Busting the Myths: Job Hunting

When you’re job hunting, do you find that everywhere you turn, people are offering you advice? ‘Don’t bother looking for a job over the summer, everyone’s away’… ‘Apply for as many jobs as you can. It’ll improve your chances.’… ‘Cover letters don’t matter. Focus on your CV’.

As helpful as people are trying to be, some of the advice is just plain wrong.

Here are seven common myths about landing a job - debunked.

1. Charities stop recruiting over the summer

Many people think that hiring grinds to a halt at certain periods – such as over the summer or over the Christmas holidays.

But the truth is people leave their jobs and/or change roles all the time, and they need to be replaced.

Roles that were being recruited for in the spring may still be sourced over the summer. In other words, your dream job could pop up anytime, so keep looking!

2. Cover letters don’t matter

We hate to break it to you, but cover letters are still an integral part of the job search.

Why? Your CV gives an account of your work experience, skill sets and core competencies. But your cover letter humanises you.

It’s not a silver bullet, but, if it’s well written, a hiring manager may spend more than 6 seconds reviewing it. So, every time you apply for a position, send a customised, well-written cover letter. Make it compelling and fun to read and you may well be onto a winner.

3. Changing jobs regularly is frowned upon by employers

Today, employers appreciate that people switch jobs. Where people used to stick at one job for life, it’s common for people to change jobs between 10 to 15 times during their career, with the average tenure being 4.6 years.

Employers recognise this. They know that to “climb the ladder”, employees have to change jobs regularly – within reason! A series of 3-month stints will be hard to explain as anything but job hopping, so be careful!

4. You’ll have a tough time getting a job if you’re over a certain age

Ageism hasn’t been eradicated, but the workplace has changed drastically in the last 30 years. People over 50 are no longer seen as ‘old’ – they’re seen as seasoned and experienced. And this is what many employers are looking for.

Employees (of any age) need to have tactical skills and a strategic mind. In addition, the right attitude and temperament goes a long way. Bring these qualities to the table and your age won’t matter one bit.

5. You need to tick every single box on the job and person specification to get selected

We’ve seen many job seekers talk themselves out of applying for jobs because they didn’t meet every listed requirement.

The fact is, in the same way, you’ll never find the “perfect” job, it’s highly unlikely a charity will find the perfect candidate, in as much as they are an exact match for every qualification.

Many times, it’s the top 2 - 3 qualifications in the job description that carry much of the weight. Over and above that, proactivity, creativity, and a willingness to learn can carry you far.

6. The more jobs I apply for, the greater my chances of landing a job

Nope. Employers can spot a generic, mass application a mile off, and they do not go down well. In fact, they’re usually filed in the ‘bin’.

Employers look for applications that are tailored to their organisation and job opening, from candidates who have done their research and clearly demonstrated why they would be great for the role.

The bottom line is, sending out more applications probably won’t increase your chances of getting a job, but sending out better quality ones will.

7. If I haven’t heard back within a few days of applying, I didn’t get it

The recruitment process can be a lengthy one. Approvals for each stage of the process can drag on. This is often because several levels of management may need to approve the shortlist of resumes to call in for interviews. Or sometimes a crucial person may be off sick, or on holiday.

Also, a top candidate may drop out of the process for some reason, which can set everything back.

So, keep answering the phone in a friendly voice and checking your messages frequently. The sorting, selecting and responding can often take weeks or more.

If you’re concerned, you can always send a polite email or call to follow up. Contrary to popular belief, this won’t annoy employers. It’ll show you’re keen and interested in the role.

Caveat: It goes without saying, don’t hound them every day for an update. You want to seem keen, but play it cool at the same time!

Need some help finding your dream fundraising job? Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 to get started.