Job Search Myths Might be Holding You Back

Are you letting collective wisdom stand between you and your career?

“No one hires during the holidays.”

“No one wants to hire people of a certain age.”

“No one reads cover letters.”

“Your resume has to be one page.”

“Trust your gut.”

Just because everyone says it, that doesn’t mean it’s true… for you.

When you are looking for new work, everyone else is an expert. It’s like everyone got the same email, and no one noticed it was spam. The truth is, everyone’s job search, like everyone’s career paths and everyone’s pinky toes, all look a little different.

Even two people in the same industry, with the same title, at the same company, will have arrived there from different paths. If you’re looking for new work, don’t let generalizations and commonly held beliefs keep you from moving forward.

And don’t believe everything you hear. Well-meaning people will try to help you out, but their advice can easily drive a wedge between you and your goals.

“No one hires during the holidays,” is the oldest tale in the book. Yes, managers take time off during the holidays. So does everyone else. Which means this is the ideal time to apply for positions online.

Why? Because, if I’m the hiring manager, and I’m NOT on vacation, I’m alone at my desk. No meetings. No calls. I have time to clear out my email and think about who I want to hire. When HR is back in the office after the new year, I’ll want to know how our candidate pool is looking.

Are you in the pool? Or are you just getting around to applying? Think ahead. When the hiring manager is looking for you, be sure you’re in a place where they can find you.

“Ageism exists.” Yes, sorry, it just does. As of this writing, you can’t change your age. But the best hiring managers are open to all ages. They understand that with maturity sometimes comes better attendance, a vast array of experiences to draw from, and usually less drama.

For job seekers, you can’t turn back the clock, but you can strive to be the best version of you at any age. Check your hair, clothes, shoes and language. Are you looking like you just stepped out of the 90’s? A classic look that is appropriate for your age is the best approach. Don’t change who you are; do show that you’re keeping up. When you show up like you’re keeping up with the times fashion-wise, this implies that your skills are also up-to-date. There isn’t a direct correlation, but we’re talking about people here. They connect dots in funny ways sometimes.

What else can you do? Starting today, eat well, sleep like you’re supposed to, and leverage the benefits of physical activity. You’ll feel better, and that is going to pay off in your interviews and when you’re working.

“No one reads cover letters.” This statement would be true if the sentence ended like this: No one reads cover letters… at first. People read resumes first, cover letters second. And sometimes resumes and cover letters become separated during the hiring process. However, in a search where two candidates are equally qualified, a good (concise, professional, organized, brief) cover letter will sway the hiring decision. When in doubt, write a quality cover letter, and expect that someone will read it.

“Resumes should be one page.” Resumes should be long enough to convey critical information about your career journey over the past 10 or so years, and they should provide enough space (normal margins) so that the critical information is easy to find. Crisp, clear, concise, yet with sufficient detail to differentiate yourself. If you can do it all in one page, do it. If not, go for 2.

“Trust your gut.” This one, actually, rings true. If the universe tells you what to do about your job search, and it doesn’t feel right to you, trust yourself.

• If you’re not getting interviews, rework your resume.

• If you’re not getting offers, revisit the stories you’re telling in your interviews.

There are all kinds of ways to land a job. The right way is the way that works for you.