May 23, 2022

The 8 Career Myths You Should Stop Believing Right Now


A career-myth true story: I had a good GPA and a university degree. I was confident. I thought these all would take me to land a good job.
 
But the reality was different. I had to wait almost three years to get an average job.
 
The question is why it happened to me. Actually, only a good grade and a university degree will not take you to land a good job. 
 
Hiring managers always search for a complete package in you. What are they?
 
  • Part-time and summer job experience.
  • Extra-curricular activities.
  • Volunteering.
  • Transferable skills etc.
This was my case. For you, the scenario can be different. 
 
So a career myth is-only a good GPA can help you to land a good job.
 
There are more such misconceptions out there about work and careers. This blog post will expose some of the most common ones. The following are eight of the most common career myths that you should stop believing right now:
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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The 8 Career Myths You Should Stop Believing Right Now

Myth 1 # You need to have a college degree to be successful.

 
Completely wrong. There are many examples that successful people who never went to college or finished high school. What matters more than your education is your willingness to learn and work hard.
 

Myth 2 # You need to start at the bottom and work your way up.

In the past, it was true, but it's no longer the case. With the uptrend of the gig economy, you can now start your own business or freelance and work your way up.
 
 
 
This is one of the biggest career myths out there. It's commonly said that you should do what you love, and as a result, many people think that if they don't love their job, they must be doing something wrong. But the truth is, not everyone loves their job. 
 
I mean, while it's great to find a job that you love, the reality is that most people don't end up doing what they love for their entire career.
 
 

Myth 4 # Another career myth about quitting a job is that you have to wait until the two-year mark.

This is a widespread misconception, but it's not always the case. In fact, there are plenty of reasons to quit a job before the two-year mark. 
 
Maybe you've found another job that you're much more interested in, or perhaps the company you work for isn't a good fit for you. Don't feel like you have to stay at a job until the two-year mark.
 
 But, before quitting your job, you have to make sure you have another one lined up. If you don't have another option to go to, then it might not be the best time to quit. But if you're dissatisfied with your job and have another one lined up, go for it.
 
 
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Myth 5 # You Need to Have a Lot of Experience.

There's a lot of talk about needing a lot of experience to have a successful career. But this isn't always the case. 
 
Many people with minimal experience have done many great things. 
 
Here are some examples: 
  1. Richard Branson had no experience when he started Virgin Airlines at the age of 21
  2. Mark Zuckerberg had no experience when he started Facebook at the age of 19
  3. Oprah Winfrey had no experience when she began her talk show at the age of 32 
 
But-
 
when you don't have any experience, how do you find a job? The best way is to start by networking. Get connected with people who work in the industry you want to be in, and ask them for advice. Chances are, they'll be love to help you.
 
One more thing.
 
Many employers look for people with no experience so that they can train them in their way.
 

Myth 6 # A career assessment test will tell you which career path is perfect.

Wrong conception, dear. You can use this assessment tool to determine your career interest, but this test will not determine what career path is right for you. Got the point? 
 
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what career is right for you. 
 
No doubt, a career assessment test can give you some good insights, but it is ultimately up to you to find a career that is a good fit for your personality, interests, and skills. 
 
When choosing a career, some of the factors you should consider. 
 
For example, your passions and interests, skills and strengths, the work environment and culture, the salary and benefits, and how much travel is involved. 
 
There is no one perfect answer to the question of what career is right for you.
 

Myth 7 # Luck will ultimately lead you to the appropriate career.

Very funny.
 
I know there’s a lot of talk about luck in the career world. You may have heard that if you just wait long enough, fate will eventually bring you to the right career.
 
The problem with this mindset is that luck doesn’t always favor those who wait. In fact, waiting for a chance can actually lead to missed opportunities and a stalled career. 
 
Are these people really living in a digital world?
 
Luck is often associated with chance or coincidence. But when it is about your career, you don’t want to leave things to chance, right? 
 
What do you say?
 
That means taking action and putting yourself in the right direction is important.
 

Myth 8 # My major will direct my professional path.

Another wrong mindset is your major will determine your career path. This is not always the case. Many people have careers that are vastly different from their college majors. 
 
A degree in English does not mean you have to be a teacher or a writer. A business degree does not mean you have to own your own company.
 
There are many paths you can take with any major. All you just need to be creative and open-minded about the possibilities. Do some research and talk to people in various careers to get an idea of what is available to you.
 
Generally, a company will look at your work experience and skills during hiring. Some companies want to hire freshers. So it depends on that company. 
 
But, it is also true some companies are to hire employees who have a particular major in their college that is needed to perform their job duties—for example, an engineering firm.
 
However, in general, many professionals found themselves in a completely unrelated career to their college studies.
 
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Conclusion

So, there are a lot of career-related misconceptions. You should stop believing them right now. This article exposed eight of the most common career myths. By understanding the truth about careers, you can make better decisions about your future. Good luck. 
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