by Billie Sucher, CareerHub Blog
Surely you have heard the old saying “what you don’t know won’t hurt you.”
Surely, you don’t believe that if you are looking for a job, or do you?
Some things you might not know as it pertains to career transition:
- That a stranger will glance at your résumé for less than 10 seconds and then, make a decision about your candidacy: yes, no, maybe.
- That your résumé will need to be customized for each specific position.
- That a one-size-fits-all résumé is a thing of the past. Think: ATS.
- That a wing-it approach to interviewing (or job search) can impede your success.
- That you are a brand – a product for sale in a highly competitive market.
- That a hiring manager expects you to be conversant about your KSAs.
- That a résumé is written once you, the job seeker, have clearly defined career options.
- That you will be expected by employers to cite a credible answer to “why should I hire you?” – to say that you have education and experience no longer suffices.
- That the job market is not for the naïve, uninformed job seeker.
- That it will take every ounce of energy, effort and organizational skill that you own to facilitate a successful search strategy.
- That reaching out to others for help, guidance and support is a basic survival tactic, especially when you are in job search mode.
- That asking for help is one of the first things to do as your career transition/job search gets underway.
- That you are the project driver, manager and leader – if your search is a success, you get full credit; if your search is a flop, you get full credit.
- That your job search may be one of the toughest, most grueling, hardest, and frustrating activities you have ever embarked upon in your entire work life.
- That a career transition will manage you – or you will manage it!
- That job search is a never-ending process throughout your career given the ever-changing nature of today’s workplace.
- That some people you thought would help you, won’t.
- That some people you thought didn’t care a thing about you, do.
- That you will be in a constant state of surprise and disappointment as you progress through the job search journey
- That staying stuck will hinder you more than help you.
- That beating yourself up mentally for what might have been, could have been or should have been is a waste of your time, effort and energy.
- That moving forward after job loss with an attitude of positivity will yield more productive results than an outlook of negativity.
- That whatever you say negatively can and will be used against you at a job interview.
- That rejection can propel you forward or halt your job search progress; only you can decide.
- That brands attract and brands repel – some employers will love you; some employers, not so much – keep rolling, no matter what.
- That social media is a tool and a resource for you to use to your fullest advantage in the job search process.
- That what you don’t know will not only hurt you – it can sabotage you, derail you and keep you from moving on with confidence, knowledge and efficiency.
You and your job search / career transition deserve better than “what you don’t know won’t hurt you.”