#JobSearch : Seven (7) Outdated Pieces of Job Search Advice. Great Quick REad!

While the advice-giver means well, here are some outdated pieces of job search advice to look out for and what you should do instead.

1. Your resume should be only one page long.

Unless you’re fresh out of college or have minimal experience, it’s okay to have a two-page resume. In fact, a two-page resume is often your best bet!

That said, if you don’t have enough work history to fill two pages (or even one full page), don’t fill it with excess fluff. Instead, focus on customizing your resume (and cover letter) with keywords from the job posting to help explain why you’re the perfect person for the job.

2. Include every job you’ve ever had on your resume to present a complete account of your professional history.

While two pages is the preferred resume length, there may be times when you have to go to three pages, and that’s okay. However, the only time you would use a three-page resume is when everything on your resume is relevant to your career. That often doesn’t happen until late in your career.

Even if every single thing on your resume is relevant to your career and the job you’re applying for, you still may be better off with a two-page resume.

Though your early high school jobs may show how you got your start in customer service, is it really still relevant to your work history, or is it just eating up valuable space on your resume? Consider ditching the early jobs in favor of filling that space with more recent and in-depth examples of why you’re perfect for the role.

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3. When your interviewer asks about your weaknesses, offer a positive framed as a weakness.

While this sounds like a good idea in theory, in practice, it often isn’t. There’s a chance you’ll come across as arrogant or lacking self-awareness about your true weaknesses.

The key to answering this question is honesty. Acknowledging that you have a weakness and are aware of it goes a long way toward showing the hiring manager you are willing to examine what you’re good and not good at, as well as mature enough to admit it.

As part of your interview prep, ask yourself what your greatest weakness is, then come up with an answer that explains what you’ve done or are doing to overcome it.

4. Write your resume and cover letter using formal language.

Sometimes this is the correct advice and sometimes it’s not.

Part of any job search involves researching the company and its culture before applying for the job and interviewing with the company. As you write your cover letter and resume, use language that matches the tone and voice of the company or industry you’re applying to, which, in turn, helps demonstrate that you’re a great fit for the company.

For example, if you’re applying to a corporate finance job with a traditional bank, you may want to use more formal language. But if you’re applying to a disruptive tech startup, you’ll likely use less formal, more casual but still professional language.

5. Include an objective at the top of your resume. And don’t forget to mention that you have references available upon request. And include a photo.

These three things used to be almost mandatory on a resume. But like almost everything else we’ve listed here, this is now outdated job search advice.

Instead of an objective, include a resume summary or summary of qualifications. These few sentences capture the essential reasons why an employer should hire you.

As for references, employers assume you have them, so there’s no reason to mention them. And no one includes a picture on their resume anymore. In fact, including a picture could land your resume in the trash. Instead, add a photo to your LinkedIn profile.

6. Always wear a suit to an interview.

This advice also falls into the “sometimes right” category.

What you wear to an interview depends on where you’re interviewing. Thanks to your research, you’ll know if the company is all suits and ties or shorts and T-shirts, so dress accordingly.

That said, if the company does appear to be shorts and T-shirts, you’re better off dressing slightly up instead of trying to match the office look. While flip-flops and concert tees may be the company “dress code,” it’s best to wait until after you have the job to start dressing that way. Dressing up for an interview, even if it’s khakis and a collared shirt, shows the company that you’re serious about the interview and the job.

7. Stay at a job for several years and don’t bounce from job to job.

While older generations could count on staying at the same company for decades and often did, this is no longer the case.

Sticking around in a job that makes you miserable does neither you nor the employer any good. So, if it isn’t working out, it may be time for you to restart your job search, even if you haven’t been there for very long.

Likewise, if you’ve been in a job for a few years but are bored by it or no longer believe in the company’s mission, you may want to start looking around for a job too.

Lastly, people that hop from job to job or even career to career are no longer viewed with suspicion, as long as they can explain why they job hop and how said hopping would benefit the employer.

Staying Up to Date

Like most things, job search advice changes with the times. What works today may not work next year, next month, or even next week. That’s where a career coach can help out!