One of the beautiful things about a good book is that it can transport you to another place. Authors create new worlds and often mythical creatures that live within the pages - whether your favourites are vampires, zombies, mermaids, or maybe a phoenix they really add that extra edge to a story.
Whilst myths are brilliant when it comes to creating magical stories, they aren’t as positive when it comes to your career. In fact, it can really hurt your plans and leave you feeling stuck. Have you either stopped to think about how the myths you hear can be holding you back from making the career progress you hoped for?
Whether you are planning your next move or looking to develop in your current role, I’ll share the top 9 career myths that could be leaving you stuck on your journey
Myth 1 - I need to match every requirement to apply for a job
You find what seems like a great opportunity only to notice that when you read the details it’s asking for 5 years of previous experience and you only have 4. You may stop there but don’t always think you are automatically disqualified. Whilst the job description and person specification outlines the ideal candidate, in reality, there are times when employers may adjust their requirements. Some of the skills listed in job adverts may be very niche and it can be challenging for employers to find an exact fit. If you are able to demonstrate how you have strong skills across other areas, you could be in with a good chance of getting to interview. If you tick the majority of the boxes and think it’s a brilliant opportunity, don’t let it prevent you from applying.
Myth 2 - Follow your passion and only your passion
You know that saying ‘Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life?’ It’s one of the biggest myths out there when it comes to your career. Ask anyone who has ever had a hobby they really loved which turned into a business and they will tell you that passion can turn into pain very quickly when you are faced with the daily reality. Having a job you love isn’t always the same as following your passion - you can find fulfillment in plenty of jobs. Try looking for a role that you will find satisfying rather than limiting yourself to one that you are totally passionate about. Balance your passions with the bigger jobs markets, what your skills and talents are, and the networks you have developed.
Myth 3 - Putting in long hours will advance your career
Ultimately your employer wants to see results and not burnout. If you work yourself ragged in the hope that it will bring a promotion or a pay rise whilst neglecting your health, families, and friends it’s unlikely to end well. If you are able to focus on how you prioritise your tasks and become more efficient in concentrating on work that counts, you will still be able to demonstrate your talent and ability whilst maintaining a good balance between work and life.
Myth 4 - Your leadership skills will develop naturally over time
You may be technically brilliant but your leadership and management skills won’t magically materialise once you get promoted or move to a new role. You will need to work on those skills separately just as you would at any point in your career when learning something new. Leadership is a skill that requires continuous nurturing, mentoring, and maybe even coaching. Getting help from your line manager can assist with setting expectations, improving your soft skills, and building your overall confidence. Be sure to keep up with your professional development, network within your industry, and ask for feedback and input from your team, boss, and peers to keep improving. Always be sure to reflect on what you could be doing more effectively to develop.
Myth 5 - You must never quit a job before 2 years
Imagine you’ve taken what you thought would be a great new role - however, 10 months on things haven’t quite turned out as expected. The flexibility promised at the interview hasn’t materialised, the hours are long and the duties were not exactly as you’d been lead to believe. You worry about how applying for a new role so soon could look on your CV. The truth is that staying put is not the answer. In light of the current jobs market and ‘The Great Resignation’ it’s much more common to have shorter periods in roles and especially in the early days of your career journey. Some roles are also short-term by their nature so there isn’t the negative association that there once was with ‘job hopping’. If you are in a new role and despite your best efforts it's not working out, start looking for something better as soon as you can. Do however be prepared to explain at interview why you are looking to move on and ensure that you can do this without sounding negative about the organisation you are leaving.
Myth 6 - I should never take a pay cut to find a new role
Too often we accept the idea that we should be trying to make more money in every career move as a fact of life. Sometimes a role can offer benefits that are beyond just a salary such as flexibility, personal development or specialised training. Or maybe you are switching sectors in your career or undergoing retraining. This could mean that for a while your salary takes a dip whilst you build your reputation. I would never deny that a salary increase is always helpful, but it should never be the case of this is all that matters when you are looking for a new opportunity.
Myth 7 - Your career path should be all planned out for you
Ever felt that you needed to have your career figured out from day 1? A great quote from Martin Luther King Jr pretty much sums it up “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Wanting to see the whole journey unfolding before you take each step and leave us feeling stuck and instead of enjoying where your career is taking you, you can end up feeling overwhelmed by decisions. Today career changes are more common than ever but knowing how to make a change in direction can be scary. Instead, try breaking your career goals down into smaller chunks. Find a mentor, if you want a career change, test ways to look at a new sector before you make a big jump, try someone online courses to sharpen your skills or ask to shadow someone in a relevant field.
Myth 8 - Employment gaps are the worst when it comes to finding a new job
Ok so if you’ve spent the last 3 years doing absolutely nothing with very little to show for it, a gap in your CV isn’t going to look great. But the gap should never matter if you did something productive with the time. Maybe you learned a new skill, spent time volunteering, cared for children or relatives or renovated your home. All of these things showcase your resilience, ambition, energy, and creativity. As long as you can explain what you were doing if you need to at interview a gap is nothing to worry about in your career - we are all likely to have them at some point!
Myth 9 - Networking is everything! I have to be doing it all the time to advance my career
Whilst contacts and effective networks never hurt anyone’s career, you need to be thinking quality over quantity. How can you deepen your connection with the top people in your network instead of focusing on making as many contacts as you possibly can. Being able to say I have x number of connections on LinkedIn rather than a smaller number that are truly meaningful is a good example. If you find networking exhausting, try an audit of your current contacts to see how it might be taking you forward. And never be that person who just takes from your network when you need help, always think about what you can offer in return to build relationships.
Are you ready to take the next step in building a career that works for you and ditch the myths that are holding you back? Book in for a career power hour where I help you tackle whatever career challenge lies in front of you. The link is here
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