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3 Common Misconceptions Hurting Your Job Search
Featured Author:
New Grad Life
April 01, 2010
1. “I deserve a job because I worked hard to get my degree.“
Many college grads on the job hunt believe that they are essentially entitled to employment because they worked long and hard for their degree. It is indeed true that dedication and hard work go a long way – but that tenacity guarantees a graduation date, not a job. Some students say that their excellent GPA, extra-curricular involvement, internship experience, or even their major entitles them to a good-paying entry-level position at a Fortune 500 company. While all of these are indeed factors that may help you in your job search, none are golden employment tickets on their own. This kind of thinking makes a college graduate a passive job seeker which is the last thing anyone wants to be.
Instead, job seekers should write down their past experience, skills, and qualifications and see how they can best brand themselves. Next, they should use job interviews as rare opportunities to explain why they are indeed the best candidates for the position.
Stop believing: “I deserve a job because I worked hard to get my degree.”
Start thinking: “How can I show companies that I am the best possible candidate for this job?”
2. “That’s not my ideal job, so I won’t bother applying.”
The recession has decreased the quantity of jobs available for recent graduates, and those jobs that are available are often not the “ideal” jobs grads are looking for. The most common reasons new grads may not bother applying to certain jobs are:
• Salary – “too low”
• Job title/duties – “not important enough”
• Location – “not close to my family/friends”
• Industry/company – “not my favorite one”
The biggest differentiator today is between a college graduate having a job or not having a job, not between living in Seattle or Miami, or between working in the tech industry versus the entertainment industry. Graduates must realize that a job appropriate to their major is a pathway to career advancement, networking opportunities, and of course income.
Stop believing: “That’s not my ideal job, so I won’t bother applying.”
Start thinking: “This job gets my foot in the door at a company, gives me experience, and the connections I’ll make here may prove to be invaluable in the future”
3. “If I only knew the CEO/VP of a company, my life would be set!”
Here’s a commonly-believed scenario from the article “Debunking Job Networking Myths for College Grads”
“You: I know Darren – he’s a big shot at Accenture. He said you’d give me a job.
Recruiting Director: Of course, I will. You’re hired. We’ll see you on Monday morning at 9:00. I’m assuming $200,000 will work for you as your new IT Specialist salary.
Sadly, that’s not what networking is all about”
Job networking is not about being handed a job on a silver platter because you know someone; it is about getting noticed, about standing out from the crowd because of a referral.
Yes, you may get sent to the hiring manager’s office for an interview quicker when you do have a referral rather than when you don’t, but once you are there it’s all on you. Can you prove to the interviewer that you are qualified for the job? Are you likeable and confident? If not, the referral was just wasted.
Networking is tremendously important when looking for a job, and getting a referral basically means you’ve been prescreened by a trusted employee and you have a good chance of getting an interview. It is important to remember however, that networking does not guarantee you a job. Networking simply improves your chances of getting hired.
Stop thinking: “If I only knew the CEO/VP of a company, my life would be set!”
Start believing: “Networking won’t guarantee me a job, but it will get me an interview faster.”
Frank_Ball
over 2 years ago
19756 comments
Please keep your comments on topic to the article -- Any comments posted with embedded links leading to questionable infected sites outside MonsterCollege will be removed and the poster's account will be banned from MonsterCollege. Thank you.
CarmenDScott
about 3 years ago
6 comments
I definitely agree with this article! While in college, I heard all these misconceptions from friends and acquaintances daily. I was lucky enough with my previous employer to have a referral from a very respected employee and I had an interview that same day I applied and ended up getting the job. If only it were always that easy! Since then, I've relocated to a place 1,200 miles from home and am waiting for something better to come along. I am employed full-time but before taking this job, I applied for close to 30 different positions, even though they weren't my "ideal job". Just goes to show, I'm not the "hot-shot" college graduate EXPECTING a job with $200,000...I needed work so I settled until another opportunity comes along.
p_ferreira
about 3 years ago
10 comments
I liked this article, very blunt but truthful.
It's really funny cause I really did believe in all these "misconceptions" but this article kinda swayed me away from them, a great read indeed!
