Job Search Myths Exposed: Career Myths And Rumors

By Carl Mueller

As a recruiter I have heard and read many suggestions related to job searching and career development. I've spent a significant amount of time helping people find their dream career and have also watched as some candidates have made huge mistakes that have prevented them from doing so.

One of the biggest mistakes I've seen is when job searchers listen to advice without considering the source. Often the source isn't accurate.

As a recruiter, I get paid to help people find new jobs so I have to know what is right and what is wrong when it comes to job searching.

Here are perhaps the biggest myths I've encountered during my career in recruitment:

Myth #1: You can find a job in 14 days/30 days, etc.

I've seen products on the Internet that refer to things like finding your dream job in 14 days or 3 simple steps to find your dream career in 30 days and things of that nature.

Quite simply, these products advertise something they can't hope to deliver.

I've seen plenty of cases where a hiring manager take 14 days (or longer) just to bother to read the resume. Just because they advertise to hire someone doesn't mean they will do it right away. Putting your faith in some sort of a time-bound system probably sets you up for disappointment.

Hiring managers work on their schedule, not on the schedule laid out by some Internet product possibly written by someone who has never actually hired someone themselves.

In the real world, job searching is sometimes a difficult task. In some respects, a job search can almost become a fulltime job in and of itself, it it's done correctly.

Your best bet is to ignore products and concepts such as these and to concentrate on doing perhaps 4-5 things very well to properly manage your job search: talk to friends and family and let them know you are looking for a new job, speak with decision-makers and influencers in your industry, contact companies directly that you are interested to work for and utilize a small list of trusted recruiters (perhaps 3-4) that you feel can help your search.

Using a structured, proven approach like this will yield better results than relying on fly-by-night products that aren't accurate or useful.

Myth #2: Hiring managers don't read resumes, they skim them in 20 seconds or less.

Well, this one is somewhat true. Hiring managers might skim your resume in 20 seconds or less...if you don't give them anything that is worth reading.

Not everyone is a speed-reader so if your resume is getting a 20-second look, it might be due to the fact that it isn't worth spending any additional time on. If you have a solid and relevant resume that interests the hiring manager, they will keep reading!

If a hiring manager really wants to hire someone, they will spend the proper time reading a great resume.

A recruiter is generally trained to skim resumes for keywords, required experience, etc so you want to ensure that your resume does highlight key accomplishments and skills using keywords, where appropriate.

If your resume shows opportunities, actions and results that you were responsible for during your career, your resume will get more than a 20-second read. If you simply reiterate your job description on your resume like many people do, your resume might just get the 20-second scan. It's really that simple.

Myth #3: My resume should only be 2 pages maximum, 1 page ideally.

I'm not sure where this rumor started but it's not true.

True, most job searchers will get by with a two-page resume but you might find later in your career that two pages simply isn't long enough and you might need to go onto a third page.

Most of us can get by with a two-page resume and if you are at the very beginning of your career or fresh out of school, perhaps a one-page resume will work.

I've had hiring managers tell me that they'd wished a job candidate had added MORE detail into their resume to discuss certain aspects of their career but I can't recall any of them ever saying "I wish this person's resume was much shorter so I didn't have to read so much."

At the end of the day, you should be more concerned with the content and style of your resume than simply trying to adhere to a myth that might not even be accurate. How can you predict how long the hiring manager wants your resume to be? You can't.

Concentrate on providing them with relevant information in your resume, that's your best bet.

If you have something to say in your resume, say it. If it doesn't need to be there, keep it out. Use common sense.

Myth #4: I need to get my resume out to as many people as possible to get a new job.

If you believe in the old adage that if you throw enough you-know-what against a wall that something is bound to stick, then this is probably something that will appeal to you.

The truth is that a focused, organized job search is preferable to a strategy of carpet bombing, where you fire off your resume to anyone who has a pulse and hope that someone, anyone, will want to hire you.

The Internet has made it so easy for you to send your resume to dozens if not hundreds of people quickly but keep in mind that everyone else with an Internet connection can do the same thing. Mass emailing your resume all over the place is pretty much just an exercise in spamming and generally has the same results as regular spam that you see in your in box and delete without reading.

Treat your resume like it is something that has value, which it does.

Send your resume to people who can actually positively influence your job search, not just to anyone who asks for it. I'm always amazed when job searchers who are currently employed simply fire off their resume to a faceless recruiter that they've never met and expect that a new job will be sitting in their lap within a few days.

