March 2003
12 Big Myths about Job Searching
By
President of Workforce Associates
and author of
NetWork: Maximizing Your Career Resources on the Internet
Available online and in print from Author House
March 2003
12 Big Myths about Job Searching
By
President of Workforce Associates
and author of
NetWork: Maximizing Your Career Resources on the Internet
Available online and in print from Author House
February was certainly a busy month for job searchers! I had occasion to work with at least ten face-to-face and more than that via email. Here’s what I learned from working in the trenches this past month about the Twelve Big Myths in job searching:
1) Don’t trust the Internet. It just wastes time.
There are still far too many folks who are reluctant to use the Internet in their job search. They are content to fax the same dull resume over and over again to employers, regardless of the job opening, in the hopes that someone will rescue them from unemployment.
I learned that many job seekers don’t understand why employers are increasingly turning to Internet in a job search. They don’t understand that it is a powerful filter for employers. Think about it. You have to have a computer or access to one, working knowledge of email and word processing, and the ability to find where jobs are posted online. You also need to demonstrate that you know where and how to research the company and tailor your resume and questions to ask during an interview accordingly. Why shouldn’t an employer use this as a filter for professional jobs or any job in this 21st century?
2) Don’t prepare more than one electronic resume. They take too much time.
Job seekers don’t realize that they must have customized resumes for each job that highlights their previous experience. They also need personalized career objectives and keywords that pack a wallop with the Applicant Tracking System that HR folks heavily rely on.
Be prepared to make at least 5 versions of your experience and educational attainments. Focus on what you achieved in previous jobs, not just an accumulation of jobs and companies. Write two sentences for each job that you had. These sentences should use keywords that are similar to what was in the job description or found on the corporate website.
Another vital tip is don’t use dates in your resume. Stress your most recent experiences. HR folks would prefer not to know how old you are for fear of possibly discriminating on the basis of age.
3) Don’t bother harnessing your references.
In fact, references can be your lifeline during a job search. They want to help you, so ask them to vet your resume and keywords section. Also, keep in touch with them weekly re the progress of your job search. A weekly diary is a good way to summarize for them and yourself about what happened during the last week. They’ll appreciate being kept up-to-date re how your job search is going.
And when you do land that job, be sure to let them share in your victory. Also, be more than willing to help them in their inevitable job search. They’ll need you as much as you currently need them.
4) Don’t spread your wings and look at becoming an entrepreneur or free agent. Keep looking for wage/salary jobs.
Too many job seekers are stuck in the wage/salary/benefits rut. They’re looking for job security once again, even though it’s pretty clear that that’s no longer how employers see employment. The more sophisticated ones are outsourcing major functions in their companies, from HR, to R&D, to all kinds of ancillary services. This is a good time to check out http://www.eworkexchange.com and other free agent sites. You many want to consider opening your own business and should check out SCORE and the Small Business Administration office in your town for ideas. Many communities have entrepreneur clubs that are great sources of information and support.
5) Don’t bother upgrading your skills during this slack time.
The numbers of folks who have let their college degrees atrophy over time is appalling. And they expect that employers are supposed to overpay them for rusty skill sets! If you haven’t done so already, take a Microsoft Office tutorial and sharpen your Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access skills. Check on upgrading your licesne or certificate in your profession. Certainly start attending your local professional association chapter meetings. They’re great meat markets and often their websites have links to job openings.
6) Don’t bother with assessment tests. They take a lot of time and they don’t really tell you anything that you don’t already know.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. Myers Briggs, WorkKeys, Kudor, etc. have lots of online tests to assess your interests and aptitudes. Now is the time to be introspective and take the results of any and all tests seriously. You may be surprised by what you find out. An avocation may turn into a new career. Previous volunteer experience may propel you into the nonprofit sector. A latent talent may emerge from the assessment testing that will guide you. Check out the wonderful book, Do What You Are, by Paul and Sarah Edwards, to see what I mean.
