If you are looking for a job after a long or short break in employment, or if you have noticeable gaps in your employment history, you must be prepared to address these lapses with potential employers. While many job seekers worry that gaps in employment will negatively affect their job opportunities, taking time off is commonplace and there are many ways to effectively address the issue. Take a deep breath and read on.

After a job interview, it is proper business etiquette to send a thank-you note to the person who interviewed you. Thank-you notes are the best way to reaffirm your interest in the position. However, even if you decided the position wasn’t for you, you should still take the time to extend this courtesy to the interviewer.

Send a thank-you letter promptly, within 24 hours of your meeting. Begin your letter by thanking the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. Be sure to mention the position name again and re-state your interest in the job and the company.

If you are in the process of applying for jobs, you should be prepared to receive phone calls from potential employers. Nowadays, many hiring managers conduct preliminary phone interviews before they extend an offer to interview on site.

When you begin your job search, do your best to prepare for phone contact ahead of time. For example, consider the greeting you’ve left on your answering machine or voicemail box. Be sure that it is professional (no jokes or rock music) and that it confirms either the phone number or name of the person you’ve called.

If you are just beginning your job search, a great way to start is by setting up an informational interview with people who are currently working in the field you are considering. An informational interview can be an excellent way to begin an organized and well-informed job search, as it will give you a closer and candid look at the industry, an idea of salaries and benefits, and a chance to make important contacts.

In an informational interview, you are the one doing the interviewing. Before you go, prepare the questions you’d like to ask. For example, you may want to know about office culture, a typical day on the job, pathways toward promotion within the company, or the best way to get started in the field.

If you’ve been invited to interview for an open position, you’ve already got the first foot in the door. Congratulations are in order, but it isn’t time to break out the champagne yet. The interview is a very important step in the hiring process – in fact, for administrative professionals, the interview might be the single most important factor in a hiring decision. Firms want to find administrators who will make a good match for their office culture and who will be easy to work with. The interview is your chance to convince the organization that you are the best person for the job.