Exploring common myths about job-seeking

Job seeking can feel like an ever-changing art. You may think that every time you are ready to start looking for a new job, there is some new ‘tool’ that is claiming to be vital to your search. There are always myths about job-hunting and that there is a right way to do things. However, a job search is entirely tailored to you. You must make it your own for you to get the desired results. I’m hoping to dispel some of the common myths around job hunting techniques today and help you feel more confident about your job search.

Applying everywhere at once increases your chances of getting a job

In theory this strategy could work. However, if you are applying for pretty much any job that comes your way, you’re more likely to make mistakes. Job applications can take quite a bit of time and if you are getting used to clicking the send button too quickly, you risk your application being rushed and not completed to your best ability. If you are taking your time to read each job description and tailor your CV and cover letter to the role, theoretically you are not going to have enough time to apply for them all. So, make sure you are only applying for jobs that are suitable for you. You don’t want to be wasting valuable time applying for the wrong jobs, this can make your job search a lot longer and can affect you later. Make sure you are taking your time and making each application the best it can be. Showing the employer that you made the effort with the application can make you look much better than if you applied with a rushed CV.  

Job seeking online is the ONLY option

Where job seeking online can be incredibly convenient, it’s not always the right place to go for some people. Some job seekers may think that they have scrolled through all the job boards on the internet and have made no progress. This can be caused by many different things, but believe it or not, using the internet is not the only way you can find a job. Despite online job boards being the default option, you may want to try other techniques. Networking is a great way of finding new opportunities that you may not find anywhere else. You can ask people you know if there are vacancies where they work or if they know of anything anywhere else. You can take time to go to recruitment events and talk directly to the companies before you apply. You can even look for recruitment open days where you can go into the offices or work space to see what it may be like working there. There are a lot of different ways you can help get your job search going and sometimes getting out and trying something new is all you need to reach your next goal.

You won’t get a job if you haven’t been in your current role long enough

Times have changed and employers don’t expect you to have year’s worth of experience in the same role anymore. Staying long-term in a role used to show that you were loyal to your company. However, employers have had to adjust to what employees want today. Employers are used to ‘job-hopper’ CV’s. They understand that people are interested in increasing their skill-set and once they have soaked up all the knowledge and experience, they can get from one job, they are ready to move on to the next job. This shows that you are interested in developing yourself as a professional and you are up for challenges. This can be seen as a very desirable trait in industry. So, if you are ready to move on and are not ready to stay in a certain role for 10+ years, don’t worry, they won’t knock you down for it anymore.

One CV fits all

The idea that you can have one CV and send it out with all your job applications just doesn’t work anymore. Businesses want to see that you have taken the time to write something that is tailored just for them. They want to see that you have skills on your CV that are taken directly from their job description (If you have those skills of course). The point is, they want a little bit more from their candidates now. Tailoring your CV and cover letter is ever more important, and they will be able to tell if you are sending just a plain old CV so take some time and try and make each application a little more personal to them. Click here to read our article on the importance of tailoring your CV.

Cover letters are useless copies of your CV

Over the years, cover letters have been getting more stick for being useless clones of your CV and less and less job seekers are bothering to write them, unless they have been asked to. Even then, cover letters are often rushed and sent without a second thought. Your cover letter is an opportunity to really allow your personality to shine through and share a little more information with the potential employer. Not only that, but you might want to include some things that aren’t appropriate for a CV, because it’s important that the employer is aware of them (perhaps a new skill you’re currently learning but can’t quite put on your CV just yet). A CV doesn’t, cannot and shouldn’t describe your admiration for the various awards the company/department in question has won since 2002, but putting this in a cover letter is both flattering and allowing the company to see that you’ve done your homework. It’s your chance to really show them that you care before they invite you to an interview.

These 5 job-seeking myths can sometimes be things that job seekers may hear or tell themselves to try and criticise their own success in their job search. Companies want a variety of different people on their teams, so this means both people with loads of experience and people that may be new to the working world. Show them that you can bring new ideas with you to the team and really make a difference. Thinking negatively can get you nowhere and cutting corners will not help you either. Make sure you are taking the time to search jobs properly, know where you are applying and try other job-hunting techniques. Your job search is going to be tailored to you so make sure you are tailoring your applications for other companies, it’s the same concept. You have to be able to use your intuition, express your capability for the role and show you’re prepared to go that extra mile, even if it means getting out of your own safety zone.