1-Page Resumes, Wearing Suits to Interviews & More Outdated Job Search Advice You Shouldn’t Follow

A woman searches for a job online.
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    If 2020 and 2021 symbolized anything, it was change. And a big part of that change took place across the job landscape. For better or worse, the way we look at and approach careers has changed forever.

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    As a result of the pandemic, many companies transitioned their employees to remote positions. And while many of those employees will return to in-person work at some point, some will keep working virtually. Additionally, a lot of companies started using virtual technology to interview candidates instead of meeting in person, which also may remain the norm in years to come.

    But work and interview locations aren’t the only things that require a shift from previous practices. There’s also plenty of old-school career advice floating around out there — advice that won’t help you land a job or make career gains if you follow it.

    Here are some pieces of outdated career advice that you should ignore now if you want to get ahead.

    Just Keep Patiently Applying

    Ignore advice to just keep applying even when you hear crickets, said Marja Verbon, COO and founder of Jump, a virtual career guide and job platform.

    Read More: 8 Ways To Land Your Dream Job

    “If you are receiving rejection after rejection, it’s time for a rethink,” Verbon said. “However, this doesn’t necessarily mean a career rethink. It could mean taking a long hard look at the way you are applying to jobs (steer clear of 1-click bulk-applying) or the companies you are applying to. But whatever you do, don’t just keep applying.”

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    Wear a Suit to Your Interview

    The bottom line is that sometimes a suit may be appropriate and sometimes not when it comes to interviews. If you’re interviewing at an attorney’s office or a financial advising firm where suits are part of the company’s daily culture, then wearing a suit is completely appropriate. However, if you’re interviewing at an information technology company or insurance company, a full suit will likely be too formal. Instead, business casual attire — such as a shirt and dress slacks for men and a blouse and dress slacks or a skirt for women — will be a better choice, no matter if you interview virtually or in person.

    To be sure, look at the company’s website or social media posts to determine how employees dress. You can also reach out to the human resources department of the company you’re interviewing with and ask about the daily dress code prior to your interview. However, if the daily dress code is very casual, such as shorts and athletic shoes, don’t dress accordingly. Instead, opt for business casual to appear professional but not over the top.

    Don’t Bring Notes to Your Interview

    It used to be common for recruiters and HR professionals to advise job seekers against bringing notes to an interview unless they were new-hire questions for the potential employer, said Rolf Bax, chief human resources officer for Resume.io, a leading resume-builder and career prep service.

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    Find Out: How To Approach Your Job Hunt After a Long Stretch of Unemployment

    Bax advises that in the remote-work world and a tight job market, the stakes are high and having notes could help you answer questions you might otherwise fumble. However, he warns: “Make sure to keep your notes completely out of sight, reference them quickly and naturally and, as always, prepare well enough that you aren’t relying on them.”

    Seek Out In-Person Networking

    With respect to other people’s time, in-person networking should be eschewed in favor of virtual outreach, said Andrew Fennell, director and careers expert at StandOut CV. Fennel pointed out that in-person networking is considered more intrusive than it used to be. “While it is currently a health concern and should be avoided, in-person networking is considered a bit more intrusive than it used to be. People often don’t have time to sit down for a coffee and a video call is a perfectly good equivalent now to understand more about a role, for example,” Fennell said.

    Prepare: What It’s Like To Job Hunt During a Pandemic

    Never Leave a Job Within the First Year or You’ll Be Seen as a Job Hopper

    While you don’t want to create a pattern of leaving jobs quickly, you shouldn’t feel like you have to stay at a job for an entire year if it’s not a good fit, said Biron Clark, former executive recruiter and founder at Career Sidekick. “It’s okay to begin searching for a new opportunity, and if employers ask why you’re searching, say, ‘My role right now has changed and is not what I expected, and I’m looking for a position that aligns more closely with my career goals. That includes the opportunity to do ___ and ____,'” Clark said.

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    Tips: How To Interview For a Job Over Zoom

    Only Answer the Questions Asked in an Interview

    Showcase what makes you unique through a more conversational approach to the interview instead of simply answering the interviewer’s questions, said Randi Levin, transitional life strategist. “Employers are looking for hires that are memorable and vibrant and who are able to demonstrate not just leadership, but self-leadership. Making your virtual or in-person interviews as conversational as possible will support you in demonstrating not only your skillsets but (also) your value-add as an employee and as a person,” Levin said.

    Helpful Advice: How To Achieve Better Work-Life Balance

    Levin gives this additional advice to keep in mind when interviewing, “Keeping things conversational and engaging allows for your interviewer to see all aspects of you, and opens the door for you to ask questions and infuse your experience right into the conversation. If you lead with your value, you will organically align your skills with the job at hand in new and interesting ways, even if it is not similar to what you have done before,” Levin said.

    Reframe Questions About Your Greatest Weakness

    A common question for interviewers to ask is, “What is your greatest weakness?” While this may go against all your instincts, it’s OK to be honest about your greatest weakness rather than come up with something that’s not a weakness and try to make it seem like it is. The key is to also give your interviewer examples of how you are working to resolve the weakness. 

    But make sure you don’t choose a weakness that would make it seem that you cannot fulfill the expectations and duties of the role you’re interviewing for. For example, if you’re applying for a job that requires you to rely on a team, don’t say that your weakness is expecting others to do a perfect job all the time and you’re overcoming it by relying more on yourself and not worrying about what others do.

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    Resumes Should Be One Page

    While old-school advice dictated the use of a one-page resume, Michele Olivier, a certified career coach with over 20 years of experience in the HR/recruitment industry and principal consultant at O&H Consulting, believes that particular piece of advice was more relevant when people handed their resume to an actual person. “Now it’s much more important that you have an engaging resume that is easy to follow and has relevant information. Even one page of irrelevant content (like lists of job duties) feels too long for a recruiter, but up to four pages for senior-level folks is great if the content is managed correctly.”

    Stand Out: These Are the People Who Will Get Hired This Year

    You Need To Include an Objective on Your Resume

    Even though including an objective was a non-negotiable part of the resume recipe in the past, it’s no longer relevant. Instead, you should include a summary of qualifications, which consists of two to three sentences detailing the main reasons a specific employer should hire you.

    Resumes Should Be Written in Formal Language

    Whether a resume should be written in formal language depends on the company you’re submitting it to. For example, if you’re submitting your resume to a law firm, more formal language would be appropriate.

    But if you’re submitting it to an on-demand shipping startup, less formal (but still professional) language might be suitable. To determine the company’s tone and voice, do some research by studying its website and social media posts. 

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    Have a Cover Letter Attachment

    Olivier warns that if you attach your cover letter to an email, no one will read it. She advises that the body of the email should be your cover letter and the only attachment should be your resume — unless you are instructed otherwise. “Like most good emails this one should be concise, specific, and relevant.  No more than two paragraphs and five bullet points,” Olivier said.

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