What outdated job search myths are hard to let go?

Myths are perpetuated in many areas. Sometimes there is a morsel of truth, sometimes in the past, there was a reason to do things a certain way, and sometimes false information continues to spread. Job search myths are no different.

My husband, Bill, has taken on many household jobs for me since he is retired and my business has been thriving. I totally appreciate having the dishwasher emptied and the coffee made most mornings even before I get up.

He has also taken over much of the laundry. However, there are certain myths that Bill gets stuck on when he does the laundry. He remembers his mother using hot water for dirty loads and to get the whites cleaner. He clings to those myths and washes the whites and even the sheets in the hot water.

We use Melaleuca laundry products. These products are very different from the soaps his mother once used. These products are designed to work in warm and even cold water.

In addition, fabrics changed so much that even the white load can have socks made out of materials that shrink or get ruined. Bill loves slippery sheets but complained the sheets keep getting smaller.

I explained to him the detergent is designed to work at different temperatures and are better than soaps from his childhood at getting things clean without hot water. I think maybe the message got through when he said, “Yes, I guess you are right. My grandmother used lye soap and a washboard.”

What job search myths do people cling to?

Like Bill, many job seekers are convinced that what they read or heard is totally true even years after the fact.

• Job Search Myths – All jobs are posted online.

One of the biggest obstacles I find in coaching job seekers is getting them to leave the “jobs are found online-only” mindset. After surveying numerous executives this year to find out how they hire employees, they confirmed that very frequently the online job posting is simply to meet the requirement of posting the job. They already have found the individual for the job through employee referrals, industry contacts, or people who networked with them in the past.

Expand your job search with a robust outreach to decision-makers and in-depth research to uncover which companies make products or provide services matching your skills. Leverage the hidden job market.

• Job Search Myths – Resumes should only be 1 page

As a professional resume writer who has written 1000s of resumes over my lifetime, I don’t write one page resumes at all. My successful job winners know that to tell their story they needed a two-page resume and often a 3-page resume to fully showcase their value. Don’t get stuck on the one page or even the two-page mindset, tell your story!

• Job Search Myths – Resumes should mimic the job description

While incorporating keywords and phrases from job descriptions can be helpful if they are part of your resume story, simply regurgitating the job description will not help you. The secret of a successful resume is transforming what you did into a story about how you helped the company win new accounts, sell more products, develop better products, expand their services, solve difficult problems, and retain customers. You have a story but it often takes someone like me to help you tell it.

If you have been stuck believing in job search myths, maybe it is time for you to leave those behind and learn better job search strategies. Learn more.