Five Job Search Myths You Should Stop Believing

It's easy to understand how negativity creeps into the minds of jobseekers. Looking for a job can feel like, well, one long job interview. So, to start your weekend, it's time to stop believing these negative job search myths.

"There are no jobs out there." Well, only 69,000 new jobs were created in May, which sent the stock market downward today. Do not get hung up on the macro environment. Truth be told, if you're looking for a job, you have no business looking at unemployment figures. You already know how tough it is out there, you don't need more negativity. All you care about is one job. Someone starts a new job every day. All you care about is that. You're one person, all you need is one job. Ok, some need two jobs, but you'll start with one job. Somewhere out there, every day, someone is hiring someone. Let that second someone be you.
"It's all about who you know." The implication with this one is that no one hires strangers, "off the street", even if they are the most qualified. I hear this despondent claim a lot. While getting a personal introduction to the hiring manager will sure make it seem easier, jobs do get filled by candidates completely unknown to the company before the candidate applied. The flip side to this one is simple: meet more people, build more professional relationships.
"I don't need a resume." Yes you do. Trust me, you really do.
"A resume will get me a job." This one may come as a surprise given what I just wrote. A resume will not get you a job. Nor more than your car keys will put breakfast in your cereal bowl. Your resume is a tool. Its purpose is to get you an interview. If you want to increase your odds of getting great jobs in the future, perform today. Be the best employee you can today. Achieving great results is the best insurance policy against unemployment.
"I need an MBA." Not only do you not need an MBA, you probably don't need a college degree. Of course, there are jobs where you will need a college degree, like being a school teacher or doctor. And there's no doubt that having a college degree will likely present more opportunities, but the vast majority of jobs don't require a college degree.

Don't let negativity prevent you from learning more about a career opportunity. Hold your head high.

job search

How To Be Successful At A Job Fair

A job fair can be an effective way to meet hiring managers and recruiters in your community and learn about many job opportunities in one day. If you are prepared and use your time wisely, you can walk away with many strong job leads. Many job seekers make careless mistakes that can hurt their chances of success at a job fair. Here are 16 simple tips to make your next job fair a success.

my job story

My Job Story - Jenny-Faye Klooster

In this week's My Job Story, we hear from Jenny-Faye Klooster, a Photo Stylist who runs the photography department for Gibson Overseas, a large kitchenware company, a job she has held for almost four years.

career, communication

How To Be A Better Public Speaker

Do you want to differentiate yourself from your peers at work? I have a simple suggestion. All you have to do is speak up! That's right. It's time to work on your public speaking skills.

defense, job search

Stop Networking!

Networking is a terrible verb to describe human interactions. For some people, networking still has that cheesy sounding ring to it. I've spent countless hours reading newspaper and magazine articles, blogs, tweets and Facebook posts from recruiters from all over the country and nearly all of them say that one of the most important job search strategies is networking.

How To Introduce Yourself Once You're Referred

Asking for a referral is important. How you handle that referral is even more important. If you want to work at XYZ Company and you know someone that works there, you should ask them to refer you to a hiring manager. Ideally, your contact will make a personal introduction, or copy you on an e-mail introduction. Sometimes, you'll just get a phone number or e-mail address of the hiring manager.

Know Your Risks, Don't Settle

Even if you've been without a job for some time, it is generally best not to settle for a job that you may not enjoy. Having said that, there are a couple of questions you should ask yourself when evaluating a job, or when determining what companies to target.

High Demand, Low Supply Blog

Five Job Search Myths You Should Stop Believing

Welcome to High Demand, Low Supply, a career and job-search blog written by Matt and Dawn Beckwith.

Finding a job can be stressful. Here, you'll find tips to increase your odds of success with finding a new job.

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