What “everyone knows” about finding a job may be wrong, outdated, or a waste of precious time. It’s time to re-examine some of these common myths about job searching:
- More is better: the more places you apply, the better your chances, says the myth. Most often, this leads people to value quantity over quality and to neglect networking – a big mistake. In today’s job market, employers want to hire people who 1) understand and care about what the company does, and 2) can make a case for how they can be valuable. It takes time and preparation to tailor your presentation for each employer.
- It’s all about the job boards – most job hunters spend 80% of their time searching and responding to online job postings. Don’t ignore job boards, but unless you see something that is an obvious fit, treat them more as a source of information about who’s hiring and less as your most likely route of getting a job. Many, perhaps most, jobs are never posted or already filled by the time of posting, so understanding the hidden job market is key.
- My resume speaks for itself – probably not, unless you’ve carefully targeted it. Most hiring managers are not willing to figure out how you’re a good match from a generic resume, so find a way to make your resume clearly relevant to their company and their needs.
- And your company does – what? Your resume, cover letter, and interview responses need to show understanding of what the company is all about. Anything less suggests a lack of enthusiasm and preparation.
- The best candidate will get the job – only if “best candidate” means the person who does their homework, networks with people inside the company, and convincingly presents how they can contribute.
For more advice on avoiding job hunt misconceptions and for help strategizing your own search, connect with an InsideTrack Career Coach.
Career Coaching by InsideTrack offers dedicated Career Coaches and interactive content modules to support your career success in a flexible and personalized format. To learn more, visit ucla.insidetrack.com
