The most popular information is not always right. Because of this, a lot of job seekers tend to be misinformed about some common notions regarding the job search that have been proven to be completely false. You might miss out on great opportunities and find yourself wishing you should have known better.

Here are 5 major job search myth and the realities:

Myth: A cover letter is not important.
Reality: Recruiters and employers appreciate applications with cover letters attached to their resumes. Resumes only get about a 15-30 second scan (if you’re lucky). However, when recruiters come up with a shortlist of applicants, they carefully consider the contents of cover letters before they even bother to look at your resume; it acts like a pre-interview sheet. This way, it costs less time and effort for recruiters to select applicants initially being considered for the job opening.

Myth: No one hires job hoppers.
Reality: A lot of employers have gone through hard times too and almost everyone is aware of the tough economic situation we are all (still) facing. Because of this, everyone (even job hoppers) are still being offered jobs, as long as they are qualified for them. So cheer up, there’s hope for everyone, even for people who had to change jobs or have been laid off. Besides, if there was a good reason why you had to change jobs so frequently (usually because they are contract or temp work), then you have nothing to worry about.

Myth: Times are hard, I should accept anything.
Reality: Most people think that only the employers have the right to be choosy nowadays. Most job seekers think that if they dumb themselves down or present themselves as not picky, it will make them the best candidate. Employers are looking for people who are skilled and are able to fulfill the duties they require…and then some! Downplaying your abilities doesn’t help because it reflects a lack of direction and a poor sense of what you are worth and what you know you are capable of doing.

Myth: I’m underqualified.
Reality: A lot of people are easily discouraged if they don’t exactly match one or two of the requirements listed in a job ad. What you don’t know is, some of these job requirements are just what they would prefer but may not exactly a deal breaker. Skills can be learned and experience can be later acquired so don’t just put off a great opportunity because you don’t feel like you’re an absolute perfect match.

Myth: You should include all your achievements in life.
Reality: It just makes sense to boast of your achievements in your resume. However, if it’s not relevant to the job, it doesn’t really add anything to your value. Irrelevant information is considered trivial and better left said during company parties or very informal events (if at all). I know you must be so proud of being a valedictorian in kindergarten…but do you really need to put it in your resume? Enough said.

Hope you enjoyed the list. Can you think of other myths that have been debunked? Come and share them here!

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at 1:01 pm and is filed under Applying for a Job, Career Changes, Cover Letters, Getting Fired, Getting Laid Off, Job Search Tips, Resume, Resume Do's and Don'ts, Resume Help, how to write a resume. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.