There are many myths and beliefs about job hunting and job applications. Your mindset and perception will determine your job search strategy, affecting your job application result.

Below we will solve some common career and job seeker myths:

Myth 1: Getting the first job is the most difficult job to get?

Getting the first job is not the hardest job to get. Getting the 2nd and 3rd job in your career path is infinitely harder as you will need good experience to move up your career path.

Myth 2: No experience = no job?

For a recent graduate, work experience is not necessary to get the first job. Most graduates have no related work experience when they get their first professional position. I didn’t. Of course, vacation or internship helps, but experience is not essential.

Myth 3: If I can’t win an interview, there is something wrong with my resume?

If you applied for jobs and got phone calls or an interview, but no job offer, then this is not the fault of your résumé, otherwise you would not have received a phone call.

Myth 4: Get a PR then I will get a job?

It is not necessary to have PR to gain an offer of employment for a suitable professional position. You just need to be able to work full-time hours.

Myth 5: My friends said…My parents said…?

Asking other graduates (even friends) for advice is not necessarily a good move. After graduation, they are your competitors now and forever more (I have far too many stories about this situation to list here).
Parents are often not the best providers of good career advice. They are usually not objective and lack knowledge of your intended career path.

Myth 6: I don’t have a good academic result so I can’t have a good job?

Even if you did not perform well at university, you can still get a good start to your career in a relevant position. The top employers target the top students but there are many other levels of employers to suit all graduates.
A degree is only 20% of what most employers look for when they interview for new graduates. 60% is all about you. The other 20% is what you did when you were not studying.

Myth 7: I’m waiting but employers never get back to me?

If you apply for a job, receive a resultant phone call, are asked a few questions and then told, “We will get back to you if you are successful”. That usually means, you failed the phone call and they will never get back to you. The employment market moves quickly and they do not have time to return calls.

Myth 8: I don’t have enough experience?

If you apply for a job and receive a phone call or first round interview, only to be told that you lack experience, please remember that the interviewer knew how much experience you had before they phoned you. Therefore, they are not referring to relevant work experience but potentially to many of your other life experiences, too numerous to mention here.

Myth 9: I thought telephone interviews are casual?

There is no such thing as a “casual conversation” with an interviewer. All such conversations are interviews and you should be well prepared.
Employers have a shopping list of what they are looking for in a new graduate employee. Graduates are selling and employers are buying. If you are not selling what the employers want (or you do not know how to sell), then the employer will say I’m just looking (we are short-listing now and we will get back to you if you are successful).

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