Top 5 Myths on How to Land a Job

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Whether you’re looking for your first-ever job or your 10th, you’ll run into myths about landing a job. Don’t let these myths distract you from doing what it really takes to find and land the job you want.

Myth 1: My Experience Will Get Me a Job

It’s true — the experience you have is an important part of landing a job. But it’s not as important as you might think, warns Gregg Ward of Orlando-Ward & Associates Inc.

“Many hiring managers are much more interested in whether or not you’re the right ‘fit’ for their team,” he says. “You may have all of the experience in the world, but if you’ve got the kind of personality that gets on others’ nerves, they simply won’t hire you.”

Myth 2: I Didn’t Hear Back — They’re Not Interested

If you’ve sent a great cover letter and you have a strong resume, it can be disheartening to not hear back at all from a job prospect. However, this doesn’t mean they’re not interested, says Val Wright of Val Wright Consulting.

“The majority of recruiters are overwhelmed, overworked and have an astronomical amount of open roles to fill,” she says. “In the world of ‘likes,’ retweets and #trends, we expect instant gratification and feedback, but landing a new role is a protracted process. Don’t assume the worst when your email isn’t answered immediately. Be courteous and persistent when you follow up.”

Myth 3: They’ve Got My Resume; They’ll Let Me Know If There’s Another Role Good for Me

Don’t assume that the company is going to spend its time matching you to another position if the one you applied for doesn’t work out.

“Most companies do not have clever systems that track previous applicants and their skills to match them to future jobs,” Wright says. Instead, she recommends regularly checking the company’s online postings and applying again for jobs that look interesting. Also, stay in touch with recruiters during your job search and check in with them regularly.

Myth 4: I’m stuck on my career path

You might feel cautious or even apathetic about considering another career path, but sometimes that’s just the trick for landing a job.

If you’re looking to change careers, find ways that your current skills apply to the career you’re considering. Consider training or education to get you up to speed on what you need to know. Talk to people in the industry to find out what hiring managers are looking for.

Many companies are interested in job candidates who have different perspectives on the usual ways of doing things, so don’t assume that you’re stuck in the career path you’re on.

Myth 5: There’s Nothing Out There for Me

It’s easy to feel discouraged during your job search, especially in uncertain economic times. Make sure that you are getting “ahead of the curve” in your job search. As Wright points out, many jobs are filled before they’re even advertised, so networking becomes key to getting internal contacts.

“Social media makes it easy to track down past colleagues or mutual acquaintances to get introductions to your target company,” she says. “Personal referrals and introductions will always take priority with a recruiter, so find a connection who can accelerate your enquiry.”