Don’t let common myths keep you from a successful job search.
You’ve got new IT qualifications and you’re ready to find your dream job in the field. Before you start looking, though, it’s important to learn about and debunk common job search myths.
1. Resumes should only be one page.
In the time of paper resumes, one page was typically the limit, but electronic resumes have changed this reality and opened up the resume to a longer format. Now, it’s better to be thorough than brief, but you should try to strike a balance—be brief as well as thorough when possible.
2. Job searching is pointless at certain times.
Candidates may see the Christmas holidays or even over the summer as times when no one is hiring, but the reality of business is that job openings can happen at any time of the year. Refusing to believe this myth will even give you an advantage over your competition, since fewer candidates will be pursuing jobs at these times.
3. Applying for more jobs will improve your chances.
You should apply for any job for which you have the right qualifications and experience: this is the best way to get an employer’s attention. Applying for jobs that you aren’t qualified for will only increase your chances of rejection and will not likely get you any closer to a job you can actually do.
Finding a job will be a lot easier if you don’t believe common myths about the search process.
4. You should hear back in a few days about a job if you’re going to get it.
The evaluation process could take several weeks once resumes are received, so don’t assume you didn’t get the job if you don’t hear back within days. Be patient and continue to check your mail, email, and phone messages regularly for at least a month after applying for a job, because you never know when an interview request or job offer will be made.
5. Employers want you to follow up continuously.
Too much follow-up could be seen as a negative, so you should limit your follow-up to a nice thank you letter on the day of your interview and a once-a-week phone call after that to avoid being seen as a nuisance.
6. Your private life is just that—private—from employers.
91 percent of employers said in a Workopolis study that they screen candidates online to look for objectionable content, with many of them saying they would see it as a red flag if nothing showed up in a search as well. The best technique is to make sure your public social media information is appropriate and to keep profile private when you don’t think it puts you in the best light.
PC AGE offers IT courses and certifications that can help job seekers find work in the field, including all kinds of IT jobs, from entry level to advanced. Request info about everything PC AGE has to offer.