It is no secret that the economy is a little unpredictable right now. With changing markets in a changing world, it is important that everyone prepare for the future and retirement—even if it still seems like light-years away.

Job interviews can be daunting—especially if your prospective employer wants to chat face-to-face online. In recent years, online job interviews have become more popular and many companies, including Hilton, are regularly using technology to conduct preliminary interviews.

Whether you’re applying for an internship or preparing for your future career, it is important to have a polished résumé that speaks to your character and skill set. As a Career Counselor at Johnson & Wales University and an online instructor, I frequently review student résumés.

Here are seven of the most common résumé mistakes I see:

1.       Incorrectly listing information and dates.

No matter where you work, it’s happened to all of us: You’re handed a responsibility that’s seemingly out of your “job description.” Most of us grin and bear it, all the while internally grumbling “I did not go to school for this” or “This is taking away from what I really need to be working on right now.”

We’ve all heard it before: First impressions are crucial. It’s true—the way you interact with someone the first time you meet them will lay the groundwork for the rest of your relationship. In a professional setting, first impressions can be scary. Everyone wants to make sure they don’t do or say the wrong thing, especially when their reputation is on the line.

If you’re going in for an interview, here are five ways to leave a lasting impression on the people who matter:

1.  Be on time.

What does country singing sensation Carrie Underwood have in common with the newest generation entering the workforce?

She’s a millennial—and she has a keen sense of this generation’s definition of success: “Successful people have a social responsibility to make the world a better place and not just take from it.“

At one of my first jobs, I had the opportunity to undertake my first true professional development experience. I was in sales, and my supervisor wanted me to take a Dale Carnegie Training course.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to attend a conference. In terms of my normal professional career, this statement is not particularly significant, however, this conference was different because it wasn’t actually for me. My wife, who is a stay-at-home-mom, decided to sign up to be a retailer for a direct sales company.

If you’re thinking about getting your degree online, you might be curious to learn about the benefits of online classes. Aside from the overall convenience and flexibility online courses offer, you’ll be given the opportunity to learn real career skills that you might not pick up in a traditional classroom setting.

Here are five things you’ll learn in your online course that will be critical to your future career success:

When I was in school, I never really thought much about what my professional bio would say. Up until now, I never really needed one. Aside from the short blurb on my Twitter page (where I went to college, what I do for a living, what kind of food I like), I didn’t have a reason to write anything about myself and my accomplishments. When I started my job at JWU and was finally asked to write a short bio, I had no idea where to start because I didn’t know what the vibe was. Should it be long, formal and resume-like or should I include my love for social media and my cat?