Dispelling Modern Job Search Myths

Finding a new job can often feel like a Herculean endeavor thanks to the sheer amount of options and competition out there. The good news for job seekers is that it’s never been easier to find helpful advice to assist your search. The bad news is that some of that advice, while well-meaning, is inaccurate. There are a lot of job search myths out there, and it can be tough to find the right answers.

Thankfully, experts like Forbes’ Caroline Castrillon have done a little myth-busting to provide clarity. We take a deep look at Caroline’s five most common job search myths and add a few of our own insights.

Job searching is a numbers game

The “spray-and-pray” method of job seeking makes sense on paper (and online too!). If there are so many available openings and it’s so easy to apply for them, why shouldn’t you mass send out applications and hope for the best?

Caroline says that this approach will only lead to burnout, and rejection can take its toll. Instead, focus on quality over quantity. You’ll have a much better time if you look for jobs you actually want and put effort into your application.

You can go above and beyond by carefully using keywords in your application materials and utilizing your network. Standing out as a quality applicant is better than hoping to win the job lottery.

Cover letters are irrelevant

Let’s be honest—writing cover letters often feels like a chore, and many hiring managers and recruiters admit they don’t look at them. Knowing this, it can feel like writing one is a waste of time, but Caroline disagrees.

Your cover letter presents the unique opportunity to directly tell the employer why you’re the best fit and how you can fulfill their needs. You can also use the letter as an opportunity to explain any gaps in your resume and preemptively answer any questions about your qualifications.

“83% of recruiters agree that, although not strictly necessary, knowing how to write a cover letter and sending one gives you the opportunity to demonstrate that you are a great fit for the company you are applying for.” –ResumeLab

You must fulfill all job requirements

Job descriptions can be intimidating, especially if you feel like you don’t meet all the requirements. But don’t get discouraged!

Job descriptions are mostly wishlists. It’s rare that the final candidate is a 100% match for every item. Caroline says it’s especially common for women and new professionals to hesitate if they don’t meet all of the requirements. Bet on yourself and apply for the job anyway. This is a great time to use your cover letter to explain why you’re the best fit!

“Cover letters are also a great place to reemphasize your value. While your resume might show the hiring manager that you don’t have the years of experience they’re looking for, your cover letter can be used to fill the gaps and explain why you think you have the skills to do the job regardless of your time in the workforce.” –Janet T. Phan, Harcard Business Review

If you want to help shore the gap between your qualifications, take time to highlight how your transferable skills will help you excel at the role, writes Avery Blank. Soft skills are in high demand and could make a difference in your favor.

Be wary of companies on a hiring freeze

This one makes a lot of sense on paper. If a company announces a hiring freeze, the logic is that they aren’t hiring at all. But Caroline says there are more opportunities than you’d think.

If a role is important enough and an internal option isn’t the best fit, the company will need to look outside. In fact, you may have an advantage if you apply since others will believe there isn’t an opening.

It can be tricky to find some of these openings, but remember that not every job is openly posted. Learn how to utilize your network to access the hidden job market and find the roles other candidates are missing out on.

Don’t directly connect with the hiring manager

Many job seekers are reluctant to directly contact a hiring manager, assuming they’ll be annoying them or that their message will get lost in the void. But Caroline argues there is no reason not to reach out.

“In a competitive landscape, any opportunity to make yourself stand out as a candidate is a good thing. You might even learn valuable information that can help strengthen your cover letter and prepare you for a future interview.” -Caroline Castrillon

With the ease of technology, especially access to LinkedIn, it’s easy to find a way to connect. But consultant Samantha McKenna says to make sure you’re doing it the right way. Be polite and respectful of their time, don’t be pushy, and don’t ask for anything. Simply introduce yourself and briefly explain the value you’d offer. You’ll stand out—and in a good way!

Wrap up

There is some logic to some of the above myths, but we hope Caroline’s advice can clarify some of your job search questions. Having a clear view of how the modern job search works will give you a leg up on the competition and will better help you find the role you seek.

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Mentally Preparing For Job Search Rejection

Starting a new job search takes a lot of careful preparation. From cleaning up your documents, contacting references, and researching the ideal target companies, the search is an involved process. One additional preparation job seekers need to make is to learn how to deal with the inevitable rejection that will occur.

With the sheer amount of open positions available and the ease of applying for jobs online, rejection isn’t just a possibility—it’s an inevitability. You will face some rejection in your search, and that’s alright. We’ve previously covered how to handle compounding rejection. We’ll take things a step further and analyze how you can mentally prepare for rejection down the road so you can tackle your job search with a clear heart.

