From wanting to advance your career to providing for your family, there are plenty of reasons to job hunt. But a job search is a stressful task. After all, you’re putting yourself out there for evaluation. As challenging as a job search can be, there’s one often forgotten about factor that can make the process more difficult: Unrealistic expectations.

If you’re thinking about how to land a job, the answer may actually be right in front of you. In this post, we’ll outline four myths that can bring your job search to dead stop.

How can you improve your job search? Keep reading to discover job strategies and techniques that can help you get the attention of hiring managers.

Myth 1: I’ll Hear Back from Every Employer

In a perfect world, you would hear back from every job you applied to. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Many companies use automated messages telling you that your application has been received.

Realistically, it will take some time to get a response back from a company. Plus, it’s common for many hiring managers to only contact candidates who are in high consideration. While it’s not ideal, there is something you can do about it. When possible, send your application to a real person or connect with recruiters on LinkedIn.

Myth 2: They’ll See I’m A Great Fit

Have you ever read a job description and thought, “I’m a perfect fit for this job!” Far too often this connection leads to mistakes. It isn’t up to the hiring manager of the company to uncover why you’re a good fit. It’s up to you to present it to them.

One of the most useful job strategies and techniques for getting more interviews is customizing your resume to the job you’re applying for. An easy place to start is to make sure the previous job roles, responsibilities, and skills listed on your resume relate back to the job you’re currently applying for.

Myth 3: You Have to Optimize Your Resume with Keywords

The truth is, plenty of companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). It’s an easy way for companies and recruiters to automate the beginning of the selection process. Because of this some applicants think they have to fill their resume with keywords to get to the next step of the hiring process.

While it’s important to include some key phrases, overloading your resume with keywords can diminish your message. Do some research and find out who the hiring manager is. You’ll often have more success if you write your resume with them in mind.

Myth 4: The More Applications I Send Out, the Better My Chances

There’s an old saying about quality over quantity, and it holds true for applying for jobs. Hiring managers have learned how to spot a generic application. Using the same resume for every job you apply for won’t likely increase your chances.

Wondering how to improve your job search? Send more targeted resumes. Like we mentioned above, customizing your resume to the position will help you. Research the company culture and core values to give your resume an extra targeted feel. While there are a ton of job strategies and techniques, you can never go wrong with learning more about the company you’re applying to.

Give Your Job Search a Boost with Help from Allied Forces

Now that you can see past the myths holding back your job search, there’s one more thing you can do: contact the team at Allied Forces. We can partner you with a recruiter who will match your skills with real job opportunities.

If you’re thinking about how to improve your job search, the expert recruiters at Allied Forces are here to help. Discover how we can connect you with the companies who partner with us today.