My inbox is deluged with job-search queries. That's understandable: the job market remains tepid, and Kiplinger's doesn't see the unemployment rate dropping below 9% this year.

Some of my correspondents want suggestions on job-search direction or particular employers. Most of them do not. The vast majority of folks seek guidance on the ultra-specific Do's and Don'ts in a job search. "Is it okay to wear capri pants to an interview, if I wear a jacket in the same fabric?" one lady inquires.