Understand outside factors

The first key to facing later rejection is understanding that there are plenty of outside factors that will lead to rejection that have nothing to do with your qualifications. Realizing that your rejection isn’t personal will go a long way toward a healthy mindset.

Team Interview Kickstart mentions that internal candidates may already be the favorite for a position or that another candidate may have already impressed the team. Someone may have a connection in the building you don’t.

“Try not to take it personally! I know that’s easier said than done, but it may have nothing to do with you. Lots of companies have internal candidates these days and are simply required by law (I think) to post publicly.” –Jocelyn Lyons

The only thing you can do is be as prepared as possible and hope you’re getting a fair chance. Update your resume, talk to your network, and find answers to any interview questions you think might come up.

Be deliberate

Job seekers will often attempt a volume-based approach and heavily rely on Easy Apply methods to try to get their foot in the door. This can actually be counter-intuitive and set you up for needless rejection down the road.

Career coach Emily Liou refers to this technique as “throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks” and says that it can eventually lead to discouragement down the road. More applications mean more chances, but it also means much more rejection.

It’s better to take a targeted approach in your method. Liou says to ask yourself deep questions about yourself and what you’re looking for in your next job and to narrow down your focus to jobs that mutually fit both parties. This allows you to take a more meaningful approach and target your resume to those jobs.

Accept the challenge

We all handle adversity in different ways. Some people can thrive in the face of rejection and overcome obstacles while others struggle. Thankfully, it’s possible to change your mindset and approach the challenge.

Forbes’ Jack Kelly says to learn how to let rejection stoke your passion for your work. A rejection could challenge you to try harder next time or to find new ways to showcase your passion. It can challenge you to be better in your next interview so that when you find the right job, you’ll be the best version of yourself. Learn how to go the extra mile, and it will benefit you in the long run.

“A Jedi-type mind trick is to feel that if you can rebound from a setback, still feel fine and have the people you love still care for you.” –Jack Kelly

Build resilience

Life is going to throw plenty of curveballs your way, and not just at work. The past few years have been particularly challenging as we’ve dealt with the pandemic and the follow-up. Resilience is one of the most sought-after skills by hiring managers, and it’s a key component of learning how to overcome rejection.

Jess Amy Dixon says that the best way to build resilience is to learn how to build yourself up. Even if you’re naturally a pessimist, there are simple activities you can partake in to remind yourself of your accomplishments and build confidence.

As a starting point, Emily Loiu recommends creating a “brag list” of all of your accomplishments so that you can look back on it when things are feeling rough. Having tangible reminders of what you bring to the table will help you internalize those accomplishments and feel stronger.

Wrap up

Rejection may be inevitable, but it certainly stinks! But understanding that you will face rejection and learning how to face it head-on is crucial to finding success down the road. These mental strategies will help you overcome rejection, but, ultimately, you have to do the work and find what works for you.

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Building Resilience To Overcome Any Obstacle At Work

I’m sure we can all agree that the last few years have been particularly challenging thanks to the pandemic and its aftereffects. That likely won’t change in the future, as the country faces a potential recession and an ever-changing job market. Building resilience is crucial in order to stay strong during these trying times.

No matter what career path you’ve chosen, building up your resilience is a good idea, and we found that resilience is one of the sought-after skills to develop this year. Build the grit to conquer anything your career throws at you through resilience training!

Define your purpose

One of the best ways to stay on target when things get tough is to take a step back and focus on your purpose.

“What many people don’t realize is that having a sense of purpose has more tangible effects on our lives. There are actually a multitude of health benefits, both physical and mental.” –Medicareful Living

Think in terms of your personal brand and what you stand for. Are your daily actions helping you achieve that purpose? Forbes’ William Arruda says to let your purpose be your North Star and to follow it when making decisions. Arruda cites Margaret Scovern of Pariveda, who said, “Businesses and people driven by a well-defined purpose are much less likely to stagnate in the face of real or perceived challenges.”

By knowing your core values, you can weather the storm and take action in line with that purpose when things get tough.

Focus on your strengths

While you’re analyzing things on the personal side, you’ll want to take stock of what you bring to the table in order to help you overcome the odds.

We can often feel weak and lost when troubles occur, and many of us are prone to imposter syndrome. But by taking stock of our unique individual strengths, we can remind ourselves of our best qualities.

SHRM’s Kathleen Doheny writes that workers of all levels need a reminder of their strengths from time to time. Don’t be afraid to remind others of their strengths as well! We may all struggle at certain aspects of our jobs, but a quick reminder of what we’re good at helps build the resilience to get through.

