1. Correct the client’s spelling or grammar

So you really want this job but there is one glaring detail that doesn’t sit right with you: the job posting contains a noticeable typo.

Many of the people who apply for this job may not even notice it and the rest will just ignore it, but you are serious about your work. You have to let the client know that about you. Nothing like buffing a client’s ego.

The thinking behind it: You may think it helps you come off as serious. You may even think the error was a ‘red herring’ that was meant for you to catch. Chances are it is not and you are more likely to come off as egotistical.

What you are telling the client: I am going to be the annoying ‘grammar police’ guy around the office or in email correspondence. Something few freelancers will consider is that some people who hire writers might be doing it because they have no interest in writing for themselves. They aren’t hiring you to nitpick their writing (unless it’s an editing job).

2. Don’t proofread or spell check your email

The client isn’t going to bother running a spellcheck on your email for a job application so why should you? Even if there is a typo or a sentence that doesn’t make sense, he’ll figure out what you mean.

The thinking behind it: I honestly don’t know.

What you are telling the client: Aside from telling them you can’t spell? It also shows them that you didn’t take the time to use a simple tool that would fix it for you.

3. Give them too much information

Not only should you tell them your entire life story in the cover letter, you should also include a resume full of past jobs that are anything but relevant. Why wouldn’t the editor of a major blog network care that you spent 6 months working at Burger King?

The thinking behind it: If you are sending the same resume that you would use to get a job as a cashier or food service attendant, you are probably operating under the assumption that it will show you have workforce experience. You may even think that this will take the attention off the fact that you have little experience related to the job you are trying to get.

What you are telling the client: Effectively, nothing. Although you may have some dazzling related experience in there somewhere, by cramming it in with everything else the client may miss the important stuff altogether.

4. Don’t provide any samples

You’ve got a killer portfolio. You’re not going to show it to just anyone. If the client is serious they will pursue you for samples. Always leave ‘em wanting more, right?

The thinking behind it: There is a lot to be said for keeping a close eye on your work and avoiding possible plagiarism attempts. You should avoid giving out unpublished samples. You never know who is on the receiving end of an email address. However, many people think it’s alright to send an email applying for a job with a message like “please send me more information if you want samples”.

Some freelancers even have the gull to ask for advance fees before they send any samples of their work. You need to have something to show to someone who is hiring. Even if you’re just starting out and haven’t gotten any of your work published. You should at least have a free blog or web hosting account you can show people.

What you are telling the client: Asking for credentials creates a sense of mistrust between you and the client and it is insulting. You are the one who has to prove yourself here. Further, not providing samples up front might make it look like you don’t have any work or that you are hiding something (like crappy designs).

5. Ask questions that are answered in the ad

These people love talking about their businesses, so they won’t mind going over a few things they’ve already covered just for you. They will probably admire you for having the courage to ask.

At this point they are probably so dazzled and mystified by your lack of any demonstrated experience that they will do anything just to correspond with you.

The thinking behind it: There are no stupid questions. Asking questions is a sign of interest. This is only true to an extent. A job advertisement can only tell you so much. You’d better absorb all of it.

What you are telling the client: That you can’t follow simple instructions. It also gives the impression that you are inexperienced. As a freelancer, job applications are a part of your every day life. The instructions in job postings should all be familiar to you.

6. Skip reading the whole job advertisement

Most of that stuff is just there for less experienced people. You don’t need to read every single detail, especially when you can just ask questions (see above).

Besides, you haven’t got time to read it all. You’ve got to write an email which states your entire life up to the point of finding this job advertisement with no links or samples attached pointing out the client’s use of “who” instead of “whom”.

The thinking behind it: You probably think it’s just the job for you and you don’t need to read anything else because you know what you want. The problem is that clients listing a lot of information are likely doing so to save the time it takes to explain certain details to every single applicant. They may also include information that is crucial to determining the right person for the position, such as unusual hours or something that presents a moral conflict for you.

