Which Job Search Myths Are Hurting Your Career?
Posted April 1, 2014 & filed under Job Search
It’s April Fool’s Day. Odds are, you’ve already seen someone get pranked or been on the receiving end yourself.
When it’s not you, it’s hard to understand how people fall for the ridiculous fabrications they’re fed (In 1957, the BBC tricked viewers into swallowing a story about spaghetti trees) yet myths can lay down strong roots. Even flimsy myths have a way of saddling up next to legitimate knowledge and getting passed around covertly like a Canadian coin in fistfuls of American change.
And for your job search, you can’t afford to believe counterfeit information. So, here are several job search myths that you should just laugh off this April Fool’s.
1.) Your resume should be only one page
This job search myth is only partly true. If you are still a little green, avoid rambling for more than a page about college jobs, academic courses, or your first professional position. Outside of that, you have some wiggle room. Two page resumes are fine for a seasoned professional. Three pages are pushing it (unless you have jaw-dropping experience) and anything over is out-of-bounds.
2.) A creative resume is always best
For every creative resume that sweeps the internet, there are hundreds that belly flop. The myth that creative resumes will always outshine traditional ones is true for the right audience – companies like Pixar will almost hire you on the spot. Other companies, however, want to see a list of enticing qualifications instead of insubstantial smoke & mirrors. Using numbers and statistics tend to go further in most applications.
3.) You can reuse the same resume
This job search myth has a nasty survival streak. Each company is facing a different set of conditions. Uniform resumes fail to address those conditions and keep candidates from standing out from the crowd. That’s why each resume should be tailor-made to incorporate the right keywords, responsibilities, and achievements to grab hiring managers in the 6 seconds they’ll give you.
4.) Networking is only about helping yourself
Networking is all about connecting with other people, so it’s a surprise this job search myth persists. Worst of all, it’s not even a message that people overtly spread. Each networking opportunity is a chance to help someone else and build a web of people willing to do you favors in the future.
5.) Don’t apply during the holidays
No doubt you’ve heard this job search myth: pause your job search during the holidays. Hiring managers want to kick back and relax. The opposite is typically true. Most hiring managers will be hiring for end of year projects or taking advantage of freed up work schedules. In actuality, it is job seekers who are taking a hiatus, so the talent pool won’t be saturated when you apply.
by James Walsh
