This article was originally published on ComeRecommended.com.

As Halloween approaches, many of us have monsters on the mind. Should you dress as a mummy or a witch? A goblin or a ghoul? Whatever you choose, while vampires and werewolves are fun to impersonate for Halloween, they’re horrible role models when it comes to your career.

Here are 13 of the spookiest Halloween monsters, and why you should avoid looking like them in your job search:

1. Vampires. You definitely don’t want to emulate these classic monsters when it comes to your career. For one thing, vampires will suck the life out of an interviewer. In every job interview, you need to be lively, excited, and passionate about the role. Show the interviewer you’re interesting, creative, and the best person for a job. Another problem with vampires is they love stalking their victims. While it’s important to do some research during the job search process, you don’t want to go overboard stalking a recruiter. Keep it professional.

2. Werewolves. Whether they are bound to the moon or not, something werewolves have in common is that their transformations are tied to anger. You don’t want to let any strong emotions take over during your job search. If you are overly stressed, upset, or even angry, you’ll immediately close yourself off to job opportunities. Unlike werewolves, you need to remain calm, optimistic, and hopeful in your job search. These qualities will truly benefit your career.

3. Ghosts. Spirits and ghosts have a big problem when it comes to personal branding: you can’t usually see them, so you don’t even realize they’re there. As job seekers, you need to make sure employers notice you. Have an impressive resume and cover letter, and back up your brand with a strong presence on the web. Be on social media and maybe even have a website. Do whatever it takes to make sure employers notice you and want to hire you.

4. Witches. From flying on broomsticks to elaborate spells and potions, witches have a knack for the flashy stuff. While it’s good to get noticed (see #3), you don’t want to be overly flashy to the point where it becomes too much. There’s a fine line between creativity and being obnoxious. You can show your personality on your resume without making it pink and scented.

5. Mummies. Another one of those classic monsters you want to avoid being in your career is the mummy. Why? They are constantly wrapped up in their own stuff (pun very much intended). The job search is about showing why you will benefit a company, not the other way around. Someone who is too self-involved is unattractive to employers. Make the needs of the company your priority during the application process.

6. Zombies. While you may absolutely love The Walking Dead, it’s important to avoid emulating those zombies during job interviews. Don’t be boring or appear uninterested in an interviewer. Don’t use cliche answers for interview questions. You need to be much more lively than those zombies if you want to land a job. There’s a reason you never root for the zombies to win.

7. Frankenstein’s monster. When you think of this guy, you probably imagine a lot of shuffling and groaning, right? Clearly, Frankenstein’s monster has horribly poor communication skills. Communication skills are one of the most sought-after soft skills by any employer. You need to really step it up when communicating your skills, goals, and accomplishments throughout your career. Speak clearly and think about what you say before you say it. Avoid grunting at all costs.

8. Bigfoot. One of the most controversial monsters of all time is, of course, Bigfoot. The reason he’s so problematic is because he is unreliable. You can never find him when you need him! As job seekers, you need to be easily accessible to employers and recruiters. Otherwise, they’ll simply give up on you. Answer emails and phone calls promptly. Make sure you can be always be reached. You don’t want to miss out on your dream job because nobody can find you.

9. Swamp monster. What’s the problem with this monster? He’s just overall unappealing. He’s greasy, smelly, slimy, and simply gross. You don’t want to miss out on career opportunities because people don’t want to be around you. Clean up before interviews and networking events. Be professional and always look the part. Nix the grease in your hair and put on some deodorant to avoid being the swamp monster.

10. Ogres. Positivity is a quality ogres definitely do not have. They are grumpy, stubborn, and make for terrible job seekers. Staying positive is key throughout your career because you’ll sometimes face rejection in the job search. If you act like an ogre about it, you’ll never make it where you want to go.

11. Dragons. The most aggressive of the monsters you’ll encounter this Halloween is the dragon. If you get a dragon excited, it will light you on fire. It’s essential to refrain from this kind of aggression in your job search. You can absolutely be ambitious and motivated, but snuff out the aggression before it ruins your shot at a job.

12. Demons. Demons are just plain evil. There is no situation in which acting like a demon would benefit your career. Play nice!

13. Headless horseman. It’s very clear why the headless horseman is not one of the best job seekers: he doesn’t use his head. Your job hunt needs to involve a lot of strategy and research, and you need a good head on your shoulders to make it happen. Use that head of yours to research companies, learn industry trends, and prepare thoughtful stories for interviews.

Even if you love vampires, werewolves, and zombies, Halloween is the only time you should think like these monsters. They’re no good for your job search or your career. If you use them as examples of what not to do, you’ll surely land your dream job. Happy Halloween!

What are some other scary monsters to avoid becoming in your job search?