There are many things we all just assume to be true about the workplace and finding a job, that really aren't true at all. Take a look at some of these myths.
With so many people being out of work, it's a fairly good guess that on almost any given day, there are hundreds of people starting a new job. For some, it may be their very first real job, and for others it might be a job in a new career field or one working in the same industry that they have been working in for years.
No matter what the situation is, many people are nervous about looking for a new job or working for a new company. They ask their friends and family for advice about different careers, job search strategies and resume tips. Mostly, they end up hearing a lot of information – some that is helpful and some that may not even be true at all. In fact, there are many myths about the workplace that most of us just always accepted as fact, even though they aren't true at all.
In this series, we'll take a look at the top 10 workplace myths that many people still believe, and see what parts are true and which are complete fiction.
Workplace Myth #10:
Passing out copies of your resume everywhere will get you a job – This is a common belief, but it just isn't true. Blanketing the town with copies of your resume doesn't really increase your odds of finding a job. In fact, spreading your resume far and wide can actually hurt your chances for the job you really want.
The best way to find a job is to conduct a strategic, targeted job search. Find jobs that you are interested in and that are a good fit for you. Create your resume to target the skills you have that match the job requirements. Write a cover letter introducing yourself and apply for the job. You should repeat this step for each and every job you apply for.
When you give out the same resume and cover letter to hundreds of different employers, none of them are going to see how you would fit with their particular job opening. After expending so much effort and not getting any sort of result, you can't help but become negative and desperate.
These days, with the increased use of social media, more and more people are finding that using their social networks, they can find better job openings and get their foot in the door with a hiring manager more easily. By using Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin, they can go through their connections and find out who's hiring and get recommendations from colleagues.
So, if you keep hearing from family and friends that you need to get out there and “beat the streets”, you can tell them that papering the sidewalks with your resume really wouldn't help. Instead, ask them to share some of their professional contacts with you or add you to their social network. It will probably more effective.
Stay tuned next week when we tackle the #9 Myth, that you have to be a union member to work in certain professions.
What do you think about this workplace myth? Have you heard this piece of advice? Let me know in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for CommunicationsJobBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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