The job market is a game of managing expectations and delivering what the employer never sees coming.

That’s why an article in late April from Bloomberg Business caught a lot of people by surprise. In a piece called “The Best and Worst Fonts to Use on Your Resume,” reporter Natalie Kitroeff explains why employers appreciate Helvetica (“professional, lighthearted, honest”) and bemoan Times New Roman (“It’s like putting on sweatpants.”)

Font choice is a small detail, but hey…often the little stuff proves to be the difference.

I spoke this week with Vahick Yedgarian, professor of finance at Argosy University in Orange County, California. Vahick told me recent grads need strong interpersonal skills — in other words, the “little stuff” that makes a lasting impression.

“Young professionals need emotional and social intelligence,” said Yedgarian. “It’s important to be exposed to a different way of thinking in the business world. Out in the real world, it’s not all black and white.”

I agree with Professor Yedgarian. That’s why I created a “social intelligence” checklist to guide us through the job market. The list is designed to help us stand out — and defy “rookie” expectations — at every turn.

More: Here’s a super-easy way to surprise people on LinkedIn — in a good way.

Print it out and check off the tasks as you move through the application process.

 Featured photo: Flickr (The College Graduate)