doing there's a pretty good chance you might lose footing and fall face first. It can be a stressful and aggressive game looking for a job and there's plenty of competition. There are certain job hunting practices to be careful of—things some employers aren't too fond of. Here's a list of recruitment pet peeves you should avoid to help you stay on your feet in the job race.

1. Being too aggressive

You want employers to remember you—just not for the wrong things. When passing around CV's and cover letters, it's always beneficial to touch base with the employer to see how the application process is moving along. Start these conversations by addressing the employer with the appropriate title and be polite. Remind the employer you appreciate their time. I know you're probably eager to hear back from an employer about your job application but calling them every day to ease your apprehension is never a good idea. Remember that employers are busy people, looking at a bunch of applications at a time. You'll start to annoy them if you're constantly at their heels about the status of your application in particular; they simply don't have the time.

2. Self-entitlement

The condition of having a right-to-have is like poison to the new job seeker. Yes, you've spent years and lots of money on your credentials (and you should be proud of them). But having credentials is totally different from having work experience. A credential should help you get your foot in the door of the matching industry and that's it. Some employers will negotiate your salary for some entry-level jobs. Asking for $60,000 a year off the top for reasons like exceeding expectations in school, or spending too much time and money in school to settle for less will only distance you from the employer. They want to see you work hard for them before you earn the right to that $60,000 salary. The bottom line is you need to prove yourself to the employer before you really have the right-to-have.

3. Disorganization

After a few weeks on the job hunt, chances are you've met many employers from a handful of different companies and organizations. Make sure you stay organized, remember the names of the employers, and the information you learned about their companies. When an employer calls you in for an interview, you should know right away who they are and the company they're from. If you're not aware of the company that's calling, you may come off to the recruiter as someone who's unorganized and mass applied to jobs instead of taking the time for each application.

4. Tardiness

This should come as a no-brainer: don't ever be late for something an employer has asked of you. This can be anything from additional documentation to support your job candidacy to passing on your references to the interview itself. If you're talking to multiple employers at once, be careful when committing to interview times. Keep a calendar of everything to help you stay punctual with employers. This is also why it's important to keep organized on the job hunt.

5. Forgetting to thank the interviewer

If an employer grants you an interview, remember they're doing you a massive favour that ultimately could set you up for life. Let them know how much you appreciate their time. Send them a brief, but effective thank-you email after the interview. This will also help them remember you. Forgetting to do this will make you seem like you don't care enough about the job to get to know them. Always remember to be polite to potential employers. You never know when you might run into them again.

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