nmryda
about 3 years ago
60 comments
I don't think that I'm bringing in "too many arguments and confusing things". Facts are facts. I mean, according to you, and pretty much EVERYONE, EVERYTHING is about connections, not just the entertainment industry! I've done so much reading and research and the most unanimous advice is to NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK! I'm not exactly sure if these figures are right, but I read somewhere that roughly 77ish% of jobs come from networking, yet only a little over 1% come from job boards! That means that pretty much a HUGE majority of ALL jobs in ALL industries (not just entertainment) comes from networking! That also means that websites such as Monster, MonsterCollege, and CareerBuilder are all virtually WORTHLESS!!! Why are we even here other than to "network"? All the info/advice on here comes from other websites which can be easily found from a Google search, half of the job postings are scams, and the other half don't really even exist! I'm still kicking myself for spending money @ CareerBuilder for resume assistance/upgrades thinking that it was actually going to HELP me in my search! lol
You're right, a lot of people are wealthy and lack social skills, but the point is that half of the time if you're wealthy and/or have connections, that doesn't even matter! Like I said earlier, my former boss' FATHER worked in the corporate offices; do you think it mattered to his dad whether or not his son had social skills? IT'S HIS SON!!! You're right, many college grads DO have unrealistic expectations of their future; I'm a shining example. I'm the first to admit that. I seriously thought that hard work and dedication led to good things; it obviously only leads to debt and more bs that people have to go through just to get a decent job and not have to work @ McDonald's. HOWEVER, you can't pretend that society overall does NOT paint the picture that higher education ALWAYS leads to better opportunities. It's the reason why more and more people seek it out! I wish it was more explicitly taught that that was not the case. My question is this: if it's the case that one must network for pretty much EVERYTHING, then what was my incentive for GOING TO COLLEGE AND ACCUMULATING SO MUCH DEBT if the degree doesn't give me a real leg-up in the competition anyway? I could've been spending all that time, energy, hard work, and money and put it toward something I REALLY want to do, which is music, which WOULD NOT require me to take out a huge loan, write stupid essays or take blue-book exams in courses that didn't really help me achieve anything! I know I sound like I'm complaining but, I mean, where do you draw the line? @ the rate that we're going in, the purpose of our education system is going to go out the window and then it's gonna be 100% about who you know and not what you can prove.
chrisjung
about 3 years ago
6 comments
nmryda,
You're bringing in too many arguments and confusing things. Mario was saying how industries are different, and connections don't guarantee you a job, it all depends on you.
Entertainment/media is an industry that heavily based on connections so that's a great extreme example to point out I guess. I can point out that becoming an accountant is not as connection-based, or becoming a doctor, these are all extreme cases.
You then bring in arguments regarding how some people have less money - this is off-topic and has nothing to do with the article. The article was talking about networking, not if your parents are rich or not. What if I'm wealthy but lack any social skills? This is a lot more common than you think.
I'm not sure what "having a shot" means, everyone creates their own chances based on: their degree (in demand or not), and their personality (can they easily talk to people, create connections). Let's not forget there are just less JOBS out there now, so networking becomes even more important.
I think the article is just saying that many college grads have unrealistic expectations of their future; like a guaranteed entry-level job that pays $50,000, a nice apartment near all their friends/family, working for the industry they live, commuting not more than 15 minutes away, etc. I know I felt like this at one point. It's hard to let go of high expectations and accept reality but that's life
nmryda
about 3 years ago
60 comments
You can disagree with what we said but what I said about the entertainment industry was EXTREMELY relevant because the same goes for ANY industry! If your father is the CEO of a company, especially a prominent one, don't you think it would be MUCH easier for YOU to be able to work there as opposed to, say, ME?! It's EXACTLY THE SAME in entertainment as it is in ANY industry! If you have inside connections, especially if these are CLOSE connections, it is MUCH MUCH easier to get inside than someone who is a total outsider!
Also, yes, many people go on to get higher degrees, but that doesn't mean that THEY TOO never struggle or never struggle as much to get a job, especially in a recession! And think about it, for those who pursue future education, how would they all PAY for it? Not everybody is able to get a scholarship/grant to get a master's, and not everyone have well-to-do families that can afford to pay for them! I myself would work on getting my master's IF I COULD PAY FOR IT! I'm still in debt from college, so why would I put myself in MORE debt to attend graduate school?
You say "no one actually deserves a job, you earn it", which is EXACTLY what I said; what I'm saying is that everyone @ least deserves a SHOT! What's the point in even having the degree if it doesn't really help one's chances in even getting the interview, let alone the offer? Also, what exactly is your definition of "earning" it? I thought it was about applying and networking, but if you've got better insight than I, I'm sure the masses would love to be enlightened!
marioa
about 3 years ago
8 comments
I disagre with Nana and nmryda;
I believe what the article is saying because no one actually deserves a job, you earn it.
Yes the reason many get bachelor degrees is to get a job, but many go on to dental school, get a masters, go to law school, and professionals like them don't "get" jobs, and don't need to worry as much about being 'hired.'
If everyone 'deserved' a job, who gets one and who doesn't? It's a silly notion to think in my opinion, remember what we say last year? All those graduates suing schools because tehy couldn't find work? That was so dumb imo.