Set boundaries

Burnout is one of the most common tests workers face in their day-to-day lives. With so much going on in the world, at home, and at work, we can place too many burdens upon ourselves and create ridiculous expectations for ourselves. Learning how to set clear boundaries is key to reducing burnout and increasing resilience.

“Burnout is all too common these days. If you learn to truly take care of yourself, resilience is an automatic side effect.” –William Arruda

Karen Phillips of BetterUp Care mentions turning off your phone after work hours as a simple way to set boundaries to regain some control of your life. Sometimes, setting boundaries can be as simple as learning how to say “no.” You’ll need to find what works for you, but creating a better work-life balance will go a long way toward building resilience.

Build a support network

The above steps are great individual efforts at minimizing the chance of being completely bogged down, but the best way to build the resilience to overcome anything is to create a network you can rely on and who can remind you of your strengths.

HR Today found that workers who felt supported in building workplace relationships were twice as likely to report high individual resilience. These relationships also lead to a greater sense of resilience throughout the entire organization.

William Arruda mentions that while remote work can make it feel like you might be lonely, a support system is only a few clicks away, and it’s easier than ever to connect with or find a support network.

Wrap up

Some of the above advice is easier said than done. Setbacks in our careers are inevitable, and some are easier to recover from than others. But building resilience is universally beneficial and will make bouncing back easier. By taking time to take an inner look at yourself, learning how to create a healthy work-life balance to counter burnout, and finding a support system, you’ll be setting yourself up for success down the road.

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Workplace Trend Predictions For 2023

Another new year represents new challenges and opportunities in all facets of life, and the workplace is no exception. January 1st doesn’t mean a legally binding change must occur, but experts are able to look toward the future and make predictions about what the new year can hold.

As we’ve done in previous years, we took a lot at the top trends experts expect for 2023. As always, there’s no guarantee how things will play out—we aren’t fortune tellers. But consider these workplace predictions as you contemplate 2023:

Quiet hiring

“Quiet quitting” was a popular buzz phrase in 2022, the idea being that employees would do the bare minimum to keep their job while being mentally checked out. This concept keeps a position filled but stops an organization from gaining the full benefits.

In order to counter this, Gartner contributors Emily Rose McRae and Peter Aykens believe that smart HR leaders will embrace “quiet hiring”, or a way to bring in new skills and capabilities without hiring new employees. They believe this can be accomplished in three key ways: a focus on internal talent mobility, upskilling and training opportunities for current employees, and alternative approaches to bringing in talent such as temporary workers.

A focus on retention

The Great Resignation of the past few years saw a great number of workers departing their current roles to find something that better aligns with their values and happiness. This has created many job openings, but many companies have struggled to fill their open vacancies, leading toward 2022 being a year that favored employees.

“The gap between the number of people seeking work and the number of open roles remains wide, meaning that effective hiring and employee retention tactics remain highly important.” –Emeritus

Finding and training new talent is an expensive process. Visier’s Amy Furr cites that the average cost to replace an employee is roughly double their salary. Amidst the struggle of acquiring new talent, companies are looking for ways to increase their retention, including investing in employee development initiatives, offering more opportunities for advancement, and training new skills.

Hybrid work models

Remote work saw a massive surge thanks to the pandemic, but with many Covid restrictions being phased out, many companies want workers back in the office. The availability of entirely remote jobs is quickly decreasing, much to the justified chagrin of potential employees.

The sweet spot continues to be in hybrid work models, having employees come into the office a few times a week while still working remotely on other days. This provides the opportunity for freedom and flexibility while still offering the chance for in-person communication and a space for collaboration.

Robert Boersma notes that many companies want to make sure those out-of-office hours are being used correctly and will take measures such as tracking hours or monitoring software, but this is a quick way to erode trust and lose employees.

Increased focus on DEI

Many companies are making efforts to implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. A Good Hire survey found that 81% of participants would consider quitting if a company isn’t truly committed to DEI. These programs are excellent for educating employees and making sure everyone’s voice is heard. But not every organization does so effectively.

“In addition to potential turnover issues, failing to prioritize DEI can lead to major financial losses. Accenture has found that companies are losing over a trillion dollars a year due to their lack of DEI efforts.” –Emeritus

Emily Rose McRae and Peter Aykens note that many of these initiatives are pushed back against by a significant portion of employees, which can disrupt the efforts. Learning how to handle opposition and educate more efficiently will be crucial in making sure these efforts aren’t in vain.

A shorter workweek

Finally, we see a trend that many employees will be especially excited about—a reduced work week.

Tracy White Brown, Chief HR Officer at Clark Nuber, believes more companies will take a serious look at the 32-hour work week. Not only will this make employees happy while letting them keep earning, but it will have tangible benefits for employers as well. A shorter work week creates higher morale (leading to increased retention), will make workers more productive with the hours they have, will cut down on distractions, and will make the organization more attractive to new candidates. Finally, it helps with sustainability and lowers a company’s carbon footprint.

