Job Hunting Facts? or Myths?
Job hunting can be daunting. It can stir up a rollercoaster of emotions and it requires a significant amount of effort, perseverance and planning. Leveling up your expectations and reassessing any preconceptions you might have about how to best approach this task is also important. Times are changing and companies are constantly having to adapt to new trends. Recruitment is not the way it used to be. Technology and AI now play a big part… so do the old job hunting techniques and ideas still apply?
Here is a list of some of the most common job-hunting myths or misconceptions
Myth Nº1: All available jobs are posted online
Not really! There is still a high percentage of jobs that are not advertised at all. These are usually high paying management jobs or highly specialized positions. These jobs are usually filled internally, by referral, headhunting or by external recruiters working on behalf of the employer.
We have also noticed recently that many companies who are looking for staff do not want to advertise certain jobs because the demand for these positions is so high that they get bombarded with hundreds of applications which in most cases are impossible to handle in house. We found that for these types of roles, many companies prefer to rely on recommendations or they use an external recruitment company such as JobFinder Spain to do the selection process.
So how can job seekers find these jobs? Building and expanding your network is a good start but you can also register with a professional recruitment company, as they will most certainly have access to these “hidden” opportunities.
Myth Nº2: Apply for every available job and you’ll eventually get an offer
Some job seekers believe that if they apply for every available job they will eventually succeed. This, however, can be quite demotivating as it is bound to yield no results. Applying for jobs that don’t match your skills and experience is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. On the contrary, having specific goals and a focused approach works better. If you can demonstrate that you have the skills the company needs, you are more likely to make a good impression.
Myth Nº3: You don’t need a CV if you have a Linkedin Profile
You should always send your CV as an attachment when you are applying for a job. Including a link to your Linkedin Profile is OK but it doesn’t replace your CV. The difference is that your CV can be sent to hiring managers, it can be printed and filed. Additionally, most companies use computerized systems or ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to track job applications, so if you don’t send your CV, the likelihood is that you will not be added to the system and therefore, you will be forgotten.
Myth Nº4: Employers always go for the best-qualified candidates
There is a common misconception that having lots of degrees and experience are the most important aspects employers care about when looking to hire people. This is simply not true. Personality and attitude matter a great deal too! Employers, usually worry about how the new member of staff will fit in the company and having a pleasant personality combined with a can-do attitude and a desire to learn can make up for some limitations. After all, most companies also offer ongoing training and development programmes, so you don’t need to be the best-qualified candidate to get a job.
Myth Nº 5: A white lie does no harm
Not true…On the contrary, honesty is always the best policy. A white lie might help you get the interview. It might even get you hired, but sooner or later, the truth will come to light. Employers don’t appreciate dishonest job applicants. Lying about your skills or personal circumstances can only take you so far and in most cases, it can end in disaster and leave your reputation in tatters. The question to ask yourself is… Is it worth it?
Myth Nº 6: Follow up emails can make you look desperate
Not necessarily…it all depends on what you write. Follow up emails where you thank your potential employer for their time, can be a very effective way of ensuring you are not forgotten. Most hiring managers usually organize several interviews on the same day, so after seeing 5 or 6 candidates, they might not remember every person they met.
Myth Nº 7: One size fits all approach (One CV fits all jobs)
Sending out generic application letters and the same CV to every company you would like to work for is never the right approach if you want to be taken seriously. A tailored CV, on the other hand, shows that you care and when also combined with a personalised cover letter, they can dramatically increase your chances of securing a job interview. This doesn’t mean that you have to spend hours writing a new CV for every job you apply for. Tweaking your generic CV to highlight your skills and experience that are relevant to the job does not have to be a lengthy and complicated process. It does, however, require having a good understanding of the job specification and requirements and identifying keywords and phrases that the potential employer or recruiter might be looking for. But once you have a clear idea of what is required, you should be able to emphasise those aspects that can make you stand out from the crowd. It will also help you avoid wasting time on jobs that you are either overqualified or underqualified for.
Myth Nº8. A job interview is your time to impress…so don’t mention your weaknesses
Making a good impression is indeed paramount when you are trying to get a job so being assertive and confident at a job interview can certainly help. After all, this is your time to shine. However, being honest when asked to talk about your weaknesses is also important. This is an excellent opportunity to show that you are self-aware and that you know how to overcome limitations. You could easily turn this seemingly negative question into a positive one by providing examples of how you plan to improve upon your weakness or by talking about situations in the past when you managed to turn a weakness into a strength. Keeping a positive attitude at all times and being humble can go a long way. Employers usually want people who can recognise their shortcomings and are willing to overcome them.
Myth Nº9. Going direct to a company is better than using a recruitment agency to find a job
Many job seekers think that if they apply directly to a company, they have a better chance of securing a job interview. The assumption is that in this way, their CV will go straight to the decision-maker rather than having to undergo meticulous screening processes carried out by a third party. As a result, many candidates are reluctant to apply for jobs advertised by recruitment agencies on behalf of a company and go to great lengths to try and identify who the company is and how to contact them directly. Cutting the middle man seems like a great idea but in our experience, most companies looking for staff usually have a personnel manager or similar who is in charge of recruiting, Oftentimes, they also have someone else filter the incoming job applications and unless they are a big company with an HR department, they don’t usually have the resources, training or tools to deal with large volume applications. Therefore, the more applications they receive, the higher the chances of your CV being put in a pile forever. A recruitment company, on the other hand, will have the resources and processes in place to handle large volume applications and multiple selection processes. What is more, they want to get their fee, so it is in their interest to place people. Another advantage of using a professional agency is that this will give you access to their wide network. They know many companies owners and businesses who are looking for people so they can introduce you to multiple potential employers. At JobFinder Spain, we also help our candidates prepare for their interviews and guide them through the whole process. Additionally, we always make sure we know and understand our clients’ businesses and their requirements so we can find the right people. We can only achieve this if we also focus on understanding our candidates’ objectives and desires. To achieve this, we utilize unique selection and profiling methods that allow us to have a clear idea of what type of company our job seekers would be suitable for.
If you are looking for a job, Contact us! We are here to help! Alternatively, you can upload your CV and we will contact you.
