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When you’re looking for a job–as so many people are right now–it seems like everyone has an opinion. You’re likely to get bombarded by well-meaning advice… but some of it is going to be straight-up terrible.
If anyone gives you these bad, outdated, or downright harmful job search tips, just smile and thank them. Then do the opposite.
A lot of people will tell you that job hunting is a numbers game, and to an extent, they’re right. It makes sense that the more places you apply, the more likely you are to find one that fits.
However, a more targeted approach can actually produce a better result. As a bonus, you won’t be as burned out by the job search.
Job search gurus declare the cover letter dead on a regular basis, and yet it is still an essential part of your job search. Think of it this way: your resume is like the multiple-choice section of an exam, while the cover letter is the essay. You need both to pass.
While it’s true that many companies now use scanning software to screen cover letters before a human being ever gets involved, that doesn’t mean you can skip it.
If you happen to be passionate about your work, then that’s great. But passion isn’t a prerequisite for a career.
In fact, you might be better off doing a job you like well enough with people you get along with, while you reserve your passions for creative hobbies or side hustles.
The flip side of the bad advice about waiting for a job you love is this. Taking the first offer, regardless of whether it’s truly a good fit, could backfire spectacularly.
If you ignore red flags and accept a job that’s not right for you, one of two things will happen. Either you’ll be miserable but determined to stick things out… or you’ll end up right back where you started on the job hunt.
This sounds like good advice, but it can easily backfire. That’s especially true with young job seekers who are fresh out of school and don’t yet understand office norms.
Refusing to take “no” for an answer or being aggressive in your outreach to companies can label you as a pest, not a prospective employee.
What does “be yourself” even mean?! Some people think that it’s permission to behave rudely or show up to an interview in jeans and a t-shirt. After all, if they can’t handle you at your worst, then they don’t deserve you at your best.
That’s some grade-A BS. Behaving professionally during the job search is the lowest possible bar to clear. While you shouldn’t completely sanitize your personality or pretend to be somebody you aren’t, you should still dress and act to impress prospective employers.
