Navigating the ins and outs of business etiquette in a professional career is a learning experience that many young adults are now beginning to face. From the beginning of the application process to managing oneself professionally in important business meetings, there are always behavioral rules to follow.

As you work towards long-term career success, don’t sink into the many pitfalls and traps that tend to entangle many of your fellow job applicants and employees.

The Three Crucial Steps of Business Etiquette

Step 1: Apply like a Professional

A quality job application is the first step to getting a job, and a professional resume is the cornerstone of your application. If you’re not sure how to get going when you’re putting together your resume, consider utilizing one of the hundreds of free templates that are available online. These can help take out the struggle of resume formatting and can allow you to focus on the most important part: you!

Professional resumes and other application materials are the initial looks that get you through the door. The next step is the interview, where you have the opportunity to leave a strong first impression upon a potential employer. It is professional interview etiquette to dress up, answer questions as honestly as possible, and ask a few of your own questions to show you’ve done your research.

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Step 2: Keep it Classy in the Office

Once you’ve got the job, the need for professional etiquette doesn’t go away. It is critical to keep in mind as you become more comfortable in your new position that you are still in a work setting. Although you may be friends with many of your coworkers, when on the clock, you must always remember to communicate with them respectfully within that context. There are just some topics that will never be appropriate to discuss amongst each other.

 Technological communication etiquette also falls into the realm of professional communication that you must be conscious of at work. Don’t play around on your cell phone during work time, especially in a meeting. When instant messaging or writing emails, keep your communication grammatically correct. There are few things more off-putting than written messages full of typos.

Step 3: Stay on Track to Finish Projects

Additional workplace etiquette involves making sure you are completing work in a professional timeframe. If you are assigned a task with a deadline, it is your job to plan accordingly so the deadline can be reached. When the time frames are unrealistic, it is your job to initiate the conversation addressing the issue ahead of time and not at the last minute.

As you are working through work projects, and especially if you are working with a team, it is critical business etiquette to make sure that communication is happening. Update team members on how the project is progressing and create a comfortable space for questions to be asked. Respect the work that others are contributing by doling out far more compliments than critiques.

As a professional in the working world, etiquette cannot be much more important. Starting from the day you begin working on your application all the way through the extent of your career, remembering to maintain a high level of respect in the workplace can make a world of positive difference. Taking steps to stay professional throughout your career will help you to build a solid reputation from which to work from.