5 Job Search Taboos You Should Reconsider

5 Job Search Taboos You Should Reconsider 5 Job Search Taboos You Should Reconsider When you’re job searching, you’ll inevitably receive an onslaught of advice. Some of it might be good (e.g., you should tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for), but the rest of it? Well, let’s just say that some advice might not be in your best interest.   Below are five job search taboos you should  reconsider! 1. Covering up employment gaps. Maybe you took some time off to raise your kids. Or maybe you had a string of uneventful jobs. Or maybe, just maybe, you (gasp!) got fired from your job and don’t want to list it on your resume. In any case, your resume has employment gaps that are as seemingly as big as the Grand Canyon. But before you convert your resume to a functional resume, or worse, invent some false work history, you might want to leave the gaps open for all to see. Employers don’t look as negatively upon employment gaps as they used to, particularly if you had a good reason (i.e., you went back to school to get your degree or a certification). 2. Stifling your true self. If you thought that your job application has to be bland and boring in order to fit in, think again. Hiring managers want to see your personality shine through. While you don’t want to shine a spotlight on every single quirk and odd characteristic (e.g., your 500+ collection of ceramic cats), you should let employers get a feel for who you really are. After all, they will be better able to judge if you’re a fit for the position- or not. 3. Having multiple passions or jobs. It makes sense to think that if you’re applying for a job as, say, an accountant, you would want your resume to reflect all of the work experiences you’ve had that relate to accounting. But let’s say you worked as an English teacher for a while, too. Does that mean you have to skip over that part of your collective career? This is just one of those job search taboos that you’ll want to reconsider, since showing a wide range of interests can be intriguing to a potential boss, and is not considered a negative any longer. 4. Being “weakness-free.” It’s one of those unfair job interview questions that virtually every job candidate gets asked at one point or another. When you were asked about a failure or a weakness you’ve had during a job interview, you might have been reticent to name one for fear of it negatively impacting your chances of getting hired. But it’s advisable nowadays to actually cop to a weakness, as it shows an employer that a) you’re human, and b) that you have self-awareness to have gone through a mistake and learned from it. 5. Being honest about your work habits. Sure, you’ve worked in offices for most of your career. But truth be told, you much prefer to work alone. So when you’re asked during a job interview if you’re a team player who likes to work in an office surrounded by your colleagues, you’re not really sure how to answer. If you admit that you are more of a loner, you’ll surely lose the job, right? Not necessarily. Being honest and upfront from the get-go shows an employer that you know yourself, know what type of work style works best for you, and know why your personality might make you a prime candidate for a remote job. Find a flexible job that fits your work habits. Browse over 50 categories of telecommuting, part-time and flexible jobs here!   There are so many job search taboos that might be worth taking a second look at. After all, no employer expects you to have the perfect work history, sans employment gaps, have only work history that relates to the job you’re applying for, and be without any sort of weakness. Show who you really are, and you’ll have a much better chance of getting the job you want! Readers, have you abided by these job search taboos in the past and are now reconsidering them? Let us know in the comments below!