Welcome to the Haunted House of Bad Job Search Advice!

Around this time 10 years ago, I was on my way to a haunted house for my bachelorette party. If I was going to get married the day after Halloween, I would have some fun with it! I went to sleep that night, having had a nice scare and excited about the next day. So, in honor of my haunted house bachelorette, I've listed the top 10 scariest (worst) job advice I've heard lately.

Enter if you dare… ??

1. "Finding a job is a numbers game." The job market is tough. Yet applying for more jobs can impact your emotional state and ability to assess what's right for you. That lack of focus in your job search could be one reason your numbers game is getting out of hand. Don't apply to more jobs–apply to more jobs that align with your experience and goals.
2. "Don't customize your résumé for every job." See #1. You should always ensure that your résumé speaks to the solution a specific employer is searching for. So, whatever that looks like for your job search goals, you need to make it happen. But remember, it isn't just about your résumé; your job application should also have customized elements.?
3. "Message recruiters to tell them you're looking for a job." Recruiters are busy people who constantly communicate with others. They want to hear from people who can fill their jobs. I recommend contacting the recruiter only if you have a question about a job you've applied for/are interested in, they've contacted you about a job, or they say outright that you can.?
4. "Redirect the recruiter when they ask what your salary expectations are." Unless the recruiter is a distracted toddler, please don't insult their intelligence this way. They've asked you about salary because they need to know if moving forward is worth it. I will give this caveat, though: if they haven't provided you with a job description, they have no business asking for your salary expectations. The job seeker-recruiter relationship requires give and take.?They've got to give you information to ask for any, and the job's content should determine how much it pays.
5. "Schedule networking coffee chats with people in your industry." There's a shelf life to every popular piece of advice. Because once everyone does it, it loses its value. Instead of networking for the sake of finding a new role, try networking for the sake of meeting and learning from new people in your field. Do it often and early, before you need their help. The broader your network, especially on LinkedIn, the more opportunities will arise.?
6. "Résumé writers should offer to write your résumé for free." I will never tell a job seeker to accept unpaid work when they need gainful employment. That would be cruel. For the same reason, you should expect to pay for professional career services. (You could get a free résumé review from some service providers. Check out one of my previous articles here to discover why that can be hit-or-miss.)
7. "Your résumé writer or job search coach must be certified." Sorry to say, but this is not true. It's a great selling tactic, but someone can be exceptional at a skill without asking a peer to confirm it. However, they do need to be good at the work. Accomplished professionals have been rocking it out for decades without a single letter behind their names. Heck, I worked in HR for 16 years before even considering a certification. Earning that HR certification didn't hurt, but it didn't change my knowledge, skills, or abilities, either. Speaking of HR…
8. "Your résumé writer or job search coach must have HR, recruiting, or hiring experience." Again, this is not true. Yes, I've been in HR for 16 years and counting, but I still say this is untrue. Anyone who can find the connections between your experience and the roles you want and use words strategically can do this work. Is HR experience a plus? One hundred percent! Insider information is invaluable to a job seeker. But if you find a great provider who was a teacher for 20 years, you're probably still in good hands.?
9. "All you need is a template to write your own résumé." This may be true for some people. But as I always say, if you could've, you would've. A template doesn't show you how to mine years of experience for essential information, select the strongest action verb in each scenario (because words matter), or speak the employer's language. Often, templates serve as a Band-Aid on a gaping wound.?
10. "You only need to be 70% qualified to apply for a job." This is the scariest advice of all for a job analyst like me! Hiring managers write descriptions with intention; the job they've described is the one they want done. Most of the time, they will pick someone who can do it. Up against a 90% match, the 70% candidate doesn't look as good. Also, which 70% of the job description are you qualified to do? You might be playing the numbers game again if it isn't the essential bits. When you aren't a high match to the job description, you must be very clear about your value proposition outside of those qualifications.?

I know job searching in this market is scary. With the end of the year approaching, you may feel more anxious than ever. If that sounds like you, DM me. My inbox is always open, and I'm here to help you design a job search strategy that will work for you!