How to Distinguish Genuine Experts from Like-Seekers
Feeling overwhelmed by online job advice? Don’t be fooled by likes and followers. Learn how to differentiate between genuine career guidance and those that could harm your job search or your career.
These days, job seekers get hit with career advice from all sides - LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and more. Sure, some of the tips are actually helpful and based on experience, but a good chunk of them are totally bogus.
When we’re searching for a job and it’s taking longer than expected, we often seek shortcuts to expedite the process. However, it’s important to be cautious and not fall into the trap of blindly trusting advice or so-called “gurus” solely based on their number of likes and followers. Popularity doesn’t always indicate expertise or offer good advice.
I had no plans to cover this topic in my newsletter, but after sharing a post on LinkedIn about a certain company suggesting posting fake job openings to deceive others, I received an overwhelming number of messages asking: How do you figure out if the recruiting advice you're getting is legit or bogus? And how can you know if you can trust the person who's giving it?
So I thought, let me add my two cents and tell y'all how to spot these career 'experts' that care more about likes than the welfare of job seekers.
Thanks, But No Thanks: Bad Job Search Advice
Before we jump on those red flags and tips, I gotta share a video with you that has the worst advice I've ever heard. And believe me, I've been in this business for a while and thought I'd seen it all. But boy, was I wrong! I had to watch it a few times 'cause I thought it was some new prank or something like that.
The CEO of a company that “helps” job seekers had this wild idea: he advised them to create a fake job posting, lure in applicants, and then use ChatGPT to extract their skills for improving their own resumes. Pretty nuts, right?
Source of the video: LinkedIn Post
Sure, some might say "But companies have been doing that for ages," or "They post jobs but never hire anyone," and I've seen comments and articles about fake jobs out there too. But that's not what I'm here to talk about, even though I know some people like to bring it up a lot. So yeah, some companies may be doing that, some jobs are just sitting there empty, some are paused because the company is under a hiring freeze, and some are open because of visa regulations that the company needs to follow.
But it's not the company's fault if they have to follow an outdated government rule (that is probably from 1950) to open a position for a specific amount of time so they can hire someone who requires a visa. And let's not forget about evergreen roles - they're posted for months or years because companies keep hiring the same people over and over again. Sales or customer support - that's usually the case. So that one open role you see on their site? They're probably hiring 20 people for it! Still, that might give job seekers the wrong idea...
Let’s revisit the video and discuss why I believe it is wrong. I mean, come on! Who doesn't hate people that use exploitative tactics to take advantage of job seekers? It's the worst, especially for those who really need the work and barely make ends meet.
What is wrong with this video?
Saying, “You can do this to help you land a job,” is an utter lie. Scamming other job seekers will not help you find employment.
Saying, “I just need to help you as much as I can,” is another lie. The video is designed to show something “illegal,” and before I send out this newsletter, I found out it was removed from social media. They probably realized that they crossed a line here big time.
The entire video is unethical and destructive. It won’t serve as your passport to a successful career. When searching for a job, prioritize honesty and integrity above all else.
I could ramble about what's wrong with videos on TikTok and Instagram, but let's keep the vibes positive and stay informed instead.
Here’s how to sift through advice-for-likes and spot reliable sources:
Understanding the Reality Behind Likes and Followership
Social media algorithms reward engagement. High follower counts and significant 'likes' on a post may reflect more about the content's appeal to these algorithms than the quality or reliability of the advice.
It's important to remember that popularity does not necessarily equate to expertise!
Online influencers like to showcase social proof by making claims about job seekers they've "helped" - even sometimes making up stories - and mentioning that they've worked as recruiters themselves to boost their credibility. These are red flags to look out for:
Overemphasis on Past Roles
Influencers often build credibility by highlighting their past experience. While it's important, repeatedly mentioning it without substance can be a red flag. That's why some Instagram "coaches" use tactics like claiming they are ex-recruiters to gain authority and mentioning brand names like Google, Amazon, and Apple to reinforce their claims. Remember to look beyond just titles and companies!
When someone says they’ve worked as a recruiter or for a rad company like Apple, they're using the authority bias to make us think they're more credible and know their stuff. It works because people assume a well-known org or person with many followers is more trustworthy and knowledgeable.
It's worth remembering though, that while this tactic can be effective, we need to evaluate claims based on more than just someone's past job title or association. Always do your own fact-checking and consider different perspectives before making any decisions.
These coaches know they can say whatever they want since nobody can actually check if they're telling the truth. And recruiters in those companies won't call them out since they can't share any personal info.
That is why verifying claims like "This resume landed me an interview at Google" is difficult since nobody from Google will confirm it. Plus, let's be real; just using a fancy resume template won't automatically get you a job there - you still have to interview and crush it. Also, just because you worked in one of the FAANG (MAMAA) companies doesn't automatically make you a resume expert or career coach.
Lack of Personalized Advice
When it comes to career advice, it's important that it's adaptable, thoughtful, and attentive to different circumstances. Just avoid anything starting with "This hack", "Secret tip", "It's illegal to know", "Secret formula," or anything like that - they're usually just clickbait! That's how you spot advice that's really just for getting likes and not actually helping people.
