By Peter Weddle, Professional HR Consulting Expert

It’s hard enough to look for a job in today’s tight economy. Doing it with a fictionalized view of the job market can dramatically degrade your chances of success.

What are such fictions? They are pipe dreams and urban legends, to be sure, but increasingly, they are also misinterpretations of conventional wisdom. They begin with the right idea, but come to the wrong conclusion. Here are three of the most harmful.

Fiction #1: A job search is an interruption in your career.

The conventional wisdom is that a job search creates a gap in your record. And, gaps drain your perceived value as a new hire. Gaps come in all sizes, of course, but the larger the gap, the more explaining you have to do with employers. Gaps exist only if we permit them to. A break in your growth as a high value performer occurs only with your permission. How can you avoid a gap?

Enroll in a training program or academic course that will sharpen your skills and add to your perceived value as a candidate. Then, feature that development on your resume. Show employers that you’re determined to remain a high value contributor even while you look for a new employment opportunity.

Fiction #2: The best place to find a job is on a social networking site.

The conventional wisdom is that social networking sites are now the single best way to find a new or better job. According to pundits, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter have eclipsed if not replaced job boards, traditional face-to-face networking, print publications and career fairs as viable job search resources.

While such hyperbole gets media attention, it is a misinterpretation to think that these sites are all you need to find a job. Social networking is indeed a valuable job search tactic, but it is not the sole technique for conducting a job search or even the most effective. Indeed, for every person who has successfully found a job on a social media site, there are literally hundreds of others who have found employment using other tools.

Does that mean you should ignore social media sites? Absolutely not. But, take the chatter about the power of these sites with a grain of salt and use all of the tools at your disposal. Today’s job market is the toughest in years, and you simply don’t know which resource will end up working best for you. The key to success, therefore, is to play the odds and use every single one of them.

Fiction #3: There are no jobs to be found in the job market.

The conventional wisdom is that the stuttering U.S. economy is simply not creating new jobs. While a lot of job seekers have been disillusioned by this situation, it is a misinterpretation to think that the job market is bereft of opportunity. In fact, the private sector actually created 64,000 jobs in September. And, there are other openings being created by people who are quitting to look for something better.

Does that mean it’s now easy to find employment? I’m afraid not. But, it would be a tragic mistake to give up because you don’t think there are any openings available. The jobs are out there. Use multiple job search tools and network both online and off. Make it your job to convince employers they can’t succeed without you.

The conventional wisdom can clearly be helpful when you’re looking for a new or better job, but make sure that you draw the right conclusions. Misinterpretations of even the best insights or most accurate data create fictions that can undermine and even derail your ultimate success.

Thanks for reading,
Peter

Peter Weddle, an HR consulting expert and regular columnist for CNN and the Wall Street Journal, has authored over two dozen books, including Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System — a powerful new approach to achieving career success. Visit Peter at CareerFitness.com.

 

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