You can’t believe everything you hear or read. That warning is particularly true when discussing jobs, careers, and formal interviews. There are plenty of myths and half-truths floating around on these topics, but five are especially prevalent. Here are details about each of the big lies you’re bound to hear. Don’t believe a word of it.
- It’s Who You Know, Not What You Know
Some people love to repeat this massive piece of misinformation because it sounds clever. While there are instances of nepotism and people landing excellent jobs because they have an inside connection, the vast majority of job offers go to candidates who have proven themselves in interviews. Hiring is almost universally done based on experience, education, and personal likeability, not who you know.
- College Isn’t Necessary
Earning a college degree is perhaps the single most cost-effective move a person can make to better their career. Paying for an education takes creativity and patience, which is why so many potential grads take out student loans to help foot the tuition bills. Very few have enough cash in savings to cover tuition, books, fees, and other education-related expenses. For those who say college isn’t necessary, the answer is that nearly every major employer requires a four-year diploma in the modern era. Like so many other business and employment myths, this one was true a generation ago when only about half of job candidates had completed a college course of study. Nowadays, only tradespeople can get away without a four-year diploma.
- It’s Best to Be Yourself During Interviews
Life would be simple and easy if interviews weren’t formal affairs. No matter how much you want to believe the lie, it’s still a lie. If you want to excel at your job interview you need to be advised that hiring managers want to see your formal, business side during an interview, not your relaxed, social, informal side. Probably more jobs have been lost by candidates who fell for this misconception than all the others put together.
- No One Reads Resumes Anymore
Social get togethers are full of small talk about employment, and one of the most frequent falsehoods uttered is that resumes are no longer a thing and no one reads them. In fact, resumes are more closely scrutinized than ever before because most companies use digital, smart screening processes that search for keywords and phrases within the document. That’s why it’s essential to hire a professional resume writer to craft an accurate, computer optimized document if you want to get into the door for a face-to-face meeting with a hiring manager.
- Corporate Jobs Offer More Security Than Self Employment
This old saying might have been true in the 1970s, but in an age of entrepreneurship, home-based offices, and e-commerce, it’s the indie worker who has the edge on job security. Corporations love to hire more people than they need for entry-level positions and then hand out pink slips to as many as half of the new hires at the end of the year. When you work for yourself, the first year or two might be tough, but once you establish a customer base and a successful product, you can make your own hours, choose when to introduce new products, decide on marketing campaigns, and consider expanding when the time seems right. Entrepreneurs sometimes go out of business, but they never fire themselves.
For more articles, visit OD Blog.
