For all the interview and resume tips out there and all the creative approaches people are taking to the job search, there is one rule that remains canonical: not following directions will likely hurt your chances at the job. Everyone knows that candidates are on their best behavior during the application and interview process, so what does it say about a candidate who doesn’t follow directions from the get-go? To most employers, it says that the candidate is likely careless and will continue to be so well after he or she obtains a position.

So, whether you are seeking the attention of a financial recruiter or nonprofit recruiting, be sure to follow each and every step provided for you! If there’s a requirement that you include a cover letter, do so. If the company requests that candidates do not email or call them to check on applications, do your best to refrain. It’s important to remember that you start making an impression on the hiring manager the moment you apply—not beginning with the interview or even your resume.

In fact, many hiring managers have been known to use a candidate’s compliance with the application directions as the first factor to help them narrow down the pool of future interviewees. For example, if it was requested that you submit three references with your application and you only submit two (or none!), you very well could be eliminated before your resume is even pulled up. Some other similar requirements that job seekers sometimes miss are:

• Obeying word limits on cover letters
• Submitting work samples
• Including certain information in the cover letter, resume, or application
• Specifying a preferred salary range
• Attaching documents in certain ways (i.e., copying and pasting the cover letter and attaching the resume)

Though some may seem unnecessarily specific and even bothersome, these directions are put in place for good reason and could eliminate you by circumstance; if you were requested to provide your resume in .doc format but sent it in .docx, for example, the employer may not be able to open the file—and will probably discard your application rather than reach out to you for a readable copy. It’s possible in such situations that you could be a great fit for a position and just made a small mistake, but unfortunately, there are a lot of other applicants for you to contend with. Therefore, being scrupulous is your best strategy.

There is a lot of talk lately about standing out from the crowd when applying to jobs, and with such a growing number of contenders for each position, this is great advice. However, not following the directions set for you is not the way you want to be noticed, so be sure to read the fine print!