Connections do make a huge difference but you gave a bad example, you are talking about the entertainment industry, I think this article is geared towards grads in business, liberal arts, etc. For a corporate posiiton if your friend works there you get the interview, but can you DO the interview? If you can't who cares?
nmryda
about 3 years ago
60 comments
Couldn't have said it any better Nana lol
NANA
about 3 years ago
2 comments
I don't know that I entirely agree that college graduates should be less inclined to think they "deserve" a good job. What else do people go to college for? Depending on your major it may or not be a "fun" experience, college is hard work, and for those of us that attend and graduate with flying colors with absolutely no parental support be that financial, emotional, academic etc, it is very difficult to be convinced after 4 or 5 grueling years of university that you don't "deserve" a good job. Certainly I understand there might be a false sense of entitlement to the "big job" that brings 100k to start and an office with a view plus fringe benefits-how many of us really get that with our B.A/BS and really do you need that type of position straight out of the classroom-no. However, I am inclined to argue that college graduates do deserve at least decent if not "good" positions. There has to be a financial and life enhancement incentive for going to school. Otherwise we could look at (and all of us have these) our friends with far less education than us who are doing quite well and are not at all moved by the words recession or 12.6 unemployment in the city of Los Angeles (my current home base). Without this incentive, college merely becomes a 4-5 + year investment of your time, riddled with student loan debt, job uncertainty, sleepless nights, credit card debt, and false hopes for a better or higher quality of life upon graduation.
Simply put, the good job is the pot of gold at the end of the roller-coaster that is disguised as a rainbow. I went on the ride, and survived; now I would like my treasure.
nmryda
about 3 years ago
60 comments
The points made in this article are true, yet if you look @ society today, it's difficult to ignore that all three are true to only an extent. For instance, let's take point #3. I'm a rapper, but there are SOOOOOOOO many rappers in the world! I believe I'm the best of them all, but with my financial hardships and lack of equipment/connections/etc. it's EXTREMELY difficult for me to rise through the cracks and get noticed. However, I just watched a video TODAY on a popular social networking website with Ice Cube introducing his son (OMG) as a new rapper in the game. His son will INSTANTLY have a better chance of breaking into and surviving in music because his FATHER is frickin' Ice Cube! Sure, that doesn't guarantee that he'll be successful in music, but he has a WAY better chance than I do! Or let's take Drake. He's successful now because he already had connections from when he was on Degrassi and he's using them to his full advantage. If you've seen his biography on YouTube, he comes from an affluent family that lived in a very nice neighborhood in Canada. I saw him having an interview on ABC and he hasn't even released his debut album yet, and his recent mixtape sold more than ESTABLISHED rappers' albums last year! All I have for myself are a ton of songs made with decent quality, but I don't do shows because I don't have decent clothes or a decent product (cd) to sell, and I don't have those because I don't have the money to pay for artwork, cd jackets, photos, etc., and I don't have that because I don't have a job, and I don't have that because there are very few opportunities, and employers don't consider my credentials/degree to be enough for even the most menial tasks for some reason (I just got turned down through e-mail from a job @ the north face today which doesn't even REQUIRE a college degree, and I didn't even get an interview opportunity). I paid $300+ of money I saved up for expert help with my resume and cover letters and I still have not gotten a single interview for jobs that I meet/exceed the requirements for on my own merits. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining but what I'm saying is true.
My last employer told me once that when he interviewed me for the position I had (which I was VERY overqualified for), I was in top form and that he felt compelled to give me the job, which I must honestly say is because I've researched and practiced how to answer interview questions and things of that nature. However, HIS father works in the CORPORATE OFFICES of a VERY VERY well-known retail pharmacy, so my last employer was able to gain an internship and become store manager right out of college, above people who've been working @ this store way longer than he, and he's only a few years older than I! On top of that, the company hired a MUCH older guy as a manager soon after I was hired for the lowest position (Which made a total of 4 managers and 1 team lead), which limited the opportunities for me to move ahead in the company. While it is TRUE that I got the job by networking with one of my friends who is an underling @ the company (and not a CEO), I can't help but think that I probably would have gotten a MUCH better chance for a MUCH better position @ the company if I HAD known one! It's not like I don't have any decent, relevant work experience or things like that, but the opportunities just aren't presenting themselves!
It is true that a college degree should NOT just guarantee a job; I do believe that I should definitely have to earn it. However, I'm $20,000+ in debt because I believed that it would be a significant factor in helping me find decent employment, but I can't even get an interview opportunity to plead my case and PROVE that I'm better than everyone else for whatever position. It would be nice if people like me could @ least get a fighting chance, ya know? That's all I'm saying!
Betuvia
about 3 years ago
2 comments
Brilliant, absolutely
applesofdoom
about 3 years ago
2 comments
This is a good article, it helped me a lot.
angelina_c
about 3 years ago
10 comments
thanks~
jessekaufmann
about 3 years ago
6 comments
Yea the networking thing is definitely blown out of proprtion. Ppl make it seem like if you don't know the boss of a huge company you're not getting in. I blame TV. Sure corruption exists but not for an entry level job, get real ppl!!
jackieowens
about 3 years ago
4 comments
I felt like I was reading the thoughts outta my head when I read this..so true, so very true.
I have made all three of those mistakes, unfortunately I still somehow deep down inside grip onto #2. I think certain jobs are beneath me, but in this economy, who cares? really it IS about getting your "foot in the door."
Thanks, great inspiring stuff here