You're nervous. You're so nervous that you crave a smoke. So you light up, and as you puff away, it feels so relaxing, right? Well, what's good for your nerves is not so good to when you're job hunting.

What?! What does smoking have to do with job hunting? It has to do with the fact that if you-the job hunter-are a smoker, and your interviewer is a non-smoker, then your chances of getting hired are very slim.

And yes, legally, an employer can't say "You're a smoker, I'm not going to hire you!" However, it is an unofficial fact that if all things are equal, a non-smoker will be hired over a smoker every time. If you're a smoker, this is a disadvantage to you.

So if you're not going to quit smoking, then get into the habit of doing so outside! This is especially important during your job hunt. Why? Because if your interviewer is a non-smoker, he or she *will* know you are a smoker. You will reek of smoke IF you smoke inside (I, the author, am a non-smoker-I know what I'm talking about).

Because of this employer prejudice, while job hunting and especially before an interview, be sure that you dry clean all of your clothes (I'm talking: your suit jacket, shirt, and pants-male. And skits or dress pants-female). Buy new neckties (or bowties), socks, underwear, t-shirts, and hosiery (female) and keep all these clothes in some kind of air-tight bag. Put all these clothing items in a part of your home that the farthest away from all the smoking.

And if you do smoke with your interview clothes on, do so outside only! NOT in the car before the interview and NOT while going straight home afterwards. Wait until you are home and strip naked (seriously), put all these clothes in your "smoke-free zone." Only then can you smoke freely. And only then do your shopping, visiting, etc. If you don't, you'll reek of smoke and will have to dry clean after each and every interview.

By keeping all clothes away from the tobacco smell and smoking outside, you reduce most (but not all) of the smoke odor. This will give you one more edge over non-smokers. And this may help you get that job!

? 2005 by Jerry Carmack. You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as this footnote is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. If you wish to use portions of this article, you must email the author at carmackpublishing@yahoo.com for permission. Thank you.

Jerry Carmack is a freelance, self-publishing, non-fiction ebook writer living in Hot Springs, AR USA. This article is a part of an ebook, "How to Tie a Tie: Everything You Wanted to Know About Neckties and Bowties, but Didn't Think to Ask." (http://carmackpublishing.tripod.com/how_to_tie_a_tie.htm)