Many people, including very successful professionals, hold on to misconceptions about how to achieve career success. Many believe, incorrectly so, that there is only one path to achieve career happiness or find "career nirvana".
If you are struggling with career choices or looking for a job, you might be the recipient of a lot of "free", well-intentioned career advice from people who are themselves gainfully employed. Think carefully about acting on some of the career advice you receive since it may be based in myth and not in reality.
To be successful, you must explore and debunk any career myths or perceptions that could hold you back. As Olivia Crosby says in an article for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Don't be a victim to your own misconceptions."
Myth 1
There is only one perfect career out there waiting for me. This is not true. Just as there is no one right way to write a resume, there are multiple options for career happiness. Recognizing this fundamental fact can lower personal stress and leave you open to options not previously considered.
Myth 2
Sticking with the same career for life will show commitment. Not necessarily. A potential employer could see it as a fear of learning new things and an unwillingness to grow professionally.
Myth 3
I have to stick to what I studied in college to build a career. No you do not. There is a distinct difference between selecting a college major and building a career. An overwhelming majority of college majors can lead to multiple careers.
Myth 4
Only experiences and competencies gained through paid employment are important to determining what I do next. Definitely not. Skills developed through both personal and professional experiences can become the basis for future career options.
Myth 5
New training or education is only for young people and for full time students. Did you know that the average age of a community college student is 29 and that 80% are employed?
Myth 6
Work life balance is a myth; I have to choose between being happy in a career and having a family. The workplace has evolved. More employers recognize the value of offering flexibility to workers and are increasingly supportive of the work life balance of employees.
Myth 7
I should be looking for a "safe" industry with job security. Don't be fooled. Workers are let go, downsized and furloughed from so-called recession-proof industries such as healthcare, education or government all the time.
7 Career Myths That Could Stall a Career!
-
Ronn V •Good article. It didnt really address ageism in there, but people on here sure did. Maybe that's why, despite training for a new career, no luck. Not just a bad economy, but being over 50. I feel even more sorry for anyone of any age who owes student loans. Education is no guarantee of employment. Still, they say there is something for everyone. I found casual work in a different field. So hang in there everybody. Its all one can do! -
Debi J •Great article, I agree wholeheartedly about discrimination against "seasoned" employees with extensive experience. Since I was downsized from my last job - I've gotten contract work for short periods of time, however it seems that employers aren't looking to hire people full time who are older than 40.
-
Richard P •Henry: was right on! The biggest complaint from employers that I hear is "can't get anyone who will put in a full day for a decent wage". Then why is it that the older generation 50+ who have the good work ethics, experience and punctuality are passed over for the younger generation who have little motivation and are, for the most part, just looking for a paycheck??
-
Dennis C •The myths about age discrimination are not myths!How do you get around them?How do you find reasonably paid 'contract' jobs rather than employee positions?Dennis
-
Sharon P •I enjoyed this article it halped me to realize that just because I worked for the same company for 24 years that anyone can lose their job. Thank You
-
Martin L •Your analysis of myth 4 is very true, but not well accepted in todays job market. I am a retired Marine with many years in the operations field in the military. The second field I took from the military is a sales professional. I went a step further and received a BBA and MBA in Operations Management to get out of retail sales. The results has left me unemployed. I left retail sales to get time to actively look for a career in operations. But getting a hiring manager to realize how extensive and valuable my military background is to their company seems impossible. Being over 50, I'm sure, has a big part in not getting calls for positions in operation. Employers don't accept personal or professional experiences as an asset for company growth. Even though I have over 30 years of combined management experience in and out of the military, a successful and proven track record, and an MBA, I, along with many other MBA holders are unemployed because we are over 50. The only way this myth can be proven wrong is to train managers evaluate the value applicants based on their life experiences and background. With an MBA in Human Resources, I know the HR managers are limited to the decisions created by the corp. plan. So even if they feel a candidate would be a good hire, they are not allowed to hire them. If anyone can bridge the gap between managers and HR hiring practics, unemployment rates could be drasticly reduced. Then maybe people like can find that second career.
-
Cheryle Johnson •I am applying for a management job at a newspaper right now. I have waited for a "power recruiter" to come back from vacation at a very popular newspaper in Orange county in California. He's located at the parent company an hour and a half away. This is my job from 1991. The responsibility is bigger now handling a town plus part of another town, instead of a town having 10 managers to handle the distribution of the newspaper. I find because the hiring is done over the internet it is done in bulk, and highly qualified individuals could easily fall through the cracks. This explains what I see when I go to the area hospital. I find nurses assistants who very young acting as physician assistants (PA's). I feel ripped off when they say nothings wrong with you, your ears just have wax. We can clean them out. There is no value in people anymore. It's all about money. This should not be.
-
LuAnn Kowar •Thank you for writing the 7 Myths. But, please understand these are myths that might affect the job-seeker. And, many of us, have disposessed ourselves of those notions, over time, signed-on for continuing education, bring enthusiasm and problem-solving into the workplace, and still find not even marginal stability, due to company practices for re-structuring. Re-structuring has replaced "down-sizing" as the corporate buzzword, but it is buzz for "hiring younger". You now need to write-up the 20 or so myths held by HR in Corporate America, and ask them to dispossess themselves of ageism, and restore an even playing-field for candidates across the working-decades. If you're not a manager, everywhere is skewed young for support staff.
