Debunking Myths: Candidate Edition
You know that job-seeking today radically differs from 25 or 30 years ago. Many people continue to hold on to outdated ideas and perceptions that are simply false. You may be getting bad, outdated advice on how to look for a new role from well-meaning but ill-informed family and friends. Here is my top 10 list of job-seeking/career management myths that you have my permission to ignore!
Myth: The most qualified candidate gets the job.
Reality: Not even close! Sometimes the job goes to whoever performed best at the interview, whoever is best connected, or to the person who went to the same school as the interviewer. Often, they are NOT the most qualified.
Myth: Just apply online.
Reality: Online applications have an abysmal success rate of getting through to an actual human being. Networking and meeting people in your field/industry is a much better use of your time.
Myth: Changing jobs frequently is a career killer.
Reality: This may have been true in years past, but frequent job changes are the norm these days. The average tenure in a role is less than 3 years. Most employers do not look askance at someone who has had multiple roles over a short period.
Myth: Your resume shouldn’t be longer than one page.
Reality: Absolutely untrue. Please burn this piece of advice to the ground. Your résumé is a storytelling exercise about your brand. Make it compelling.
Myth: You should disclose your salary expectations upfront.
Reality: An employer has a budgeted salary range when they open a requisition for a new hire. So, ask the interviewer what that range is. This is disingenuous. If they won’t tell you or tell you that they haven’t landed on a range yet, move on.
Myth: I need to tell a prospective employer what I am currently/previously earning.
Reality: You do not. Why would you disclose such personal financial information to a total stranger? It is not at all relative to the job you’re discussing. The employer may want to know your salary history, but they don’t need it.
Myth: My boss is the best person to decide my career trajectory.
Reality: Nonsense. People used to stay at one company for their entire careers, and they would follow a defined career path. That is gone. You are the CEO of your career and brand, and it’s incumbent upon you to manage it carefully and strategically.
Myth: It takes one month of job searching for every $10K in salary you’re seeking.
Reality: I don’t know where this urban legend came from, but it has been around for decades and is unfounded. There is no standard formula. A job search takes as long as it takes.
Myth: It’s easier to find a job when you are already employed.
Reality: This is a very unfortunate misconception. It may seem that it takes longer to find a job while you’re unemployed, but the truth is that a job search takes time and effort, regardless of your employment status. Most recruiters I speak with do not care about anyone’s current status—only their background and qualifications. In the past, employers may have favored employed candidates, but this is no longer the case.
Myth: Never quit a job without having another lined up.
Reality: Ideally, you would have a new job lined up and would make a seamless transition from one to the other. But life is often less than ideal and far from seamless. Assess the situation for yourself, and don’t rely on the advice of others. There are situations in which resigning from your role is the best thing that you can do.
You have my permission and my encouragement to ignore all of these myths. You will be better off for it. Next week, I will share the top myths on the employer/recruiting side. Stay tuned!