When it comes to your employment is seems like third party opinions are much like student loan debts. Everybody has them. Whether its tips and tricks on how you should game an interview or impress your new boss, your social and family circles are filled with people willing to chime in on their one experience they had 20 some-odd years ago that is totally applicable to you current plight.

Like most things however, for every gem of wisdom from someone who has “been there and done that” there are a host of nonsensical, bad or just plain wrong tips and tricks that those who think they know better like to provide. Here we break down some of the worst advice we’ve ever heard when it comes to job hunting, interviews and your career. Sit back and grab a drink, these are going to be a doozey.

Don’t be Afraid to Take a Pay Cut for the Right Experience

This first piece of sage advice tends to come from those altruistic sorts that still believe in things like “exposure” or, you know, that you don’t need money to do stuff like live and eat. While we can think of a few scenarios where this advice may actually be relevant, in general moving down in pay, and thus the game of corporate chutes and ladders, is a bad thing. Unless you’re moving professions entirely into a field in which you have little or no background, upwards and onwards is always the right call.

Networking is Key to Getting Ahead at the Office

This is another one of those pieces of advice that has some seeds of truth when exercised with restraint, but is overall a really stupid idea to base a career strategy around. Most of the time, when someone is telling you to network they really are inferring you should show up to social events with workmates where you eat, drink and chat away. Some mingling can be a good thing and helps to build interoffice relations. Too much is definitely a bad thing. Drinking with co-workers rarely leads to anything other than getting namedropped in industry gossip rags and forums. Additionally, showing up sober and getting your work done will get you further than matching whiskey shots with your senior partner any day of the week.

If You Love Your Job, You’ll Never Work a Day in Your Life

We saved the best for last of our short list of pet peeve sayings. While we understand, and secretly heart, the intention behind this commonly thrown about phrase, its frankly just not based in reality. From professional athletes to master chefs to your local career librarian, doing your best in your chosen profession will always require work and effort. While enjoying your job may make this effort more rewarding psychologically, it doesn’t, and shouldn’t, minimize the actual work required.

Got Any More?

While we like to think we’ve seen and heard it all when it comes to interview or career advice, we acknowledge there must be plenty more out there. Have your own most hated piece of wisdom. Send it through to be included in our next, updated, list of nonsensical advice you should ignore.  Reach us at c@therecruitingcompany.com .