Five Myths About Job Search That May Hold You Back
If you want to find a job that you enjoy, you must have high standards. You must know what you want and what you are worth , and you cannot settle for anything less than that. But that doesn’t mean you can adhere to the same standards when looking for a job. In fact, it is all too easy for job seekers to start looking for a job with unrealistic expectations about how the process will work – expectations that often lead to frustration.
This article originally appeared on Muse .
To successfully manage your job search , you must stop believing in these myths and instead focus on better ways to gain attention and ultimately impress the hiring manager.
Myth # 1: If I am the right candidate, I will go through an automated system
Every time you apply for a job online, you submit your submissions to the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which is programmed to select candidates based on keywords, dates and job titles. And it certainly gets the job done: According to Career Confidential CEO Peggy McKee , only about five out of every 1,000 online applications go through the ATS and land on the hiring manager’s desk. Even if you consider yourself the perfect candidate, the chances of your resume ending up in the right hands are very low.
Yet job seekers continue to work for hours on these labor-intensive forms, believing that if they are truly qualified and seem fit for the job, they will walk past robots and successfully enter human hands.
Can this be done through an automated system? Certainly. But is this the most efficient way to pass the time and read your resume? Absolutely not. Instead, spend more time writing your resume and cover letter and tracking the hiring manager’s email address ( here’s how ), then send your submissions directly to him or her. With an eye-catching cover letter and a personalized resume, you’ll be far more likely to get interviewed than if you let robots determine your fate.
Myth # 2: I get an answer for every app
In an ideal world, job seekers would always receive a response to their resume and cover letter – either expanding the interview request or politely listing the reasons they were not selected to continue the process .
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Often, hiring managers only contact candidates who are asked to be interviewed by the company. Others send out automatic “we got your application” emails, followed by an abyss of nothingness. Some just hear the radio silence.
It’s frustrating, but true: you won’t get a quick response (or any response at all) from every company you turn to.
To increase your chances of getting an answer, make sure you are communicating with a real person (see section above) and then follow these tips to take action in the right time frame. What if you still don’t hear the answer? Don’t get hung up on this. Far from being an ideal part of the process, it can signal that it’s time to move on to the next opportunity.
Myth # 3: The hiring manager will know that I’m a great fit.
The simple words “find out” should become a huge red flag. You see, the hiring manager needs to be able to open your resume and immediately see – as clear as day – that you are a great fit for the job. There shouldn’t be any “asking.”
If a hiring manager needs to really dig into your resume to make a connection between the listings on the page and how they allow you to apply for an open position, chances are he or she will just move on to the next, more qualified candidate.
The key is adapting your resume to the job you are applying for so that there are no questions about why you are applying for the job. Here’s how to do it.
Myth # 4: My passion for work will outweigh my lack of qualifications
When faced with the job of your dreams, there’s absolutely nothing stopping you from getting the job — least of all, the fact that you don’t meet the minimum requirements. (With a high probability.)
To some extent, this may not be a problem. Job descriptions are often written for the ideal candidate, and some factors can be negotiable – for example, if a job description requires five years of work experience and you have three and a half years. In this case, you just need to use your application to explain why you should be considered in front of more qualified candidates ( more on how to do this ).
“If, on the other hand, the job is a huge leap forward (they are looking for 10 years of experience, you have two), your energy is probably better spent in positions that are more suitable,” says the author of Muse. Kari Reston . Or she invites you to send a “speculative” statement explaining that the position you have your eye on is for executive recruiting, but you would be interested in exploring other options.
Myth # 5: If it should be, it will.
While an optimistic outlook is admirable, you simply cannot rely on fate alone to successfully manage your job search. Most of the time it takes a little more persistence to find a job.
In order to submit your application to the hiring manager, you need to establish a relationship. You should arrange coffee meetings and informational interviews and send a lot of letters . You should make sure these people don’t respond and then follow them up again when they respond to thank them for their time. You should research every company you apply to and put the time and effort into every cover letter and resume you send.
After all, you can ideally look back and say, “It should have been.” But this does not happen just like that. You must do this.
Finding a job can be difficult (and sometimes painful). But if you give up those five unrealistic expectations about your search, you can better hone your ways to get noticed, get interviewed, and land your dream job.
5 Job Search Myths You Must Stop Believing In To Get Your Dream Job | Muse