Wrap up

Employees want more than a good paycheck. They seek value in their work and strive for a good work-life balance and high quality of life. Many of 2023’s hottest trends seem to follow that line of thinking. By providing skill opportunities and diversity initiatives for employees and allowing for flexibility, companies will create a better environment for their employees, leading to a happier, more fulfilled, and more productive workforce. 2023 has the potential to be an exciting and innovative year!

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Recapping Our Top Five Articles From 2022

In 2022, we started to regain some normalcy after two years heavily influenced by the pandemic. We hope that 2022 was a productive and fruitful year for you and that you continue to find success moving forward. We wish to take the time to thank our readers, the candidates, and the clients we work with daily for your support and for working with us in 2022.

In this time of reflection leading up to 2023, we took some time to review your favorite articles from 2022. Whether you’re starting a job search, looking for a little more value in your career, seeking industry knowledge, or navigating the tricky waters of a career change, these five articles particularly resonated with our audience and have something for everyone!

‘Let Go’ of Your Fear of Being Fired

Within the uncertainty of COVID-19 and detachment felt by many remote working employees, fighting through the fear of being fired is a common anxiety making work much more difficult for employees. Operating under this fear can be detrimental to daily job performance and mental health. It does not discriminate against rank, location, or industry. Similar to stress (and often inducing stress), fear drives us to a poor work-life balance and career burnout.

The first step towards seeing change is acknowledging your thoughts and accepting that they are not your reality. Initially revealed by Susie Moore, we break down five specific reasons you can and should push back against the fear of losing your job. 

Watch Out For These Red Flags On Your Next Job Search

In wake of the Great Resignation, many organizations are rapidly trying to attract talent. It’s a good time to be a job seeker, as experts believe 2022 is a year favoring employees. But while many companies are hiring and job seekers have a plethora of options, not all of those options are good. Navigating the job market can be like walking through a minefield as you try to avoid questionable organizations.

Thankfully, a well-prepared job seeker can avoid these “mines” by recognizing the red flags these organizations put out. Whether in the job description itself or based on statements you hear in an interview, there are telltale signs you’re heading for an unpleasant role. We’ll cover six of these major red flags to avoid during your next job search.

Thought-Provoking Questions To Ask Your Interviewer

Employers take tremendous value in the questions you ask during an interview because they will reveal your level of preparation, engagement, and curiosity for the position. Quit focusing on yourself and how your personal needs will be addressed in the role. Instead, ask stimulating questions to produce a quality conversation that reveals you are invested in the team’s betterment and showcases your unique value.

Captivate your interviewer and position yourself as the ideal candidate by asking these five questions:

Understanding And Overcoming Ghosting In Your Job Search

The dating world is scary enough as is, and that’s before considering the potential ‘ghosting’ that can occur. Ghosting, a phenomenon where a prospective partner ceases all communication, is common in dating. Another, more promising option will come along, some circumstances will take up a person’s time, or the person may simply resolve it’s better to disappear than have a difficult conversation.

While frustrating enough in the dating world, thanks to the sheer amount of potential applicants and the ease of using technology over face-to-face communication, ghosting has become extremely common in the hiring stratosphere as well. You may have a phone screening or even an interview and never hear from the company again. Recruiters may find a promising candidate, help them along their hiring process, and then get left on read.

We’ll examine the data behind ghosting, look at why ghosting happens, and provide job seekers will some ghostbusting strategies.

Assessing The Mortgage Industry: Top Trends & Statistics

Is the U.S. housing market overheating? Within the stability of low mortgage rates and high buyer contention, the housing market continues to be highly competitive. While it is a great time to be in the market for a loan, borrowers don’t quite have their ‘pick of the litter’ like in times past. Home prices continue to rise, as does the volume of offers placed on each listing. 

“Demand is robust throughout the country, but homebuyers continue to be held back by the lack of homes for sale and rapidly increasing home prices.” – Joel Kan, MBA Economist.

After assessing various expert opinions, knowledge, and studies, we have constructed the ultimate guide to the latest Mortgage industry trends and statistics entering 2022. Courtesy of the industry professionals with The Mortgage Banker’s Association, Fannie Mae, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Bankrate, The Motley Fool, TIME Magazine, & more!

Wrap up

As always, we’d like to thank all of you for your support in 2022! If you’ve missed out on any of these career tips, we hope you take the time to review them today!

Don’t hesitate to let us know what kind of articles were your favorite and what you would like to see from our content team in 2023!

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