The standard job search approach is similar to that of a used-car salesman. Polish your shoes, slick back your hair, and go out and tell them whatever you must to make the sale. But there’s a big difference between you and used-car salesmen? Used car salesmen sell products they don’t give a damn about. They just want it off the lot. You on the other hand are selling yourself. And with such a precious product, it matters to whom you sell yourself.

The standard job search approach was never meant to land the right job, just any job. It’s about doing what’s necessary to get yourself off the “job lot”. This approach relies on creating a facade that you believe makes you look stronger. Think again! In our hyper-critical, modern society, this no longer works.

As a society, we just don’t believe people anymore. We’ve heard it all before. Today such actions often achieve the opposite of what we intend. Instead of appearing stronger, we are creating doubt and suspicion about who we are. The only effective counter measure is to be “genuine”. Today it’s all about being “real”. Why? Because being genuine and real slices through cynicism and creates trust and believability.

How do I know if I’m using a “standard” job search approach?

See if you recognize any of these aspects in your own job search efforts:

1. HIDE AND EMBELLISH. Where you hide weaknesses and embellish good attributes.

2. ONE SIZE FITS ALL. Where you use canned answers to common interview questions. This is based on false belief that employers are looking for specific responses and you have to oblige them in order to land the job.

3. ACT THE PART. Where you focus on “acting” your best, not “being” best. It’s about how to act, how to dress, how firmly to shake hands, etc.

If you recognize any of these approaches as part of your job search effort, you’re pursuing a standard job search approach.

The standard job search approach fails on several fronts, but perhaps the most important one is that it’s not focused on the right fit nor on long-term success. It’s simply an effort to land any job you can. Long term success requires intermediate steps that string together essential experiences and developmental opportunities. To find and land such jobs requires a serious job evaluation, but it’s difficult to conduct such an evaluation when one is busy acting a part.

Beware! As the standard used-car sales approach becomes ever more ineffective, the pundits who advocate this technique will blame the competitive landscape and stress that the solution lies in polishing your act even more. This is a smoke screen. The real culprit is the approach itself. It’s time to separate your self from this approach. And in doing so, will lead to a more effective way to land the right job for you.

This is so important, because it’s the most desirable companies that are most critical of people who hide behind facades. As a result, the standard search approach fares best with less desirable companies that are less critical in recruiting employees. Is that the kind of company you want to work for? And how long will it be before even mediocre companies won’t go for this approach?

So if you realize your job search approach is like that of a used-car salesman, today’s the day to start doing something much more powerful - be “yourself”.