Dont Believe These 8 Job Search Myths

Dont Believe These 8 Job Search MythsDont Believe These 8 Job Search MythsIf you are tired of the job search rat race, then stop doing what you are doing. While you are at it, dismiss all the assumptions youve made about how jobs get filled. People hire people, not rsums. Lets debunk your beliefs and myths associated with job searchingMYTH You will find your next job by applying online. You may believe that if you apply to enough jobs, youll eventually beat the odds and land one. While applying to jobs may make you feel productive, a recentCareerXroads survey shows thatonly 15 percent of positions were filled through job boards.Most jobs are either filled internally or through referrals. When you spend all your time and energy scoping out jobs and applying, youre hurting your chances.So what else should you be doing? Try a combination of things. Successful job seekers use a variety of tactics, such as contacting industry-specific recruiting agencies or third-party recruiters, meeting one-on-one with past colleagues, attending professional association meetings, volunteering and meeting new people every day. If this sounds daunting or almost impossible, remember More than 70 percent of people land jobs through networking. MYTH You should expect to hear a response soon after you apply.After you have taken time to research a company, modify yourrsumand go through the application process, youassume youll hear something. The reality is you may not hear back from the company. Expect this to be the norm and take proactive steps. Plan to follow up with someone in menschengerecht resources after you have submitted your application. Ask what the time frame is for filling the job, and then ask if your application was received. Always end every conversation by asking when you should follow up next and with whom. The really eager job seekers will make that call the same day the application is submitted. The less assertive job seekers wait about a week. MYTH Your cover letter willalwaysbe read in full.You cant make someone read your cover letter. In reality, some people will never read a cover letter, and others wont look at yourrsumuntil after reading your cover letter. And there are varying preferences in between. The bottom line is that you should always include a customized cover letter that explains specifically why you are interested in and qualified for the job and shares something about the company to show you are a fit. If you dont take the time to do this, then why should the company take time to review your qualifications for the job?MYTH You should network with human resources.One of the many roles human resources serves is to fill open job requisitions. Often, there are numerous requisitions in the pipeline, and the No. 1 priority is to fill these jobs. Requesting to network with human resources is not in your best interest nor in the best interest of the busy human resources professional. He or she probably doesnt know about future opening s or department-level plans. And and even if he or she did, the advice you get would be to wait until you see something posted.Invest your time reaching out to peer-level employees inside a company. Learn how these employees landed the job, what the company culture is like and the skills and responsibilities required in the job. MYTH The best time to network is after the job has been posted.You see the perfect job posted and believe youre a match. With great excitement, you reach out to someone inside the company only to get ignored or brushed off. Youre doing the right thing, so why isnt it working? Youre too late to the party. That job has probably been circulating inside the company for weeks. The person you are contacting may even be in the running for the job.The best time to network is in advance of job opportunities being posted. In fact, networking after a job has been posted really isnt networking its tracking down a job. Thats not badin fact, its recommended butits not tru ly networking. Startidentifying companies you would like to work for, and begin networking before jobs are posted. MYTH You will be granted an vorstellungsgesprch for every job you apply to.If youve purposely submitted a vague or generalrsumwith the hope that a recruiter will call for more details, thinkagain. Most of the time, you will not receive a call. Recruiters, human resources staff and the hiring manager only call you if you are a good match for the job. If your application andrsumdont show how you are a perfect match for the job, the recruiter has very little interest in speaking with you. MYTH Your references are contacted before or during the interview process.Every company has a different policy regarding reference checking. Seldom will your references get checked whilersums are being reviewed or during the interview process. It costs time and money to verify references, and if there are multiple candidates applying and interviewing,this can be a costly investment.On the other hand, a quick Internet search can often reveal information, so some recruiters may be checking you out online. Carefully select the people you want to serve as references, and prepare them to provide the most relevant and important details about you. MYTH Yourrsumis the most important job search tool.It is important to have a well-writtenrsum. However, how many hours do you spend updating, modifying, tweaking andadapting it? Too many. The numerous hours you spend hiding behind a computer screen means you arent spending time on the phone reaching out to people or attending one-on-one networking meetings.Invest your time wisely. How many people will actually take the time to thoroughly review yourrsumand ask you questions about each job you held? Much ofthe detail you obsess over is irrelevant to hiring professionals or will be overlooked in haste.Hannah Morganwrites and speaks on career topics and job search trends on her blogCareer Sherpa. She co-authored Social Networking fo r Business Success, and has developed and delivered programs to help job seekers understand how to look for work better.