By MAX MESSMER, Scripps Howard News Service

Considering it's an election year, I'd like to offer some advice about sharing your political views with hiring managers: Don't.

Employers generally regard politics as a touchy, if not taboo, topic in the office. Offering even the slightest of partisan statements in application materials or during a job interview can make you seem unprofessional. You may even offend the other person.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. If you plan to celebrate, don't insert an ode to your sweetheart in your resume or cover letter. Prospective employers want to know about your skills and qualifications; they have no interest in your personal relationships.

Some thoughts are best left unsaid. This one, for instance:

COVER LETTER: "I am tired of meeting with managers who have no business interviewing me because I am far more qualified than they are."

A job search requires many things: motivation, perseverance, patience. Don't forget to add a positive attitude to that list.

Your resume should focus on just a few things: your strongest and most relevant professional skills, experience and qualifications. Anything beyond this scope should be left out. That includes information about pastimes and personal preferences, such as the job candidate who used her resume to express her love for sugar-free, pumpkin-flavored lattes.

"OBJECTIVE: I need a new job. Ideas?"

We'd recommend starting by writing an actual career objective.

Solid communication skills continue to be in strong demand. In a recent survey by Robert Half, executives named communication as the area in which workers could improve the most. That means hiring managers are looking for potential employees who can convey information effectively.

The start of the year is a natural time to take stock of your career. As you look ahead to what you hope to achieve in 2012, also reflect on your biggest successes of 2011. Update your resume with any recent professional accomplishments while they're still fresh in your mind.

A typo is never a good thing, but certain resume errors are worse than others -- especially misspelling your job title. I recently came across applications from a "font desk receptionist," "we developer" and "network technican." These goofs underscore why it's critical to diligently proofread even the most basic elements of your resume and cover letter.

The holiday season is a perfect time to thank the people who helped you with your employment search this year. Whether or not you found a new job, take a few moments to express your gratitude to those who offered advice, job leads or a sympathetic ear.

People seek or change jobs for a variety of reasons, the most fundamental being the need to earn a livable income and secure a position that is both personally and financially rewarding. It is understandable given these high stakes that job seekers sometimes go overboard to sell their qualifications. Unfortunately, going too far almost always works against you. Here are some examples: