| Think you know everything there is to know about | | | | probably-hopefully!-racked up more accomplishments |
| getting a job? Not so fast. There are lots of myths | | | | that they should be aware of.o You can't overcome |
| floating around that people have come to accept as | | | | a resume gap. If you're currently between jobs, you |
| fact. Check out some of the most common myths | | | | may think that employers will send your resume |
| below, and get one step closer to scoring a job you'll | | | | straight to the circular file once they detect that gap |
| love.o Help wanted ads are the best place to hunt | | | | in work history. Because of this myth, some job |
| for a job. The first places people look when they | | | | seekers are tempted to blur the lines of truth in |
| want or need a new job is online job boards and | | | | order to cover it up. Don't. Especially in today's tough |
| newspaper classifieds. Why? Because it's easy and | | | | economy where thousands of talented people have |
| requires virtually no effort on the job-seeker's | | | | been downsized through no fault of their own, |
| part-which is why everybody does it. That's a huge | | | | employers are very willing to accept some |
| problem in a tight job market. You might be very | | | | out-of-work time as a norm.o Your resume should |
| good at what you do, but are you better than all | | | | demonstrate your mastery over everything in the |
| 50,000 people looking at the same ad that you are? | | | | work world. True, you want to come off as an |
| By all means, use help wanted ads as a jumping off | | | | expert in your field, but employers don't care-and |
| point for your search, but if you stop there, you'll be | | | | may not believe-that you can design a high-rise |
| looking for work for a long, long time. Contact the | | | | building, have memorized all one million tax laws, and |
| career center at your alma mater, call placement | | | | can perform brain surgery if the need arises. You |
| agencies (what used to be known as "temp | | | | need to focus on a couple of areas that match the |
| agencies"), and talk to people you know about job | | | | job for which you're applying. If you're an outstanding |
| leads.o I don't have anyone to network with. | | | | salesperson as well as an intensive care nurse, you |
| Networking is often the most difficult avenue for | | | | need two resumes tailored to best display your |
| job-seekers, but it can offer the best results. No one | | | | strengths and accomplishments in each field. Dual |
| wants to feel like a charity case by asking friends | | | | careers make interesting water cooler talk after |
| and family members to hook them up with a job, but | | | | you're hired, but they're just confusing-and |
| the trick to networking is to think of it as a | | | | unnecessary-on your resume.o Your salary |
| relationship-building process. Go outside of your | | | | requirements should be next to nothing. When jobs |
| immediate circle and chat up everyone from people | | | | are tough to come by, it's tempting to tell potential |
| at your church to other parents at your kid's | | | | employers that you'll work for a pittance-heck, you'll |
| fundraiser to your fellow gym-goers. Ask them about | | | | pay them to work there. But unless you're changing |
| their career, their company, and what they like and | | | | careers entirely or just starting out in the work |
| dislike about both. Everyone likes talking about | | | | world, that's a mistake. It's not unusual for someone |
| themselves, and before you know it, you'll have built | | | | from HR to call and conduct a brief screening before |
| a rapport. Eventually, these new friends will be happy | | | | bringing you in for an interview, and part of that |
| to share job leads and contacts.o There's no need to | | | | typically involves asking about your salary |
| resend a resume. You sent your resume to Company | | | | requirements. Give them a range if you don't feel |
| X two years ago when they posted a job you were | | | | comfortable with an exact figure, but be sure that |
| interested in, so they probably still have it on file, | | | | you'll be satisfied with a salary anywhere in that |
| right? Wrong. Most organizations keep resumes for a | | | | range. Firms really don't like to be given one salary |
| year (at the outside), so unless you sent one a few | | | | during the screening and another (higher) salary during |
| weeks ago, send it again. Besides, if it's been a while | | | | negotiations. |
| since they looked at your resume, you've | | | | |