Remaining professional as a candidate - top tips

When applying for any job, including care, it’s important to present a polished and professional image of yourself. From your email address to your social media profiles, every detail counts.

We’ve curated a list of our top tips to ensure you come across as the top-notch candidate you are when applying to a new job. 

Your Email Address

Oftentimes, your email address is one of the first pieces of contact information an employer will see and have access to.

In order to ensure it’s professional make sure you:

• Use your name - An email address that is firstname.surname@example.com is much more preferable than something like cooldude123@example.com 

  
  

• Avoid numbers and symbols - Keeping your email address simple and to the point is imperative, don’t include any numbers or special characters that are unnecessary

  
  

• Stick to common email registrars - Use a well known email provider such as outlook or gmail to minimise confusion 

  
  

Social Media Profiles 

When sifting through CV’s, it’s not uncommon for employers to check both personal and professional social media accounts. Before applying to a new job, be sure to have a once over of your personal social accounts. 

In order to ensure yours reflect positively on you:

• Review your profile - Go through and delete, hide or remove any comments or posts that may be deemed inappropriate or unprofessional

  
  

• Update your privacy settings - Ensure that all of your personal content is private and only visible by those you allow 

  
  

• Showcase your skills - Where appropriate, show off your achievements, skills and experiences 

  
  

For professional social media accounts such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X, make sure your profile is completely up to date with your experiences, your bios are professional and there’s no inappropriate content across the pages. 

Email Etiquette 

As part of a job application process, you may be involved in email communications with a prospective company.

When communicating via email, especially with potential employers, follow these basic guidelines: 

• Use a clear subject - Clearly state the purpose of your email so the contents can be understood before opening 

  
  

• Professional greeting - Start with a polite, professional greeting, such as “Dear Mr Example”

  
  

• Be clear and concise - Be direct and to the point whilst still providing all necessary information

  
  

• Close - End the email with a professional closing line, such as “best regards” or “sincerely”, followed by your full name or email signature 

  
  

Voicemail

When email communication isn’t used, you’ll often be contacted via phone once you’ve made an application or have progressed to the next stage of the recruitment process - if you’re not free at this time recruiters will usually leave a voicemail. 

Your voicemail greeting should be clear and professional:

• Keep it short - A brief,  polite, snappy message will suffice

  
  

• State your name - Clearly mention your name so that callers know they’ve contacted the right person

  
  

• Avoid background noise where possible - try and record the message in a quiet spot 

Presenting yourself during an interview 

The interview is an incredibly important part of the recruitment process so be sure to be professional throughout. We have an in-depth interview guide here!

When attending an interview, always remember the following:

• Plan your travel and route beforehand - make sure you plan the journey before the interview so that you remain calm and confident on the day

  
  

• Arrive on time - Aim to arrive around 10 - 15 minutes before the scheduled time to give the best impression

  
  

• Dress appropriately - Be sure to dress smart, first impressions are important

  
  

• Interview etiquette - Ensure you greet the interviewer with politeness and confidence. Don’t be afraid to show personality too, if you’re offered a tour of the home or service, be sure to show interested speak to those you meet 

  
  

By following these tips, you’ll guarantee that each aspect of your professional image, from your email to your social profiles, aligns with the high standards expected by employers.

A polished and professional approach can enhance your chances of landing your dream job in care! 

We have several care and support roles available - if you’d like to put these tips to the test, get in touch today!