So you’re looking for a new job. That’s excellent; now here’s how you can save yourself a lot of time and effort and get a job as quickly as possible. The job market is difficult enough as it is, so don’t fall for these common myths about job hunting that will only slow you down. 

MYTH 1: Don’t look for a job during the holiday season

Just because it’s the holiday season doesn’t mean you should not be looking out for a job! In fact, the holidays can be a great time to look. Many employers actually will be in a hurry to fill vacant positions before the new year starts. You will also face less competition as other potential applicants might not be applying at this time of year. You can also look for seasonal positions that might become something full time as well. 

MYTH 2: Call to follow up on your application

It sounds like it makes sense, right? You show that you’re a go-getter and are still actively seeking the position by calling after you’ve applied. But if you think about it from the employer’s point of view, calling might just be frustrating for them. If they have lots of applicants, getting dozens and dozens of calls could take up their whole day! With that in mind, consider that calling a potential employer may only bother them and not help you get the job at all.

MYTH 3: All interviewers know how to conduct an interview

If someone is conducting an interview, they’ve probably been trained in how to properly do it but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily good at it. They might not have any real world experience! As a result of this, you may get bad questions, or they make come across as rude. Do not let this work against you; you simply need to go into the interview as prepared as you can be and not let the interviewer affect you. 

MYTH 4: Employers only call the references you give them 

You’re asked to provide references on a resume but don’t assume that just because those are the names that you provide that these are the only people who will receive a call. Employers know that the references that you provide are going to be the best ones that you could find and will only give positive recommendations for you! It’s very possible they will contact other people who have been managers for you in the past. Keep this in mind when working whatever job you might have! 

MYTH 5: Connections are how you get a job

Having connections is always a good idea, and they are very helpful when it comes to job searching. However, don’t assume you need to know someone at the company you’re applying with in order to get a job there. Many people still get jobs by simply sending in their resume and nailing their interview. Don’t become discouraged by the fact that there are a lot of people out there who seem to know someone; getting the job is still very possible if you don’t know anyone. 

MYTH 6: Employers will get back to you immediately

Another assumption a lot of job seekers make is that an employer isn’t interested in them if they don’t get back to them immediately. This isn’t necessarily true! In fact, many employers can take weeks or months to respond to applications, and there are multiple reasons for this. The first could be that they are simply waiting till the end of the application period to respond to applicants, or it could be because there’s other, higher-priority work that they need to do first. So don’t read into it if the place that you applied does not immediately respond; you could very well still be in consideration. 

MYTH 7: No one will read your cover letter

A lot of people treat their cover letter as something of a throwaway exercise, not taking it seriously under the assumption that potential employers will not even read it. There may be hiring managers out there who do this; however, never assume that your cover letter will not be read. Many applicants have scored great jobs on the strength of their cover letters and you never know if the hiring manager you’re applying with is interested in yours or not. So make sure that you write the best cover letter that you possibly can!

MYTH 8: You need to find a way to ‘stand out’ among the crowd

The way that you stand out among the crowd is by having a great cover letter and by doing an excellent interview. Don’t try to resort to gimmicks to get yourself noticed. Many prospective employees resort to attention-seeking methods such as video resumes, having resumes delivered by overnight mail, or using flashy, fancy designs on their applications but none of these will make up for not being properly qualified for the job you’re seeking. 

MYTH 9: Resumes shouldn’t be more than one page

Resumes were at one time required to be only one page, however nowadays it’s okay to have a two-page resume, especially if you have more than a few years of experience in the workforce. Just make sure your resume shows a track record of success in your field and you’ll do just fine!

With those myths dispelled, step on in to a Goodwill Job Connection. We’ll help you apply for jobs and even practice interviewing for the jobs you’ve already applied to. Best of all, it’s a free service where our goal is to help you find the right job within 30 days. So come on in today!