The Job Search Myths You Have to Forget About…Now

If you’re in the market for a new career opportunity this year, you’re probably getting advice about your job search from a lot of different sources. Whether it’s from family, friends, or that lady at your gym who made a switch recently, it seems like everyone has words of wisdom to share about landing a new job. However, for all of the valuable pieces of job search advice out there, you’ll encounter plenty of “tips” that are just untrue. Be on the lookout for these myths and don’t let them influence your hunt. Some of the most common ones include:

If you post your résumé on boards like Monster or Simply Hired, you’ll immediately get offers

Too many people trick themselves into thinking that passively searching for a job will result in the perfect offer. Of course it helps to post your résumé on job boards so that you become more visible to employers. However, if that’s the only step you take, don’t be surprised if you don’t end up finding a new opportunity for a while. This kind of action should be paired with steps like networking and applying to openings that you think would be a good fit.

All job openings are advertised

In reality, a lot of available jobs are never even posted publicly. So how is an interested job seeker supposed to find out about them? Through networking. Don’t just rely on a job posting to make you aware of an opening. Instead, get connected within your industry. Many times, a friend working in that company can give you a heads up about an open job weeks or even months before it gets posted online (if it even ends up there at all).

The people with the most education get the best jobs

Yes, you need to have proper training in order to be considered for an open role. However, your next job offer isn’t contingent on the number of degrees you have. Employers are also concerned about your past experience and attitude, as these two factors greatly contribute to your ability to be successful in the workplace.

Lastly, if you think that dropping your salary requirement is the only way to get an employer’s attention, think again. You don’t want to demand outrageous sums of money to come work for a company, but asking for next to nothing doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a job either. In fact, in some ways it can hurt you, because it shows that you may not have self-confidence, which is another desirable trait in the workforce.

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