Top 5 Job Search Myths for Migrants

By Tate Ulsaker — Employment for Immigration | July 2025

Every migrant who embarks on the journey to find work abroad carries a powerful vision: building a new life, supporting loved ones, and achieving stability. Yet the path often feels like navigating a maze—full of gatekeepers, automated systems, and silent rejections.

Here’s the empowering truth: it isn’t your skill or drive holding you back—it’s often the approach. In this post, we tackle the five most common misconceptions that trip up migrant job seekers—and offer clear, actionable consulting steps to overcome them.

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1. They’re Vetting You Before the Interview

Mistake: Waiting passively for interview invites.
Reality: Employers begin evaluating during your very first outreach.

Evidence: Anecdotal insights from recruiters show that talent teams rely heavily on early conversational cues. Personalized outreach earns trust early—and increases interview chances significantly.

• Initiate value-first conversations: Send tailored messages with a brief value snapshot and ask for 10–15 minutes of advice.
• Treat early chats like informal interviews: Prepare to demonstrate interest, ask questions, and show insight.
• Practice a clear 3-minute intro: Explain who you are, what you offer, and why it connects to them.

2. CVs Are Scanned in Seconds — Be Concise and Strategic

Mistake: Assuming your CV will be thoroughly read.
Reality: Recruiters spend just 6–8 seconds on resumes —and ATS filters often eliminate up to 70% of applications.

3. Results Matter More than Responsibilities

Mistake: Listing tasks instead of achievements.
Reality: Recruiters prioritize measurable impact.
Evidence: CareerSite data suggests only 11% of applicants are deemed suitable during initial screening .

4. Don’t Obsess Over ‘Accredited Employers’

Mistake: Only contacting accredited employers.
Reality: Most employers, accredited or not, are open to migrants—accreditation takes just days and low cost .

5. Personalized Outreach Beats Templates

Mistake: Relying solely on job portals.
Reality: Generic job applications get ~1–5% responses . Personalized outreach doubles response rates to ~17%.

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Free Presentation: Complete Job‑Finding Journey

Ready for a dive into the migrant job search strategy?

Join our free presentation, where we’ll walk through live demos of:

• CV restructuring for clarity and achievement
• Proactive employer outreach
• Navigating accreditation
• Optimizing timing and positioning

📧 Claim your spot:
Send your CV + a short note on your migration/job goals to tate@employmentforimmigration.nz. We’ll book your session—no cost, no obligation.

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📚 Sources

1. Recruiters spend 6–8 seconds on resumes Reddit+2TechRadar+2ERE+2Business InsiderTIME+6HR Dive+6standout-cv.com+6
2. ATS filters eliminate ~70% of resumes The Ladders+4selectsoftwarereviews.com+4Jobscan+4
3. One recruiter landed 12 interviews despite low ATS score Boston 25 News+3Business Insider+3selectsoftwarereviews.com+3
4. Email length 50–125 words, clear CTA & personalization boost responses by ~33% Making That Sale
5. Accredited employer process quick and affordable emailbroadcast.com