Job hunting is exhausting and emotional for most job seekers. My team and I know that the job search process can be a huge drain. I’ve noticed a few emerging trends in the way candidates think about job hunting and working with HR professionals. While I can’t speak to the experience of other career coaching firms, it’s clear from my conversations with clients, and with others in my company, that these 10 most common myths run rampant among job hunters and I think it’s time to debunk them.

1. DEBUNKING THE
10 MOST
ABOUT JOB HUNTING IN 2019
COMMON MYTHS

2. Job hunting is exhausting and emotional for most job seekers.
My team and I know that the job search process can be a huge drain.
I’ve noticed a few emerging trends in the way candidates think about job hunting and working with HR
professionals. While I can’t speak to the experience of other career coaching firms, it’s clear from my
conversations with clients, and with others in my company, that these 10 most common myths run
rampant among job hunters and I think it’s time to debunk them.

3. JOB SEARCH MYTH #1
The Truth: Only approximately 1/3 of all available
jobs are advertised online.
Only approximately 30%–35% of all available jobs are advertised online in the
Top 10 – 20 job sites and that means that the majority of available jobs never
make it onto a job board. Typically, the more senior the position, the less likely
the job is to be advertised.
ALL JOBS ARE POSTED ONLINE
So where are the other 70%? Click here

4. JOB SEARCH MYTH #2
The Truth: The ‘sniper’ gets the job, not
the bullet sprayer.
APPLY FOR AS MANY JOBS AS
POSSIBLE (SHOTGUN APPROACH)
It’s a competitive world out there and so all too often job
seekers, thinking it’ll improve their odds, succumb to using
the bullet spraying shotgun approach of applying for every
job in sight!
Using the same CV for a range of applications is unlikely to
work.
Rather than using the shotgun approach, become the ‘sniper’
of the job seeking world. Cut the number of applications you
are making down to a few per day maximum, and hone in on
the roles that best match your skills and experience.
Apply for jobs that match your experience and skills
Research the company and role that you’re interested in
Ensure that you can give the application the time that it
deserves and tailor your application to the role

5. JOB SEARCH MYTH #3
The Truth: This is a no-brainer, but still deserves mention.
NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE
In this digital age, there is a very thin and diminishing line between private and public
parts of our life. Anything that you put up on online (e.g. Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn /
Instagram / Tinder) is up for public scrutiny and recruiters are always the first to check
out your social profiles in the name of a background check.
A recent survey from seek.com.au found that 43% of recruiters check digital profiles,
and LinkedIn in particular, often.
Other surveys show the vast majority, upwards of 80%, look at least once at a
candidate's online presence.
It isn't snooping, it is perfectly legal for a prospective employer - or anyone - to look at
whatever they like in the public domain before they call you for a potential job
interview.

6. JOB SEARCH MYTH #4
The Truth: Job hunting success comes from
people, not qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS GET YOU THE JOB
Being cocky in an interview because you’re incredibly qualified
doesn’t mean you automatically get a job. But, letting it show that you
don’t feel qualified enough also doesn’t cut it. Being confident in your
own skill set and being able to really talk to your interviewer can go
further in making a good impression.
8 ways you can still land a job interview even if you don't meet all
the requirements:
· Focus on your transferable skills
· Complete a pre-interview project
· Find a direct connection at the company
· Figure out the non-negotiables
· Read between the lines
· Use your cover letter to make your value-add clear
· Show your enthusiasm – prove that your application is genuine
· Check the match and argue your case

7. JOB SEARCH MYTH # 5
The Truth: Do your research. Ask the right questions
DON’T TALK MONEY UNTL THEY
OFFER YOU THE JOB
I’m a firm believer you should ask about salary up front. In fact, I’ve almost
always recommend to my clients to ask about the salary and benefits package
before the first interview.
You should not want to waste a company’s time with the interview process if
their salary isn’t in the ballpark of what you are looking for. More
importantly, they dont want to waste their time either.
· Do your research
· Budget an appropriate raise for yourself
· And have a number in mind as you interview with the organisation
That way if you are asked what you’d need to make, you’ll have a smart,
likely attainable number in mind.
click here:

8. JOB SEARCH MYTH #6
The Truth: No job is out of sight for you.
There was a point where it was believed the Gen Xers, Baby
Boomers and older individuals would find it increasingly
difficult to get out there and get a new job, the older they are.
THE OLDER YOU ARE,
THE LONGER YOU WILL SEARCH
But times have changed, and as long as the proper skill set
and attitude are there, there’s no reason not to apply for a job
and get an interview. Of course, it can still be difficult if the
job is in a youth-driven market segment. Otherwise, though,
no job is out of sight for you.

9. JOB SEARCH MYTH #7
The Truth: Focus on the right search
factors not the money
THE MORE YOU WANT TO EARN,
THE LONGER YOU WILL SEARCH
Seek Australia admits it isn’t clear where this guestimation for
how long a job search should take even originated. Instead, you
should focus on:
Some people might try to tell you something like, “It takes one
month of job searching for every x,000 of salary.”
The geographic flexibility on the part of the job seeker
The flexibility in terms of job preferences (those exclusively
seeking a type of job which is hard to land will likely have a
longer job search)
The credentials of the job seeker, and the level of demand for
one's skills.
The amount of time and energy devoted to the job search
The quality of job search materials, including the resume and
cover letters, LinkedIn , portfolios and other
The quality of job search strategy, including the level of
networking activity

10. JOB SEARCH MYTH # 8
The Truth: If you’re a good candidate, the
HR Manager or recruiter will contact you.
‘FOLLOW‘ UP ALL THE TIME TO
SECURE JOB INTERVIEWS
My Tip: Your application materials should be strong enough to
speak for themselves and identify you as a strong
candidate. Reaching out to ‘show your interest’ in a role will not
change a recruiter’s mind about whether you’re qualified, which
is generally what happens in the initial screening round. Instead of
‘following up’:
Start following the recruiter and other employees on social media,
particularly LinkedIn
No news is not always bad news in an application situation
Be patient, and if you’re really the right candidate, the recruiter or
HR Manager will contact you

11. JOB SEARCH MYTH #9
The Truth: This myth couldn’t be
more ridiculous.
NO ONE REALLY CALLS REFERENCES
SO WHO YOU LIST ISN’T IMPORTANT
Of course, you should always assume that your
references would be called!
Don’t list friends, family or mates as references
Make sure you alert your references that they are
listed in your application and make sure they are
ok with that
Prep them on what the job entails, who might be
calling them, and what you are hoping they can
help you with

12. JOB SEARCH MYTH #10
The Truth: There’s no secret recipe to land a
job. Rules change all the time.
FOLLOW THE RULES AND YOU‘LL
SECURE A JOB IN NO TIME
Every job is different, every company is different, and most
importantly, every recruiter is different.
The days of just blindly submitting applications are over. In more
than 75 % of cases, the fate of your application first rests in an
assessment by an ATS system/ software before it is seen by a human
eye. Get with it – it’s 2019, not 1984.
There are some rules of thumb that just about every recruiter looks
for, but in reality, everyone is looking for something particular,
and you either have it or you don’t.
If you’re not receiving responses from your application, adjust
your job search system until you find a strategy that works for
you.

13. Assess the situation before
you blindly follow job
search advice, and create a
job search strategy that
works for you. Whatever you
do, keep going and always
remember to hunt wisely!
Uli