-
Eugene Gregory •Thanks for the 7 myths. I am a 52 year old accounting professional, and have been unemployed since 2009. I have applied for so many positions I've lost count. I have had 2 interviews in 2 years, but no offers. It is unfair to be discriminated against for my age, and employers are passing over a deep pool of talent, one that possesses a strong work ethic, and a wealth of knowledge as well. When will it stop?
-
Gurudeva kalledevarpurada •Some of these myths are accurate : Especially the one regarding Work-Life Balance. Many employers have recognized that Work-Life Balance is essential for employee happiness, growth. That is good.Myth #4 is also great. That is employee must always be learning so that he/she will be considered an asset in front of the younger work force.
-
Zahra Husain •Thanks for the 7 Myths article. It gave me inspiration and helped me look outside "the box". I am an underemployed worker for the last 2 years.
-
Nathaniel James •Please post an article on how to overcome employers age discrimnation towards the 50& over crowd of unemployed professionals. Is anyone in congress initiating a bill to prevent "bad credit" from excluding you from consideration for employment? In this economy those of us unemployed over 6mos to 1yr have exhausted savings & benefits. However we still maintain our career expertise and good work ethics. We need anti-discrimination laws to be enforced in this area.
-
Patricia Long •I'm sure age-discrimination is a major factor in getting jobs today, as well as, credit scores. It would seem that employer's would NOT check these, due to long term unemployment factors. Nothing to fall back on, such as 401K, is a factor, as well. My husband and I are both professionals in manufacturing, and he has been looking for over a year, and I have been looking for a year. He gets interviews, but doesn't seem to be called to be offered a job, only some call just to tell him he was not chosen, or too overqualified, which makes us "sick". Why do employers not call and inform candidates, and the credit scores should be dismissed during this economic time. People have exhausted their unemployment benefits, thus, causing a show that economy is getting better. PEOPLE IT IS NOT!
-
Donna •Do you have advice for Robert, Lori, Valerie, Helena and Paul? How do we get employers to look past our grey hair?
-
Cara Lopez •In our community, age-discrimination is rampant. No one wants to hire experienced workers. They want newbies that they don't have to pay a decent wage. How can you make your resume age neutral so at least you stand a chance of getting a phone call? I haven't gotten so much as a phone call in over a year and I have put in hundreds of applications and resumes.
-
Patti Johnson •It was really a shock when I lost my job. The job market is fierce out there. It does seem to help that a person can use the Internet to at least have a fighting chance.
-
Will B. •I would like to point out some of the headwinds that seem to be keeping me from advancing in my 2 year jobsearch. Human resource professionals seem to use several tools to "pass" otherwise great potential candidates- first the credit check, if you have poor credit the resume gets tossed. Next the former employer they ask the question "would you hire this person back?" if company policy does not rehire former employees a "no" answer sends your application to circular file and finally-age descrimination
-
I read the article with great interest. Thank you.
-
Suzanne N. •I liked hearing these myths. I am considering a career change temporarily until I can finish school, but we still have age issues. My studies have been in accounting, Art, and Religion and my experience is in offices and teaching, but I'm getting lost in where to go. I'm being told take what you can get, and yet my heart says no. Work toward getting what you want, or know you would enjoy. I'm not young, but I'm not OLD either. But the workforce is starting to make me feel old. We're too young to retire but too old to get a decent Job? Schooling doesn't seem to help. Credit is becoming an issue, and how can you address that without a Job? I'm considering going to school for cosmetology and then work the rest of my way through college with it. And add on Home Decorating and Design. I'm being told not to, but I'm considering going against well intended people and follow my heart. What do you think?
-
Peter Z. •I love Outside sales! I get to compete with other reps in the market. I would recommend to anyone that has found a Career that they are happy about.Peter
-
Nancy S. •I liked your article about the 7 myths, but do you have any articles or advice for people over 60, with a lot of experience, looking for a job? I think this is my biggest hurdle to overcome and it doesn't take to much for any recruiter to figure out that I have to be older. I really would like to be a Personal Banker because I think My experience would qualify me for this, but on some of the banking applications you have to select the year you graduated from college and the list ends with 1960. I just pick 1960 even though I actually graduated in 1958, but if I don't select something, the applications will not allow you to "Save and Continue" on to the next page of their application. This is very frustrating!
-
Gloria M. •What happens when you are in love with what you do and can't imagine doing anything else? I thought after 14 years with a degree it would be easier to find a job once my company merged with another but it has been anything but that...I raised my children to a point that I was comfortable leaving them and went back to college so being older with 14 years of experience is not the same as being younger with the same experience. I am trying to think outside of the box but short of starting my own business I really enjoy the accounting profession...the almost 50 crowd.
-
Henry •As an unemployed 59 year old who is an American who has worked overseas for a considerable amount of his career, I find it extremely difficult to find work in the USA given todays economy. I think that employers really have to look at what people like myself have to offer to the employer, including maturity, discipline, willingness to learn, and other attributes which can be an asset to any employer. All I can say is to give us older folks a chance to succeed.
-
Thank you for the important information on the 7 myths that could stall a career. I was unaware of these, and before I read them, I was believing in some of those myths. Thank you for helping me believe the truth. Sincerely, Kathryn Foster
-
Keiya Hood (Heard) •I wasn't going to read this, but this was a great inspiration thinking outside of the box and validates my career choices. I think my diversity makes me highly appealing. However, when I talk to my elders they always try to limit my abilities to one career model. Thanks!
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!