Nowadays, pieces of career advice just spout out everywhere. People read them, and most of the time, try to actually practice them. Unfortunately, the same people don't have the slightest idea that they are just adding up to their problems by following those. Here are five of the worst pieces of job search advice, according to Liz Ryan of Forbes.
1. Fill your resume with keywords to get through or avoid the usual applicant-tracking keyword-search algorithm
Even if you're only applying for a job through the web, a human is still going to be the one to scan your resume. Ryan says that you are not doing yourself any favours by writing your resume to make it sound like everybody else's. There are tons of ways to bring your talents and personality across on the pages of your resume with a help of creativity and without sounding like a total zombie or a robot.
2. Never mention salary matters unless you already have a job offer
To Ryan, this is a terrible advice. Staying silent about financial matters and adjustments can give room for your employer to think that you are okay with whatever they offer. You have to bring it up, make the approach subtle yet direct. Also, look for a perfect time to do so.
3. You must answer the questions in the standard and "acceptable" way every job interview
Why would you want to sound like every other person during job interviews? The employers are looking for someone who can showcase how their brain and services work, not another applicant who memorized a speech for self-introduction five minutes before their turn.
4. Whatever is asked of you by the employer during the recruitment process, you must do without hesitation
According to Ryan, never work for free just to stay in the interviewing pipeline. "If people don't value you while they're interviewing you, you don't want to work for them anyway," Ryan wrote.
5. Employers have a lot of other talented job seekers to choose from and you are nothing special
This is a lie. Sure, they may be a lot of talented folks out there, but not all of them can actually be fitting for the employer's taste. Don't let anybody tell you that you're not unique.
