Nerd alert: One of my favorite professional activities is serving on search committees. I love it. I like meeting new professionals and spending extra time with my colleagues. I also enjoy using time spent on search committees as an opportunity to learn more about myself by carefully observing how applicants carry themselves through the process.

Some of the best lessons I have learned about how to adjust my own style have come from being observant to nuances such as fonts on resumes, or how people title their documents.

Little things can make a huge difference.

While looking through application materials, for example, I have learned that “ADAMRESUME2006.docx” probably is not the most professional-looking title choice. I have also developed a belief that all application materials should be submitted in PDF form to preserve formatting. And no Comic Sans allowed. If you are going to submit a personal website, make sure that it’s relevant to the position. Do not gloat.

I could go on for volumes.

Serving on search committees and paying attention can be a superb way of developing what works and what does not work for one’s personal style. There is no guaranteed recipe for application success, because committees are subjective. Yet, in a time when the economy is crunched and job competition is fierce, making a great first impression as a job applicant is monumentally important.

So, my unwarranted advice: really use search committee experience as an exercise in self-reflection and make notes about what you feel is effective and what you feel hurts an applicant’s chances. When you look at a resume or cover letter and react with a feeling of discomfort, pay attention to what exactly is eliciting the response. If something really impresses you, write that down as well. When it comes time to take the next step in your own career, you may be glad you did.

Adam J. Ortiz is a House Director at Hampshire College.