What you are telling the client: If at any point in communicating with the client it becomes apparent that you haven’t bothered to read the whole ad it will show a huge lack of commitment and likely turn them off.

7. Don’t thank them for their time

Resist the urge to be polite and courteous. This is a sign of weakness. You’ve got to play it cool and act like you don’t need it.

The thinking behind it: Forgetting to thank a potential client for reading your application is more of an issue of lack of thought. It can be an easy thing to forget, but it goes a long way when you remember.

What you are telling the client: Some may not notice but what they will do is notice when you do thank them. It isn’t a deal breaker in most cases if you forget but if you have made at least two or three other mistakes on this list it may be the final “oopsie” that gets your application rejected.

Reminder: Danish Refai invited you to join Facebook…

Reminder: Danish Refai invited you to join Facebook…

The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad on Tuesday unveiled the logo for its golden jubilee celebrations, and its year-long celebration plans.

Mrinalini Sarabhai, the wife of late scientist Vikram Sarabhai — one of the founders of the premier B-School ¿ has been invited to be the chief guest at the inaugural function on December 11, 2010.

The same day, a documentary on IIM-A, directed and produced by Kandaswamy Bharathan, an alumni and chief of the south Indian cinema firm Kavithalaya, who also teaches the “Contemporary Film Industry — a Business Perspective” elective at IIM-A, will be released.

At least five national and international conferences —with topics ranging from education to marketing —will be hosted as part of the celebrations. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be the chief guest at the convocation on March 26, 2011.

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It’s safe to say that Apple destroys its competitors in the consumer electronics industry. Sure, Windows is more popular than OS X, but Apple stands strong with it’s zero debt, recession-proof quarterly earnings increases, iand Pod, iPhone, iPad, and Mac sales.

Not to mention the totally-subjective-but-you-know-it’s-true sexiness and superiority of the hardware design. You don’t have to be a Mac fanboy to appreciate the quality.
There’s a few simple reasons as to why Apple destroys competitors. And those reasons are 3 lessons you can use for your own stuff: products, business, web design, art, whatever.

But first, it’s interesting to see some competing companies trying to figure out Apple’s secret. However, the secret is: there is no secret. Apple’s way of doing things is pretty simple and public to see by anyone. Here are the 3 lessons I saw from how Apple operates and dominates:

1. Follow your gut instinct.
Apple goes against common business practices. They do their own thing, don’t jump into trends, and they inevitably end up setting trends instead. Just look at how late in the mp3 player and phone games Apple came in, yet they set the standards for both. The same goes for them not jumping into the “hot” netbook market and instead releasing the trend-setting iPad a year later. Apple also ships without
“important” features, don’t do industry-standard things that they don’t want to (pre-release info, social media), and limit the number of product releases a year. The lesson here is to have the courage to follow your gut instinct, not what the trend and market dictates.

2. Care about details no one else does.
From the industrial design to especially the software interfaces, Apple simply pays attention to getting certain details right – details that most competitors don’t pay attention to. And while it’s hard to quantify why this works, it really does in a subconscious consumer-turning-into-a-passionate-fan way.

3. Passion really does fuel a leading business.
Yep, it sounds so corny. And it’s forehead-slapping common sense to some. But it really is true, and a lot of entrepreneurs get caught up in numbers and market this and that and forget this simple fact. Again, another intangible thing, but it’s a part of Apple’s success. It shows in the presentations Steve Jobs gives, the commercials, the packaging, even the intro video you see when you first turn your new Mac on. Jobs was quoted as saying (paraphrased): “Why do we do what we do? We create consumer products we’d be proud to recommend to our family and friends.”

Jeremy Toeman and Greg Franzese said that “the real secret to Apple’s success is that there are no secrets”. But John Gruber of Daring Fireball put it best when he added: “It’s that simple: Apple cares about details that no other company cares about, and these details matter.”

So whatever it is you do, simply care about details that none of your competitors care about.

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