Outdated Career Advice

Common career myths with a good dash of “career reality”

There are many career advice that have been circulating for decades. While some advice can actually be quite useful, some no longer apply to our modern age. These advice can range from what to include in your CV, how to act during an interview and how to go about your job search. People often stick to it throughout their entire careers, despite evidence that it no longer works or might actually be standing in the way of their career success. Akhtaboot is here to highlight some examples of outdated advice that you need to ignore in order to thrive in this new market.

Myth #1: Do What You Love and Money will follow

Many professionals are tempted to fall for the myth that once you find work that you truly love, you’ll never actually feel like you’re working. But even “Love” involves work. This is not to say that you should settle for a career that undermines your talents and makes you feel miserable. It actually means that whichever path you decide to follow, expect a struggle.

Myth #2: Turn your Weaknesses into Strengths

Employers prefer to hire people who are open, honest and speak straight across, face to face. But many job seekers to this day believe that there is no room for modesty when it comes to job search. When you try to hide your weaknesses during a job interview, you’ll appear less genuine and this can have a negative effect on your “Likability”. Instead, try to stress that you have recognized your weaknesses because you want to improve upon them.

Myth #3: Nice Employees Can’t Be Leaders

In the corporate world, companies seem to continue to promote the stereotype that nice leaders finish last. But in real life, you have a better chance of winning if you’re nice to people. What you really need to understand is that being a nice leader doesn’t mean that you don’t fire people. It doesn’t mean that you don’t make hard decisions that will impact the bottom line. And it doesn’t mean that you won’t work harder than those who are unkind. It simply means that you are focused as much on the way you deliver your message as you are on the message itself.

Myth #4: Unsure of What You Want to Do, Graduate School is The Answer

Graduate school can be exactly the push you need if you’re passionate about advancing in your field. But if you’re unsure of what you want to do because your career isn’t advancing the way you’d like, it’s important to realize that pursing a master’s degree won’t solve all of your problems. But let’s be clear: you won’t be promoted because you have a Master’s degree. You may get a promotion because you know how to apply what you learned in graduate school at work.

Myth#5: The Choice of an Occupation is Irreversible

Career planning never stops and you will probably reassess your career plan several times during your working life. In today’s business world the typical person joining the work force will have as many as five to six different jobs by the time he or she retires. People continue to change and evolve throughout life, so does the job market. Once you’ve clearly identified what you’re looking for in a career, you will find that there are a number of paths that match your skills. Your goal at this point should be to take the next best step.