There are a lot of bad, mediocre and irrelevant career advice out there. If you’re web-savvy, you should know that looking up any questions online is a gamble — whether you’re checking your symptoms on a medical website or trying to figure out how to write a cover letter.
And the problem with bad career tips is that you won’t really know how you shot yourself in the foot. You might walk away from an interview with the feeling that something went wrong without being able to pinpoint the cause.
So what should you do? The web is a great resource and there are plenty of good advice. What you should do is to use common sense and your gut feeling combined with a critical eye to what you’re presenting to current or future employers. In short, if something doesn’t seem right, take your chances and change it even if it appears to defy conventional wisdom.
If you’re unsure of the advice or you’re seeing contradictory tips, here are some ways to decide what to do.
Know you own situation
There are many moving parts in the job search, interviewing and hiring. And all of these parts change even further once you factor in individual situations, corporate cultures and career stages. Something as easy and straight forward as formatting your resume can be different based on where you’re professionally and the type of job you’re applying for.
For example, if you’re a graphic designer, the look and feel of your resume may be judged differently. If you’re a writer, a typo in your cover letter can be fatal. If you’re applying for a top management job, the tone of your accomplishment may make or break the deal.
You get the point, there is no solution that fits all. You can play it safe with ready solutions, but you always must be conscious of the specifics of your industry and potential jobs.
Know what works for you
Although searching for a job, interviewing and getting a job is not always about your individual preferences, don’t take your personality totally out of it. People like to work with people, and the more you be yourself, the more likely you will stand out.
What does that mean? Take some liberty with your communication, deviate from template and use your best judgement when it comes to conversations, interview questions, follow ups, etc. Why? Because all of this will give the interview more insight into who you’re.
Create your own experience as well. Jobs are out there for you to take them. While beaten paths eventually can lead you there, trying some shortcuts, that are appropriate and creative, can help. It could be this extra follow-up email that proves your interest. It could be showing up at a business function to rub shoulders with the right people, or it could be your sincere expression of interest in a hand-written note. Do what feels right even if it doesn’t fit the typical box.
Know who is posting
Online career advice doesn’t all come from the same source. If you’re a college student looking for your first job, your university or college resources can be your best start point. Similarly, you should look for other resources that target people who are in your shoes. Going into top executive forums or others who have been in the industry for five to 10 years can provide insights, but it won’t help you with your current needs and challenges.
In addition, make sure you’re looking for resources that target your market and your specific industry, if you’re looking for insights into salaries, benefits and even interviews. The same company can have different benefits from one market to another, and each local team can have its own management style that works for its market.
The point is: Like anything else on the internet, examine closely the source and relevance of career tips. The more local and specific you get, the more likely you will get valuable information.
The writer, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is a Seattle-based editor.
Taking it with a pinch of salt
Online career tips are not one-size-fits-all
Understand your specific situation
Don’t eliminate your personality
Look closely into the resource
— R.O.