Picking a career is super personal, so you need a unique approach for each situation. Think twice before following advice that doesn't consider your individual needs, skills, or career goals.
Influencers just wanna reach as many people as possible to score more engagement and followers. That's why they give generic advice. It's easy to share and understand, but it doesn't really help dig deep into different career paths or industries.
Some tips apply to any job search like checking your resume matches the job you’re applying for and networking up a storm. And still, others need to be adapted to the industry, job level, or local econ. Beware of anyone handing out general advice without considering this stuff. Just sayin'!
Misinformation or Unverified Claims
Another thing to watch out for is frequent sharing of advice that doesn’t match best practices or has no evidence to back it up.
Misinformation is everywhere online, including in job advice circles. Some influencers go for sensational claims just to get noticed, even if what they're saying isn't helpful, accurate, or based on real experience or research.
For example, an influencer might claim you don’t need to apply for a position, just network and contact hiring managers. But the truth is, you still need to apply due to privacy laws, etc. Making an absolute statement against them ignores the reality of the industry and could be misleading, especially for job seekers who are new to the game.
Or, an influencer might share supposed 'insider tips' about how to get hired at a certain company. But without real proof from a reliable source, take that info with a grain of salt.
Not All Genuine Advice is Truly Genuine
Many tips on LinkedIn may appear to be genuine advice, but the authors often praise a service, product, or site due to financial incentives. These recommendations are often driven by money, as the authors are paid to run sponsored posts for job seekers. You can identify these posts by checking the hashtags at the end of their posts.
Example:
Or when you click on the link, they shared and the full link containing UTM (tracking) code that looks like this: example.com/apply?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=paidsocialcampaign&utm_campaign=linkedin_john_apply&utm_id=linkedinmay&utm_content=started. Based on that, you can easily see that it’s a paid advertisement and you are the product.
How to Identifying Genuine Career Experts
Check Their Credentials
Any reputable career coach should have a background that goes beyond their Instagram and TikTok followers. Look at their professional credentials, such as their website and LinkedIn profile, to see if they have any prior experience.
Sometimes, when you search for keywords like “Recruiter,” “Talent Acquisition,” or similar job titles on their LinkedIn profile, you might be surprised to find that they have no previous experience as recruiters. Or perhaps they only have 11 months of experience and nothing more.
I don’t know about you, but I’d be more likely to trust someone with over 11 years of experience compared to someone with just 11 months. The same goes for career coaches; those who haven’t worked in recruitment and mainly come from a sales background might not be as reliable.
Look for Evidence-Based Advice
Reliable career advice is typically based on evidence or accepted industry principles. Genuine experts usually support their advice with sources, studies, or other forms of data.
If an expert claims that “75% of resumes never even make it to human eyes,” they should either provide a credible source for that statement or add “based on my experience and here are my data:” A good career advisor wouldn’t make such a claim, but you get my point.
Engagement with Followers
Real experts are all about connecting with their followers in different ways. They really value open communication and respect everyone’s opinions. They love it when people ask questions and they always give clear and accurate answers that are easy to understand. And you know what? They’re not afraid to admit when they don’t know something. They’re totally cool with doing more research or asking other people for help.
When someone criticizes them, real experts see it as a chance to learn and grow. They don’t just delete, ignore or ban any user that doesn’t agree with them. Instead, they engage with criticism in a constructive way.
Overall, real experts are all about having meaningful conversations. They want to have a dialogue with their followers, give clear answers, stay humble, and embrace feedback with a positive attitude. That’s what sets them apart from people who just comment or claim to be experts without really knowing their stuff!
Analyze Their Communication Style
Career experts who truly know their stuff have a knack for talking in a professional but friendly way. They can explain complicated career ideas in simple terms.
They don’t use fancy words to sound smart, but rather to make things clear and help you learn. They don’t rely on gimmicks like “hacks” or “secrets” just to give you generic advice. They’re also good at listening and understanding people's specific career problems.
Assess Their Success Stories
Just look up testimonials or success stories from past clients. Legit career experts will have a track record of helping people reach their career goals. Watch out for those who only share super positive reviews - could mean they’re not being totally honest. Real success stories usually talk about challenges and how they were overcome, not just the end result.
Sometimes, the fastest method to verify the legitimacy of a company is by conducting a simple Google search using the phrase “COMPANY NAME scam.” Simply replace “COMPANY NAME” with the name of the company or coach you intend to hire or seek advice from.
Don't Just Take Any Advice - Question It
Don’t just blindly follow all the online career advice you come across! Especially not those you will see on Instagram and TikTok. It’s important to be critical and use your common sense. Look out for any sketchy claims or lack of evidence. That way, you can filter out the useless stuff and focus on what actually helps you in your career.
Make sure to check out different sources from various platforms and websites. This will give you a well-rounded understanding of the topic. And always remember to think carefully about the advice you find. Is it logical? Does it have evidence to support it? Trust your gut if something seems too good to be true.
Just remember, everyone’s job search is unique and needs personalized attention. So take your time, be confident, and choose advice that really fits your own path. The best advice is the one that helps YOU reach your goals.
In the end, it’s all about learning how to spot red flags and find quality advice that works for YOUR career journey. Stay alert and approach things with a discerning mindset!
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