Debunking Job Search Myths

Many myths exist in the murky world of the job search. Mostly, myths seem to abound when excuses are needed to justify an unsuccessful hunt for a new job. The myths cluster around a few key areas. In some instances, the myths have some credibility, but most of the time, the supposed myths are just the symptoms of being unqualified or ill-prepared for the interview and job opening.

Physical attributes are a myth that many believe are a barrier to landing that desired job. This myth can take a lot of differing forms. Being too heavy or too thin are a couple of common directions for applying this myth. Other possibilities include too attractive, too ugly, too short, and too tall. Being bald can also be added to this list. The reality is that if your qualifications and interview presentation are high quality, these physical appearances disappear into the background.

Age is another common myth held by job seekers. While there are some positions that target younger or older candidates, most companies are just seeking someone who can come in and do the job. If you are physically able to perform the tasks at a level demanded by the job and can prove it to the employer, you can get the position.

Previous training or education can be an important ingredient in determining the suitability for a position. However, unless a certain training level is required for licensing or certifications, most companies are more than willing to consider a candidate with less training and education. This normally requires either an established career path in the particular field, or the ability to have the skills to learn the job quickly. Add in a dose of a compatible personality, and you will get the job.

Today, it is rare for gender to be a serious detraction from the willingness of an employer to make a job offer. Even in a field that has a natural bias toward a specific gender, it the candidate can leave his or her attitude problems in the brief case, gender should not be an issue for most jobs. In this generation, it is becoming very common for men to move into occupations that have historically been female dominated and vice versa.

The myth that the best jobs are never advertised is perpetuated by headhunters. They want you to believe that you will not find the really good positions without professional help. The reality is that except for a few high level jobs held by the captains of industry, every type of job makes into the classifieds at one time or another.

The reason that this myth is so successfully kept alive is that it has a small basis of truth added into it. Professional job hunters can often uncover better positions. This is not because they are not advertised, but because being professionals, these people know how to do a job search better than most who choose the do-it-yourself method.

Job hunting myths are just excuses to salve the consciences of those who have had extended unsuccessful searches for a new job. The way to overcome these myths is to build a better resume, learn better interview skills, search for jobs within the realm of your training and ability, and be willing to step back if necessary to take a lesser job while you gain more training and education.