7) Don’t let anyone know that you’re looking for work. It’s humbling and embarrassing to ask for help.
Now is the time to get away from the tube and your computer to attend events at the local Chamber, your local association meetings, networking groups of other job searchers, neighbors, your alumni association, church groups, etc. etc. You may also consider volunteering your time at a favorite charity. It’s a great way to help others and to put your job search in perspective. You may also learn about a job from the place where you’re spending your time. Think of it this way: everyone knows 250 people. One of them can be helpful in finding you a job or a connection to someone who has a job waiting.
You may also want to consider getting professional help. There are career counselors at universities, community colleges, or at professional firms. Sometimes just sitting down with an independent third party is enough to kick-start your job search or help you consider new careers that you hadn’t thought of before.
8) Don’t research the company or industry. Just wing it at the interview!
Too many folks use this time in their job search to dapple in searching rather than make it a serious endeavor. There are tons of daily newspapers, business journals, trade publications, and business books that are yours for the looking at, courtesy of your local library. In addition, libraries often have online databases of business information to sharpen your knowledge of a prospective company or emerging industry.
One of the things to check about a prospective employer is their attitude toward training and tuition reimbursement. Face it! Your skills are obsolete within three years. It’s great to find a company that is willing to invest in its workers. Take advantage of their program to advance yourself. Far too many folks neglect this wonderful benefit at their employer’s. They make excuses as to why they can’t take a course. Many courses are offered online so you don’t have to waste time commuting. There are no excuses why not to upgrade your skills continuously. Let your new employer help you in that endeavor. Many good employers include training hours in their performance review so be prepared to get into the learning environment as soon as you start your next job. You’ll be amazed at how much more valuable you’ll be to that employer and how much more job security you’ll have.
9) Don’t bother using business cards or thank yous. They’re old fashioned.
One of the first things you need to do is to have business cards made up that include your email address, cell phone number, and keywords about who you are. You’ll need them in your extensive networking. 500 cards cost between $10-$30 so this will be a reasonable cost for your most important marketing tool.
Also, buy lots of thank you cards and stamps. Use them to thank folks for their networking help and after interviews. Be sure to insert your business card in every thank you card as a follow-up. It may be an old fashioned gesture but it’s very effective and will endear you to folks. Make sure that you send a hand written note — not an emailed one or one from your computer. The extra personal touch pays great dividends in the end!
10) Never trust the government.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a goldmine of information about jobs that are growing by geographic area and those that are not. They also release ten year predictions about new occupations which are good to take a look at.
In addition, there is labor market information about current wages by metro area. This information is available at the state level in your state government’s website. There are also firms that specialize in this information as well. They can be the Chamber of Commerce, economic development groups, and community minded folks who are involved in local Workforce Investment Boards, whose job it is to help you be gainfully employed. Harness all these sources during your job search.
11) Accept me as I am!
None of us can ignore our birth certificates but we do need to present ourselves as attractively as possible to interviewers and those that you’re networking with. There’s no excuse during a job search NOT to have an active weight reduction and increased exercise program in place. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel and look with fewer pounds. Your energy will increase; your blood pressure will decrease and you’ll present yourself as a dynamic, ready-to-go individual rather than a sad, over-the-hill prospect. Obesity is at epidemic proportions in this country. Presenting yourself as lean and fit will enhance your chances greatly during an interview. Devise a plan and stick to it, even when you’re gainfully employed.
12) This job searching torture will never have to be repeated!
Wrong! No matter how good your next job will be, be prepared to continuously job search. The average time that someone is in a job is between 3-5 years. That’s why you need to document all the activities in your job search now, keep your contacts with your local association chapter alive and thriving, and keep on learning new tricks. Also continue to help your references in their job search so they can help you again in another few years.
Well, that’s the round up of what not to do in a job search. Hope that yours is successful. Have a Happy St. Paddy’s Day and keep in touch re your progress. I can be reached at at jlommel@WorkforceAssociates.com
All the best.
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