It doesn't work that way!

Plastering your resume up all over the Internet sends a bad message to hiring managers (why can't you get a job with all that exposure?) and drives recruiters away (recruiters don't like working with job searchers whose resume is easily found on the various job boards).

Take control of your job search and remember the long term: Protect your resume and treat it as something that has value. It can make you more valuable in the eyes of hiring managers and recruiters when they knock on your door and don't see your resume plastered all over the Internet.

Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who has written an ebook for career-minded individuals: http://www.RecruiterSecretsRevealed.com

Recruiter Secrets Revealed sheds light on job search and career management "secrets" that you can use to supercharge your career and distinguish yourself from other job searchers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Mueller

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11 Tips to an Organized Job Search

By Lisa Montanaro

So, you are searching for a new job? Perhaps you are making a voluntary career transition. Maybe you have been laid off, or worse, fired. Regardless of the reason for your career move, one fact remains true: if you are conducting a job search, it is vital that you take an organized approach. Managing this search is just like managing any other major project. You must create an infrastructure that allows you to operate in an efficient and productive manner. A successful job search requires forethought and action. Here are some tips for conducting an organized job search.

1. Declutter and Pre-Purge - If you are looking for a new job, it will be difficult to do so if your physical space is covered in clutter with piles of papers everywhere. Take some time to declutter. Purge any unnecessary items, file papers that you need to keep, recycle junk mail, and get some order back into that space! It will be easier for you to concentrate on your job search without all of that chaos and clutter around you. Just be careful that you don't spend too much time decluttering that you start using it as an excuse to procrastinate with regard to your job exploration. A few days should suffice.
2. Create a Job Search Schedule - Let's face it - searching for a job is hard work! If you are still employed while you are looking for a new position, be prepared to have an extremely busy schedule. If you are currently unemployed, realize that you do, indeed, have a job - conducting a job search! Create a schedule that gives you ample time for all of the activities you need to focus on in order to succeed: resume and cover letter preparation, surfing the web for jobs, networking, interviewing, follow-up, etc. Block out time in your calendar for job search activities and treat that time as you would any traditional work commitment. Be consistent in the amount of time you spend each day and week on new job activities so that you keep your momentum going, and don't lose focus and miss valuable opportunities.
3. Get Your Gear in Order - Update your resume, cover letter, references, and writing sample (if applicable). Ask for letters of recommendation and testimonials from previous or current supervisors, co-workers, and professional colleagues. Get some nice new stationery, and stock up on print cartridges for your printer. If you want to use an outside source for printing, some local printing shops will copy resumes for free during an economic downturn, so ask around! Be sure to have a computer with high-speed Internet access. An all-in-one machine for printing, copying, faxing and scanning will also come in handy during a career move.
4. Create Job Search Central - Set aside space at home (or wherever you will be conducting your search activities) and make it job search central. Keep all of your job-search related supplies in that location, which will make it easy for you to find them when you need them. This will also help you to get into search mode when you are in that space.
5. Create a Career Move Paper Management System - You may be acquiring a lot of paper in your search: resources, articles, sample resumes and cover letters, business cards of networking contacts, contact-us-later or rejection letters, etc. To the extent that you can maintain these items in a paperless fashion, go for it. But if you have to maintain hard copy paper, be sure to create a job search paper management or filing system, to be stored in your job search center. Keep it simple and use whatever system makes the most sense to you for ease of use (binder, portable filing bin, traditional filing cabinet, etc).
6. Plan Job Search Activities - Plan out job search activities on a daily basis, such as phone calls to make, resumes to send, online applications to fill out, informational interviews to conduct, etc. Write down your search activities as calendar items, to-do's, or tasks so that you take them seriously and treat them as measurable goals. Be realistic with regard to what you can reasonably accomplish in one day, but also challenge yourself!
7. Track Activities - Organizing your job search involves keeping track of all information and communications. Keep a record of where you sent your resume and when, whom you have spoken to, when interviews took place, etc. This information will prove vital when deciding when to follow-up with leads. You can track all of this information using a calendar such as Outlook or Google, or an online tool such as JobFiler.com. Whatever tools you use, it is important that you be able to track the status of your job search.
8. Manage Job Search Email - In today's world, much of your job search will likely be conducted by email. Therefore, before you even start your search, whittle down the amount of email in your inbox so that you can hyper-focus on your job search emails, which will add up quickly. Create folders within your email system using categories that make sense to you, such as Companies Applied To, Contacts Submitted Resumes To, etc.
9. Polish Your Online Profiles - If you are searching for a new job in today's market, you would be remiss not to develop an online presence on social media sites, especially LinkedIn, which is the most "professional" of the social media sites and can essentially serve as your online resume. But also consider other social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The opportunities are endless for employers and contacts to find you online. You may even have your own website, e-zine, or blog. Maybe you post articles on various article-marketing sites, or serve as a guest blogger on other blogs. If you maintain profiles on any of social media sites, or have any type of online presence, be sure to polish your profiles so that they promote the image you want potential employers and contacts to see.
10. Change Your Greetings - Change the message that greets callers for any phone number that you plan to use for your job search so that it sounds professional, and conveys the information you want callers to hear. Be prepared, not embarrassed!
11. Stay Positive - The longer a job search takes, the more chance you have of becoming negative about it. Try to maintain a positive attitude to the extent you can by monitoring your progress and staying active in your search. When the going gets rough during a job search, many people take a back seat and give up, which is counter-productive. Try to stay focused and make valuable contacts that are likely to lead to a job. However, don't be all consumed by your search for a job! Maintaining some balance in your life at this time will serve you well. Get adequate sleep, eat well, see family and friends for pleasure, and make time for exercise.

