A recent survey of more than 500 human resources and business professionals found half of all college grads don’t exhibit professionalism at work and executives don’t expect any change in the near future.That’s no surprise to Pamela Eyring, president of The Protocol School of Washington, which has specialised in business etiquette and international protocol since 1988 and the first accredited school of its kind in the US.“Soft”, or people-related, skills account for 85 percent of job success and are what PSOW has been teaching for over two decades and why the school started National Business Etiquette Week five years ago.“We’re spotlighting the importance of people skills, professionalism, and protocol: how you shake hands, make eye contact, and dress appropriately at work,” says Erying.A recent York College of Pennsylvania poll ranked inappropriate appearance the top unprofessional work behaviour. Eyring adds: “College grads grew up on technology and don’t realise smartphones, and now tablets, are huge distractions that send a message to the other person that this text, this e-mail, this download is more important than you.“It screams poor communication skills.”A recent Yahoo! HotJobs poll sums it up: “A third of more than 5,000 respondents said they often check e-mails during meetings,” with HotJobs noting, “such habits have their price.”Eyring’s favourite tip is to get a ‘personal business card’ with name and contact information.“The Wall Street Journal reported (April 17, 2011) ‘personalised business cards are enjoying a revival and job-hunters are finding them a handy way to differentiate themselves from the masses’.” Eyring agrees with The Journal that personal business cards don’t shout; they flirt with potential employers and are a quiet rebuttal to the jabber-jawing of Twitter and Facebook.Tips for College Grads on the Job Hunt1. Clean up your virtual image. Delete inappropriate photos and text from social networking sites, including your friends’ sites. Replace with professional photos, a 1-2 page resume and references (from summer jobs or internships).2. Dress like a professional. Wear neutral colored suits. Ties and polished shoes for men, closed-toe shoes, traditional jewelry, and some make-up for women (employers view a little make-up as professional). Also, don’t show too much skin. It’s employers #1 complaint.3. Research the company. Know their history, vision, and recent press.4. Turn off your cell phone. Remember, ringing or vibrating phones are distracting.5. Be on time. Arriving 10 minutes early shows anxiety. Arriving late could cost you the job.6. Make direct eye contact. Hold eye contact 40-60% of the time, shake hands making firm web-to-web contact (when meeting and leaving), maintain straight (not too stiff) posture.7. Write a thank-you note. Spend five minutes “writing” a thank-you note on quality paper and boost your hiring chances by 20 percent. Send it within 24 hours of the interview.