Organization is one of the single most important things you can do to keep your job search manageable. Just like being organized helps you improve any other area of your life, home, or work, it will also help move along your job search in quick and efficient fashion and with less stress. It may even wind up being the key to finding that dream job you always wanted.

Good luck!

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Copyright 2009. Lisa Montanaro, "The Solutions Expert," is Principal of LM Organizing Solutions, LLC, a professional services firm created in 2002 that offers professional organizing, business and life coaching, and motivational speaking to individuals and organizations. Lisa publishes the monthly "DECIDE™ to be Organized" e-zine for the general public, and "Next Level Business Success" e-zine for professional organizers and entrepreneurs. Subscribe today at http://www.LMOrganizingSolutions.com Lisa also publishes the DECIDE™ to be Organized blog at http://www.DecideToBeOrganized.com Through LMOS, Lisa helps people deal with the issues that block personal and professional change and growth. To explore how LMOS can improve your home or work environment, or help take your business to the next level, contact Lisa at (845) 988-0183 or by e-mail at Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com.

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The Keys to Successful Career Assessment

By Tony Jacowski

Career Counselors
A career assessment will guide you in the direction of selecting the right career for yourself. They are available over the Internet and also through help from a qualified career counselor.
Career counselors are qualified to administer a career assessment. They administer and score assessment tests and interpret the results to find your strengths and weaknesses. They advise you and make suggestions to make sure you're on the right track.
Experts do not find free career assessments available over the Internet reliable enough to completely depend on them.
Online Career Assessments
A number of assessments are available online, so you need to check them out and compare them first to find the ones that will meet your needs. However, they may not be hundred percent reliable.
According to some experts, online career assessments can provide you with direction, ideas and even guidelines to careers that you would never have thought of. These suggestions will make it well worth the effort to further explore them to find out if they would be of interest to you.
The more assessments you go through, the more you will learn about yourself in the process. These assessments will finally help you ascertain which of the tests will provide you with reliable results.
Those results will give you the tools needed to make positive changes, and will also serve to give your career some direction.
Interpreting the Results
A good way to deal with online assessments is to retain printouts of the results of each test that you take. Later on, compare them and see if you can visualize a "career pattern" emerging. A definite pattern will appear, and the results of these tests will show you exactly where you fit in.
Sometimes you will be confronted with a result that may appear out of character for you. It is okay to disregard a few negative results if they do not fit the pattern. You should never rely completely on online assessments for career guidance.
Follow up on the assessment results by consulting a qualified counselor. You should then compare the online test results with other direct results obtained from the assessments conducted by the counselor. The counselor will assist you in interpreting those results and in positively incorporating them into your career.
You should make the entire career assessment process part of an integrated effort of merging the results with your other self-directed interests and activities. This will help you recognize and improve upon your strengths and weaknesses.
You can read more about online career assessments and the tools towards self-discovery. You will enjoy indulging in the career assessments and making appropriate changes.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for six sigma professionals including, lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.
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